Chapter 25 #2
As much as I want to chatter and find out about her day, I stay quiet, scrolling on my phone so I won’t stare at her.
Camille has agreed to let us stay with her until she feels safe enough to be alone, but she still needs to be able to live her life.
This is good practice for if she moves in with us and I have to remember to give her space rather than smothering her with my attention like I really, really want to do.
I look up from the stream of cute dachshund videos I’m scrolling through when she lets out a groan.
“Everything okay?”
She shrugs and closes the laptop, setting it down and pinching between her brows. “Yeah, I just remembered that I need to get back to Sandra.”
We haven’t talked about her potential case since she came in for the meeting a while back. I didn’t want to pressure her either way, and needed to show her I can separate work from personal stuff if that’s why she’s on the fence about pursuing legal action.
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. There’s no rush.” Not entirely true, but she doesn’t need to know that the longer we wait to sue Pulse, the harder it will become to get any traction with her case.
Camille sighs again, a frown downturning her lips. “Would you judge me if I decide not to do it?”
“What? No. I’d never judge you for protecting yourself.” My lack of hesitation in my reply must reassure her, because her frown fades. “Is that what you’re leaning towards?” I ask, cautious not to make it seem like I have a preference either way.
To be honest, I’m also torn. The justice-seeking side of me knows how good a case she has and understands the potential impact a public ruling in her favor would have, especially in our current political climate.
The beta who is obsessed with his omega and wants to shelter her hates the thought of Camille enduring more media attention and backlash.
“I was pretty set on saying no, but now…after that creep followed me and I heard about the shit Holden is saying about me… What do I have to lose? Keeping quiet isn’t helping.
And…” Her jaw tenses. “I’m so fucking angry.
I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t deserve this shit, and neither does any other omega. ”
“Of course you’re angry.”
Camille smiles at my easy agreement, and her voice softens. “I have to try, right? If not for me, then as a line in the sand for these alphaholes who think they have the right to ruin our lives and treat omegas like second-class citizens.”
A fierce pride swells within me. “You have a rare opportunity to make a difference. You don’t have to do anything, Cami, but if you decide you want to, I’ll have your back every step of the way. The whole pack will.”
“Even Dolly?” I can tell by the slight waver in her voice that she’s holding back tears.
“Especially Dolly,” I laugh. “She’s a fierce advocate for omega rights and would rip throats out for you.”
“Okay.”
Her throat works, and she grabs a slice of pizza but doesn’t take a bite, staring down at it like the arrangement of sausage and peppers might be a code to tell her what to do.
A long moment passes. “Alright. I’ll do it.”
I do my best to contain my reaction to her words, giving her a nod. “Want me to tell Sandra, or would you rather call and tell her yourself?”
Camille grimaces. “Could you tell her? I’m worried that if I have to face calling someone on the phone, I’ll chicken out.”
“Absolutely. No phone stress needed.”
As we eat in companionable silence, a thought springs to mind, curling my lips into a smile.
Camille raises an eyebrow at me. “What’s the smile for?”
“Remember when I told you if you ever needed a lawyer, I’d do it?”
She chuckles and nods. “Yeah. I thought you were talking out of your ass. Sorry about that. It wasn’t that I didn’t think you were capable.”
I snort. “I know. But that’s not going to stop me from blowing your mind with my legal prowess.” I punctuate my words with a saucy smirk.
“Only with your legal prowess?”
“Well, yeah. Now that I’m your counsel, we’ll need to keep things strictly professional,” I deadpan.
There’s a beat where her mouth falls open in dismay, and I try to keep a straight face but can’t, bursting out into a laugh. “Damn, you’re gullible.”
“Too soon,” she huffs, but she grins back at me.
We finish eating, chatting about our days, then clean up and put the leftovers away in an easy harmony like we’ve been doing this for years.
“So…wanna go for a ride?” I ask as she turns back from putting the pizza in her fridge.
Her eyebrows lift. “Wow, guess seduction is out the window now that you’ve seen me in my natural gremlin state.”
I place a hand on my chest, pretending to be wounded. “Get your mind out of the gutter. I meant on my bike.”
“Sure you did,” she says drolly.
I laugh but shake my head at her. “I did! I was thinking on the way over here that you’ve been cooped up in this apartment for too long and might want some fresh air for a change. Only if you’re up to it. I’m more than happy to stay here and give you a different kind of ride.”
I can tell she’s interested by the gleam in her eyes. “I’ve never been on a motorcycle before.”
“Don’t worry, baby, you know I’ll make your first time amazing,” I say, winking at her.
I love her mix of a laugh and a groan that contradicts the flare of her perfume. “Alright. Let’s do it. But if I get scared or want to come home, you’ll take me back?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Do you even need to ask?”
Her immediate response makes my chest squeeze. “No, I don’t. Not with you.”