Chapter Forty-Two
KAMILA
Present Day
“After that, I heard Ana on the phone the next morning breaking up with you. I never heard from or saw you again until a couple of months ago.” I wipe a fresh tear away. Reliving that day used to piss me off, now it just hurts. Tonight, all I feel is guilt and longing. Longing for the man who is standing just a few feet away from me and guilt over the betrayal I’ve put my sister through.
“You fucking liar!” Cameron yells.
I’m startled by his choice of words and venom towards me, but when I look up, I see him pointing to Ana. I look back and forth between them again and again; the same way I have since he’s gotten here, confused as hell.
Ana no longer looks irate, she looks…anxious?
“What are you talking about, Cameron?” I tilt my head.
He smiles sarcastically at my twin and turns to me. “Your dear, sweet sister forgot to mention the best part.” He narrows his eyes. “Come on now, Ana, don’t make me do it all by myself. After all, she isyourfucking sister.”
Ana steps forward as Cameron puts an arm up as a wall separating us. He still doesn’t trust her to not overreact, and frankly, neither do I.
“Kami, don’t believe anything he says,” she blurts out. “Remember who I am. Soy tu familia?—”
Cameron lets out another sarcastic laugh. “Oh, Ana,eso es pura mierda y tu lo sabes.” Oh, Ana, that’s bullshit, and you know it.
We both look at him dumbfounded. It was said perfectly.
“I might’ve taken some Spanish classes in the last two years.” He smiles. “Yo sé más de lo que tú piensas, Ana.” I know more than you think I do, Ana.
Her eyes darken.
“Why don’t I go ahead and tell you the real story? The actual reason why we haven’t spoken or seen each other in two and a half years.”
Chapter Forty-Three
CAMERON
Graduation night…
Kamila stands and saunters to the shore. I have a feeling that I’m the reason she didn’t want to be accompanied by anyone and needed to be alone. I try keeping an eye on her, making sure she’s safe till Ana’s hand tilts my face down to hers.
“Can we go skinny dipping?” she asks enthusiastically.
I smile. “The water might be too cold for that. You could get sick.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s also getting dark out. I don’t think it’s safe.”
It probably isn’t safe for Kami either, but I keep that thought to myself. Ana is already jealous of our friendship, there’s no need to provoke her any further. Even if nothing has happened and never will.
She pouts, and I grin.
“I’m not trying to tell you what to do, it really is freezing out there.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re probably right. Nobody else is doing it anyways.”
She leans her head back onto my shoulder while we roast marshmallows and drink more beer.
Ever since I’ve been leaning more towards staying in the city and going to community college in Long Island, Ana’s been in a better mood, which has made my life a lot easier. But…Driscoll. Driscoll University. It’s been my dream for years. Ever since my parents took me there on a trip when I was fourteen. The town, the people, the nature, the campus; it's like nothing I’d ever seen.
The acceptance letter is still on top of my desk, staring at me and waiting for me to make a decision. The deadline is this coming week, and it feels like there’s constant ticking in my head.
I love Ana. I really do, and I can’t just let that go. I need to give us a chance. Driscoll can wait. And Kamila being Kamila, will be happy for me no matter what.
