“I got another rejection yesterday.”
“Does she know?”
I shake my head. “I’m afraid she’d just sell the place to someone else and take off.”
“What about Lark Meadows? Why don’t you take her up on the offer? She’s wanting to expand the inn. You could go into business with her.”
I sigh, running my hand over my face. “Lark’s a nice girl. She’d be good for this place, but it’s Cam I want. I thought after confessing how I feel for her, she might actually stay, but she hasn’t said anything.”
The phone rings on the wall. I lift the receiver. “Tranquili-tea, how can I help you?”
“Hello, is Camomile there, please?” A man’s voice says in a British accent.
“Who’s speaking?”
“It’s Derek, her boyfriend. Is she there?”
All the air leaves my lungs. Blood drains from my face as I white knuckle the phone in my hand. My entire body fights to stay calm. “No. Can I take a message?”
“I just wondered when she was coming home. Can you tell her to call me? I’ve tried her mobile, but there was no answer.”
“Sure, Declan. I’ll tell her.” I grit out the words.
“It’s Derek.”
“Whatever.” I slam the phone down, breaking the wall mount. The handset dangles on the end of the cord with the flat dial tone blaring out.
“Who was that?” Glory says, trying to fix the phone.
“Fucking Derek or Dickwad. Her boyfriend. No wonder she’s so fucking desperate to go home.” I clench and unclench my fist, not sure what to do with myself as I pace the length of the counter.
“Are you sure? She hasn’t mentioned a boyfriend before.”
I dig my phone from my jeans pocket and tap on the F icon. Searching up her name, sure enough, is a picture of her with a guy in a suit. The words ‘in a relationship with Derek Winklebottom’ float across the screen. Acid coats my throat and I have the urge to throw my phone across the room, but Glory takes it from me to look at the photo before I get the chance to crack their smile.
“Gray, I’m sorry.”
I take in a deep breath. Deep down I knew this was only temporary, but I didn’t know she was playing me. It all makes sense why she was so adamant she was going back home. Back to her fancy fucking life and suit for a boyfriend.
CAMI
Stepping out of a salon always makes me feel lighter, but there’s something still weighing heavy on my shoulders. I have so much to do back home. I haven’t made the arrangements to stay here yet. Even though my heart has already decided, my mind can’t unsee Daisy’s text.
Doubt of Gray’s feelings creep in. I don’t want to be the one that stands in the way of true love. As much as I want him to pick me, I’d sooner not be someone’s second choice.
I need to just talk to him, get everything out on the table. Seeing that text made me want to fight for him and tell him I want to be with him. Hopefully, he’ll choose me. If he doesn’t, then I’ll go home, but either way, I won’t be going back to Dick-rick.
With fresh highlights in my golden hair, manicured nails and my red lipstick, it’s given me the boost I needed and the determination to get everything out in the open. I stroll back to the shop. My stomach flutters as I take another step towards Gray. A dozen birds take flight inside me, lifting me higher into the atmosphere, and there’s a skip in my step that I hadn’t noticed before.
“Hey Cami.” Lark shouts from the porch of the Sugar Plum Inn.
“Hi, lovely afternoon.” I wave and practically spring into the tearoom.
“Hi Glory, where’s Gray?”
“Upstairs,” she snaps, carrying a three tier afternoon delight to a customer.
I shrug it off. I can’t let Glory’s mood put me out of sorts. With my dancing heart, I rush up the stairs, but slow when I hear laughter coming from the apartment. I open the door and creep into the living room, listening to Gray and a female in the bedroom. My steps halt, frozen on the spot as I hold my breath to listen.
