Kamila starts speaking and tells me everything. From the moment she and David met until their final seconds together.
When her voice trails off at the final words of the tale, she looks at David and smiles.
“Did I miss anything,Smith?”
My body moves of its own accord, and I deck him in the face without giving it another thought.
“You called the girl I love a slut?” I pounce again. “You told me you loved her, and I felt bad for you, you motherfucker.”
“Welcome to my world,” Kamila says from the side.
“Kami, I do still love you,” David says, holding onto his soon-to-be bruised eye.
“You really need to shut up,” she says lowly. “You’ve been sending me creepy texts since September. I took self-defense classes this summer because of you.”
It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to kill this man right here, right now. I should’ve realized Kamila never would’ve led a guy on like that, but I took it upon myself to believe that she was exactly like Ana. Manipulative, condescending, and cruel. It was easier to be angry at her for hurting my friend like her sister did me rather than still being devastated about losing her.
“After you leave here, I’m filing a restraining order against you,” Kamila concludes.
My former friend's face reddens with anger while blood drips from his nose.
“You’re a crazy son of a bitch,” I tell him. “Consider yourself lucky that all you’re walking out of here with is a broken nose and black eye. Leave. Now.”
“All of you. Get. Out.” Kami’s voice is stern and strong.
No.I try to get her to look at me, to make her see what I’m feeling, what I have been feeling for weeks and she just stares past me at the wall.
David takes a menacing step towards her. He lifts his hand, and I see the intent behind it. I jump to pull him back till Kamila grabs his forearm before he makes contact, knees him in the groin, and swivels her hips, putting all of her strength into the hit. David’s head rears back and he lets out an animalistic grunt while falling onto his back with a thud. Kamila hauls the bat back over her shoulder while David cups his balls and jaw. Her right knuckles are bloody, but she pays it no mind.
She kicks him lightly and tilts her head, looking inconvenienced, annoyed even. I’m in awe of her and the technique behind the punch that most definitely superseded mine. When I was sick, she had briefly mentioned some sort of classes she and Emma took during the summer. By the look of this, she must’ve been going several times a week to gain that amount of precision and strength.
“I didn’t hit you that hard, baby, and this time itwasself-defense.” She pauses, taking in a trembling breath. It isn’t fear that’s fueling her, it’s pent up hatred. “You tried hitting me, youpathetic excuse for a man, so don’t be stupid and go blabbing to anyone, understood?”
David gives her a quick, painful looking nod.
“Good.” She smiles. “Oh, and I wouldn’t take any naps this afternoon if I were you with the possibility of a minor concussion and all.” She swings her bat in the air. “If anyone asks how you got the bruises, you were wrestling a friend for fun, and it went a little too far.” Her smile turns more sinister. “I have the texts and witnesses to prove what you almost did to me tonight, David. There’s the extra insurance I have too.” She points to the TV, coffee table, and shelves. “Emma’s father installed some hidden cameras around the suite after the stunt you pulled last semester. They’re controlled by a simple app on my phone. When my dear sister got here and almost assaulted me, I turned them on.” She gives Ana a wicked smile. “This entire thing was recorded.”
Her sister gasps, knowing there’s no bullshitting her way out of this.
This amazing, unique, brave, strong woman will never cease to amaze me.
Her smile fades, and she sweeps her eyes over all of us. “All of you out now.”
Ana’s backpack is thrown into the hallway with a loud thud.
“My laptop is in there!” Ana chases after her stuff.
Kami puts the bat between David’s legs with a threatening look before he sprints out the door.
Finally, she turns to me.
My head shakes involuntarily. “Please don’t make me go,” I whisper. “We haven’t spoken about everything else. There’s so much more to say, Kamila, I lo?—.”
“Don’t.” Her mask falls, and tears roll onto her cheeks. “Just go. Get out, Cameron.” When I fail to move she screams. “Now!”
The sound makes my body jerk, and the heaviness in my chest turns to pain, causing an indescribable sound to flee me. My feet move on their own accord, and I slowly step out into the now-empty hallway. The door slams shut the second I’m outside, and that’s when I know I waited too long to admit my feelings about Kamila to myself and to her. The look of hurt and betrayal in her eyes will forever be etched into my brain. Tonight, I might’ve lost the most important person in my life.Again.
Chapter Forty-Six
