by Lauren Wood
My hand gripping the phone dropped to my chest. I deserved that.
Mark: If I do that, would you go to dinner with me again?
Her response took longer this time. I watched the three little dots pop up on the screen and disappear again, over and over. I had given up and let the screen fall dark when, finally, the phone dinged again.
Camille: I’ll think about it.
The promise made me smile...which made me feel like an idiot. Was this how it had happened with my ex? The happy memories had been buried beneath all the hurt for so long, I couldn’t remember anymore. I had a sneaking suspicion that these were the breadcrumbs that led straight to disaster. You see one, then another...until it’s too late and you’re so far in you can’t see your way out.
But at least, for the moment, it was enough to let me put the phone away and get some sleep. The butterflies in my chest...the knots in my stomach...the sexy, hot flashes of memory filling my brain and making me sweat...It was everything I hated, everything I wanted to avoid. How could my mission to run from all of it send me crashing right into it again?
The next morning, I went about my usual volunteering obligations, doing my best to stay busy and keep Camille off my mind. I figured she could use the time to cool off and think things over. For that matter, so could I.
But that afternoon, when I stopped for lunch, I found myself getting sucked into a deep wormhole of internet articles about her brother’s marriage. Could she have been telling the truth? Did Lucas Meadows really love his high school sweetheart and accidentally end up with her after what had started as nothing more than a scam to fix his reputation?
I could see now how you could set out to do one thing and end up accomplishing the opposite. That’s exactly what seemed to be happening with Camille and me. She’d tracked me down to get me off their backs and somehow just pulled me in deeper. I had set out to prove my point about love being a hoax and was already feeling the initial seed of it all over again....whether I liked it or not.
9
Camille
Many of the things I’d believed to be true about Mark Silver had proven to be true. He was bitter, self-righteous, and arrogant. Which was exactly why I had no problem telling him to fuck right off in our last text message exchange.
But then when he proposed us having dinner again...why did my heart flutter like that? Maybe because while all those things had proven to be true, he was also giving, funny, drop-dead gorgeous...and was so good in bed that my toes curled just thinking about it.
I had the upper hand. He obviously felt bad for the way things went down between us, and maybe—just maybe—he was starting to feel bad for trolling our app in the first place. So, when I told him I would think about it...what I really meant was, I want to bask in my momentary victory while you sit and stew in your regret until you feel bad enough to start rethinking your actions.
It left me with a proud, satisfied smile that morning as I sat at my desk, tending to my usual daily task list. I was feeling pretty damn good about everything until my oldest brother, Lucas, came knocking on my door.
“Mind if we chat for a minute?” He flashed his usual nonchalant smile, like everything in the world was perfect and he was without a care.
But he wouldn’t be asking to chat unless something was wrong, so I wasn’t falling for it. Did I mind if he took up some of my time? Truthfully, yes, I did. But I also had that floaty cloud nine feeling, which I knew in the back of my mind only came from having a new crush—which was a fact I wasn’t really ready to face yet. All the more reason to embrace my brother’s visit as a welcome distraction.
“Sure thing. Come on in.”
He strolled in and shut the door behind him, taking the seat across from my desk. “Jack tells me you’ve been handling this internet troll business.”
So, maybe it wouldn’t be so much of a distraction after all.
“Yes, that’s right.” I smiled tightly.
“And Joshua tells me that you...actually went and saw the guy in person?”
I rolled my eyes in a huff. “Joshua has a big mouth. Yes, I did. But it was all a part of the plan. Everyone needs to just trust me.”
He grumbled under his breath and shook his head. “Oh, no...he told me that, too. He said you were convinced you could change the guy’s tune. Set him up on a date worth his while and spin the whole thing to our advantage.”
I suddenly felt like I was on the chopping block and was finding it difficult to swallow. “Yes, that’s correct.”
“Uh-huh.” His eyes burned into me from his blank expression, showing only a subtle, smug grin. “And how’s that going?”
I was flustered for a moment, stammering before I finally replied, “Great. I mean, obviously someone so stubborn and determined...it takes time to convince a guy like that of anything. But I’m on it, and it’s all under control.”
“Joshua said you hand-picked some matches for him. Heard any updates on that?” He pressed on relentlessly, not missing a beat.
“It takes time, like I said. The first date went better, but didn’t quite persuade him fully. And the second…” My heart pounded. There was no second date, just an accidental tumble into bed with me. “The second was even better. A huge improvement, from what he’s told me. And he’s even asked to see her again. So...now we wait. But I have every confidence that his next date could end up being the end of our troubles with him.”
I was starting to feel dizzy from making up so much on the fly. It wasn’t entirely lying. There was a thread of truth hidden in there somewhere...one that I had no interest in divulging to my brother.
“Oh, good. You’re both here.” Joe’s voice echoed suddenly from the doorway.
“Knock, please, Joe,” I grunted with a heavy sigh.
