"It's fine.Fair warning though—Camilla can be a lot."
He smiles while grabbing his coat."I like a lot."
Mondea's is exactlythe kind of place Camilla would choose—industrial chic with exposed brick walls and Edison bulb chandeliers.She's already claimed a corner table, her dark hair catching the warm light as she waves us over enthusiastically.
"Nora!"She stands to hug me, then turns expectantly to Liam.
"Camilla, this is Liam.Liam, Camilla."
"Camilla."Liam extends his hand with a smile."I've heard so much about you."
"All terrible things, I hope?The good stuff gets boring after five minutes."Camilla gives me a sly look, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I glance around the restaurant, looking for her usual entourage.
"Where are your work friends?I thought they were meeting us?"
"Oh, they're coming a bit later," Camilla says airily, settling back into her seat.
The casual way she says it makes Liam's eyebrows rise slightly as he realizes he might be third-wheeling this dinner.
"I'm really sorry for crashing your dinner.I can leave?"Liam says as we sit down, looking genuinely concerned.
"Oh please, the more the merrier."Camilla's eyes sparkle with mischief."Besides, I tend to order enough food to feed a small nation."
"In that case, I'll get us some drinks," Liam offers, clearly relieved."What can I bring you ladies?"
"I’ll take a Chardonnay," Camilla says confidently, sitting up straighter."Seeing as I'm legally allowed now."
I roll my eyes."She turned eighteen last month and hasn't stopped reminding everyone."
"Oh, well happy belated birthday.And you, Nora?"Liam asks me.
"Just a lemonade."I'm still a few weeks shy of eighteen, and despite the fake ID burning a hole in my wallet, I'm not in the mood to test it tonight.
Once Liam heads to the bar, Camilla leans forward eagerly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper."Okay, he's cute.You never mentioned that whenever you talked about this Liam guy.The dimples and glasses and that accent—good God.Spill everything.How long has this been going on?"
I laugh at the warp speed Camilla runs at."Nothing's going on."
"Right.That's why you brought your extremely attractive colleague to our dinner."She raises an eyebrow skeptically.
"He invited me to dinner and I felt bad saying no.I mean, don't get me wrong, he's great and brilliant at his job too.And he has been trying to help me get my manuscript in front of the editor in chief for a potential publishing deal but?—"
"But?What do you mean but?Nora, he looks at you like you hung the moon.That guy is well and truly mental for you."
“What’s the big news you have?”I ask, changing the subject.
"I see what you did there, but just so you know, this conversation is not over, it's just being parked."She leans in closer, practically vibrating with excitement, a smile so wide spread across her face it's almost blinding."You know how I've been working on the campaign for that massive Spanish fashion designer Elena Vázquez?"
"The one that's currently plastered across every mood board in our apartment?"
"That one.Well, they loved the campaign concept so much that they've invited me to Barcelona for the official launch.All expenses paid, five-star hotel, the works."
I reach across to squeeze her hand, genuine excitement cutting through my earlier melancholy."Camilla, that's incredible!"
"Thank you, but that's not even the best part."Her grin widens impossibly."We leave in two days."
"We?"
