“Okay, I’ll trust your instinct. But until this woman shows up, are you just going to keep funding Peter’s… whatever?”
“I’ll ask again, Cami: what’s my alternative?”
“Telling Logan would be a fantastic start.”
“I will. When things settle down.”
“And until then, you’re not actually giving that bastard half a million dollars, are you?”
“What if he talks?”
“You called his bluff today, didn’t you? He won’t get another opportunity that easy.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“You’ve always been the rational one, Evy. What is going on with you?”
I didn’t have an answer. Camila and I were living proof that opposites attract. In school, she was the studious nerd, graduating early while I took my time. I was never wild, but I enjoyed parties and dating, while she was always buried in her books. Yet, I was the pragmatic one, the planner. She was the soft-heartedidealist, more impulsive and prone to seeing the good in people.
So how had I folded so easily to blackmail?
The answer surfaced, quiet and undeniable. “I was so scared he would ruin everything. That I’d lose my reason to be with Logan and the girls.” My voice broke. “Damn it, Cami… I love those two so much already.”
Tears welled in my eyes, and I fought to hold them back. Camila gently placed her hand over mine.
“Oh, Evy…”
“It’s insane, isn’t it? I’m not their mother. And I’ve known them for such a short time.”
“It’s not insane. I forget Alice didn’t come from my womb, I love her so deeply. And being pregnant now, I can tell you the love I have for this baby feels just as immense as the love I have for her.”
“I know. But it’s different. You and Michael are a family. Logan and I… God, he doesn’t say anything… Sometimes I think he feels something, but…”
“Whoa. Wait. Stop everything.” Camila leaned forward, her eyes wide. “What chapter did I miss?”
With everything happening with Bonnie, we’d barely spoken. Our texts had been short and infrequent.
“We’ve… kind of been having sex,” I confessed.
“Having sex? You mean… more than once? Regularly?”
“Basically every night since Christmas.”
“SinceChristmas? That was over two weeks ago!”
“I know. On one hand, it feels like a long time to keep from you. On the other… it’s far too short a time to expect any real feelings from him.”
“And what about from you?”
“I think…” I paused, the admission feeling both terrifying and liberating. “I’m in love.”
“Oh, my God, Evy. This changes everything.”
“Yeah. It’s going to make everything so much harder. Maybe I gave in to Peter’s blackmail not just for the girls. I mean, they came first, but they weren’t the only reason. I didn’t want anything to jeopardize Logan getting that job. His obsession with it used to irritate me, but now that he’s finally got his priorities straight, I want him to have it. Because it’s his dream.”
“Oh, honey… And you stillthinkyou’re in love? It’s written all over you. I didn’t see it before, but now, hearing you talk about him…”
“I’m such a fool. I’m in love with a man whose feelings are probably purely physical, and I have unconditional love for two little girls I’m going to have to walk away from soon.”