“Sorry, ma’am. I just thought you’d want to know right away. Our internet troll is at it again. Another bad review went up last night.”
Lucas turned back towards me with a scowl.
“Last night!?” I echoed, my voice tight and shrill. “Impossible! Was it from an older date maybe?”
Joe shook his head. “No. This poor girl clearly posted it just after she got home from her crappy date with the guy.”
Lucas cleared his throat and straightened his jacket. “Looks like your tactic isn’t working as well as you thought. It also sounds like this guy is insane...which means you should probably stop being in such close, personal contact with him.”
Close, personal contact. If only Lucas knew just how close and personal that contact had been...
“I want to see it,” I snapped. “The review. Show it to me.”
Joe showed himself in and squeezed between my desk and my computer. As he navigated to the review in question, my heart pounded with rage. We had just slept together the night before last—he was in my apartment yesterday morning. How could he leave my place and immediately skate off onto another date to sabotage!? Not only was it bad behavior on account of his rebound time, but to go from sleeping with me to taking another stab at my family...It made me sick to my stomach. Then to text me right after and have the balls to ask me to dinner! Was he messing with me on purpose? Just trying to see how low he could stoop and dragging me right down with him?
“Same spiel,” Joe said, stepping aside so I could see it on the screen for myself. “Girl shows up expecting a nice evening with the guy. She gets an anti-love lecture instead. And somehow, this is all our fault.”
I thought I might cry when I read what she had to say. This was Mark Silver’s work alright. He had struck again. Only this time he did so right after sleeping with me, which only made the sting worse.
“Thank you, Joe,” I murmured, wondering if they could both see the humiliation written all over my face.
Joe wandered off, unphased, leaving me to face Lucas, who was looking less than pleased to say the least. “I think I should take over this,” he suggested firmly.
“No!” I argued. “No, I have it under control.”
“Like what?”
“It’s time to bring our lawyers in,” he replied. “I’m sure there are a number of charges we could threaten him with. Whatever it takes to get him to lay off. There is a myriad of other dating apps this sicko could go pester instead.”
Sicko. The word rolled around in the pit of my stomach, turning sour. Before seeing the review, I would have vehemently defended him against such an insult. But now I was starting to fear that it was more accurate than I wanted to believe. And what was wrong with me for not seeing it sooner? How could I go out with the guy and then actually sleep with him, knowing everything I did about his little...hobby?
Lucas stood up to leave and I was too speechless to stop him or argue any further. I’d done what I could. If Lucas wanted to call in the lawyers, he had every right. There was no use in trying to stop him. That was the next logical step, and maybe it’s what I should have done to begin with.
But now my feelings and pride were involved. Maybe the lawyers could solve things with his vendetta against my company, but I still had a personal score to settle with him. He’d roped me into thinking he was a good guy who was bitter about love, and I was stupid enough to think I could fix him somehow. My head spun from the absurdity of it all. I was angry with myself more than anything, but it was all his fault. I couldn’t let this go without telling him off.
Jada walked in just as I was gathering up my purse. I lost it the moment she walked in the door.
“What!? Is there a sign on my door today that says Camille has nothing better to do than sit around and chat with her siblings and IT and everyone else!?”
Jada stopped with wide eyes. “Uh...sorry to bother you. But...these came for you.”
She pulled her arm around to reveal a big, heaping vase of flowers. A colorful arrangement of roses spruced up with lilies, mums, and pincushions. I could smell it from the other side of the room and instantly resented the perfume.
I lunged forward, snatching it from her arms before she could read the note...assuming she hadn’t before bringing them in to me.
“Thanks. Shut the door on your way out.”
She spread her arms and dropped them to her sides. “What...you’re not even going to tell me who they’re from?”
“Nope! Bye!” I stormed over, pushing her out and slamming the door behind her myself.
Turning back to the bouquet, I narrowed my eyes at it and marched forward for the card. I fully expected it to be some snotty, gloating remark. This whole thing had to be planned. He got some kind of ego boost from pulling this thing over on me, and now he was going to rub it in with roses.
I yanked out the envelope, which was thankfully sealed against snooping eyes, and tore it open.
Camille, thanks for agreeing to consider my invitation to dinner. It’s more than I deserve after how I’ve behaved. I know I can’t force you to forgive me, but I was hoping these might put you in a good mood...and nudge you towards saying yes. Here’s hoping. See? Even a jaded, bitter guy like me still has a little romance left in him for the right woman. —Mark Silver
I erupted into a flabbergasted, screaming growl and tossed the note onto my desk. The nerve of this guy! Did he honestly think I wouldn’t find out about his date from the night before? The one he managed to sandwich in between sleeping with me and inviting me to dinner again? Of course, I wasn’t going to say yes now!
I was already determined to confront him, but the flowers set off a new, blazing flame beneath my feet. I stuffed the card into my bag, chucked the flowers into the trash, and stormed out of the office.
