"You're my plus one!I already cleared it with the company—they said I could bring someone.And well, you're the someone, so you're coming."
My stomach drops like I'm in a free-falling elevator."Camilla, I can't just?—"
"Yes, you can.Liam's already gotten your time off approved."
"What do you—" But before she can answer, Liam returns with our drinks, setting them down with a flourish.
"So," he says, settling into his chair with a pleased expression, "did you tell her?"
I look between them, pieces clicking into place like a puzzle I should have seen coming."Wait, you two know each other?"
Camilla grins sheepishly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear."How do you think I managed to get you time off on such short notice?Liam helped."
"You planned this?"I turn to Liam, who has the decency to look slightly guilty, his cheeks flushing pink.
"She came by the office, explained the opportunity.It seemed like something you needed, and it's your eighteenth birthday—why would you want to spend it in London when you could be in Barcelona?"
"How did you know it was my?—"
I look to Camilla, who sheepishly sips her wine, avoiding my gaze.
"See, it's all sorted," Camilla says quickly, waving her hand dismissively.
"Wait, did you say Barcelona?As in Spain, Barcelona?"My heart rate spikes, and I can feel my palms growing clammy.
"I know what you're worried about, and you don't need to."Camilla's voice becomes gentler, more serious."Jay told me he's living in some tiny village in the middle of nowhere.The chances of running into Nate are practically zero."
It's been months since I've heard any updates about Nate, and even secondhand information feels like touching a bruise that hasn't quite healed.
"Please say yes," Camilla continues, her eyes bright with hope."It's five days in paradise for your birthday, and you could use a break from everything here."
I look at her hopeful face, then at Liam's encouraging nod.They've clearly conspired to make this impossible to refuse.
"Fine," I say finally, throwing my hands up in surrender."But if this backfires, I'm blaming both of you."
Camilla squeals and throws her arms around me, nearly knocking over her wine glass."You won't regret this, I promise!"
Liam smiles, and it does something strange to my chest—a flutter I can't quite identify as good or bad.
As the evening wears on,Mondea transforms from a restaurant into something more like a relaxed bar.The lights dim, music gets louder, and people start pushing tables aside to create an impromptu dance floor.
Our table, which started with three, has somehow expanded to include several of Camilla's coworkers and a group of university students who seemed to adopt us.
"Tell me you didn't actually convince a fifty-year-old Spanish executive to green-light your campaign by drawing him a diagram on a spaghetti-stained napkin," one of Camilla's colleagues says, laughing so hard she's wiping tears from her eyes.
"I absolutely did."Camilla takes a sip of her wine, looking enormously pleased with herself."Sometimes you have to speak their language, even if that language is terrible sketches on used napkins."
"That's either brilliant or insane," Liam says, shaking his head in admiration.
"The best ideas usually are."Camilla grins, raising her glass in a mock toast.
I find myself relaxing for the first time in weeks, caught up in the easy laughter and stories.Liam fits seamlessly into our group, making jokes that actually land and asking the right questions to keep conversations flowing.
He's good at this—at making people feel comfortable, included.
"Alright, I hate to be the responsible one," Camilla says around ten, checking her phone with a slight frown, "but I need to head home.I promised Jay I'd video call him tonight.Ugh, time differences suck."She turns to me, that ever-present concern flickering across her face."Are you good if I head home?"
"Of course, tell Jay I said hi," I say, gathering my own things.