10
Mark
I was in the gymnasium of the community center, shooting hoops with some of the boys. They lined up and took three-pointer shots one by one. I watched as one of the tallest boys stepped forward to the line and tossed the ball towards the basket. It teetered on the edge for a moment and then swooshed through the net, prompting us all to clap and cheer him on.
“Good job!” I shouted out. “That’s how it’s done! Okay. Next up.”
The next boy stepped forward and went through the same motions, but this time when the ball teetered on the edge, it fell down on the other side and went bouncing across the floor instead. The boy’s head dropped with a groan.
I patted him on the shoulder. “Too bad. Better luck next time, though.”
As soon as his shot proved to be off, we heard the gym door open, followed by heels clacking along the shiny wooden boards. As the boys shifted around in their line so the next could step up to shoot, I turned towards the echoing footsteps and was surprised to see Camille marching towards me. I smiled at her, but she didn't smile back. She looked pissed.
“Take five, guys.” I waved to them before stepping off to the side to talk to her.
“Hey, you.” I smiled, despite her icy expression. I leaned down to try and steal a kiss, but she awkwardly dodged it. “Did you come to discuss our dinner plans?”
“Yes, actually,” she answered tightly. “I came to tell you I won’t be having dinner with you. Not now or ever. In fact, this should be the last time we see each other.”
I stammered for a moment with my mouth gaping. “Is something wrong?”
Her eyes lit up with anger. “I’m surprised you even have to ask that.”
“Well, you could have called or texted to say you never wanted to see me again,” I suggested. “Something tells me that’s not actually what you want at all.”
“I didn’t say I never wanted to see you again. I said we shouldn’t,” she admitted, but it seemed to only make her angrier. “But you’re right. I guess a text would have sufficed. Either way, there you have it.”
She spun around on her heels and started off towards the door. I hung back just long enough to tell the boys to play a few practice rounds and then took off chasing after her.
“Camille! Wait!” I caught up with her just outside the gym door. “Can we go somewhere and talk? Let me buy you a drink. I should be done here in about fifteen minutes.”
“There’s nothing to talk about!” she hissed, not breaking her stride. “I thought maybe things had changed between us after the other night, but you’ve proven me wrong on that in more ways than one.”
“Okay...I don’t know exactly what you mean, but that’s exactly why we should talk. Please?”
She let out an exasperated groan under her breath, but kept walking. I could tell she wanted to talk. Why else would she have tracked me down here? But something was keeping her from giving in.
I reached out and placed my arms on her shoulders, forcing her to turn around and face me. “Look, if you’re not going to see me anymore...I’ll have to deal with that. But at least talk to me first. If you feel the same way after, I’ll leave you alone.”
“And you’ll leave my company alone, too?”
“You have my word.”
She was filled to the brim with frustration and anger as she looked up at me, averting her eyes every so often towards the people passing us on the street.
“Fine,” she huffed. “That bar on the corner...I’ll be in there. If you’re not there in a half hour, I’m leaving and our little talk won’t happen.”
“I’ll be there in twenty,” I promised, before bolting back to the community center to wrap up practice.
Exactly twenty minutes later, I walked into the dim-lit corner bar and ordered a whiskey neat. Camille was waiting for me in a private corner booth with a glass of clear liquid in her hands.
“You’re drinking water?” I asked, puzzled as I slid in across from her.
“Vodka,” she replied, taking a sip.
I winced. “That bad, huh?”
“Did you honestly think
I wouldn’t find out?”
“Find out what?”
“That you went out on another date last night. You’re in bed with me one night, then continuing your ridiculous crusade against my company the next, all while still insisting we should go to dinner again.”
I dropped my head, realizing just how bad it sounded coming from her lips. “I’m sorry.”
She looked far from moved by the sentiment. I wanted to go into damage control mode and try to apologize, but I was thrown by how stunning she looked in the low light, with the glow of the evening coming in through the window, lighting up the edges of her beautiful face. Those plump, kissable lips of hers were irresistible, even when they were pursed in anger.
This was dangerous territory. Sure, I could sweet talk my way out of this mess, but then where did that leave us?
“You shouldn’t have expectations for me,” I said finally. “I know things spiraled out of control between us the other night...but I never made any promises.”
“Maybe not explicitly, but certain things were assumed,” she argued.
“That’s the problem with these kinds of things. Assumptions get hearts broken.”
Her face sank into a new depth of disappointment in me. “You’re unbelievable. I should have never agreed to have this drink with you.”
She grabbed her purse and threw back what was left of her vodka, preparing to abandon me there in the bar.
“Camille, please. You have every right to be mad. I’m just...I’m all mixed up right now. I don’t know what to do with any of this.”
“That much is obvious,” she scoffed.
She slid out of the booth and threw her bag over her shoulder. Just as she started to walk away, I reached out and grabbed her hand. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“Neither did I. But when something unexpected happens, you can still take a moment to get your shit together and behave better.”
