Chapter 5
Camila
I thought Hess would just be this charming hero frozen in my mind for the rest of my life, who I could think back on fondly and compare to other men I date.
His perfection would obviously get grander over the years, causing me to wonder if he was even real or just a figment of my imagination.
When I walked away from him at the airport, that was how I thought the story would end.
Never did I expect to be standing across the room from him at my sister’s engagement party, married to him.
What are the odds of that?
I steal a glance in his direction. His hair is much longer than the buzzed version I recall, and he’s filled out his muscles in a mature, manly way.
The light scruff on his face is also different from the clean-shaven man I married.
All this to say, I had no clue who he was—at least, I didn’t think I did.
But there was an easiness to our conversation on the plane that seemed familiar. I guess now I know why.
He’s dressed in dark slacks and a blue button-up shirt, completely dismantling my cowboy fantasy, which is good. This situation is complicated enough. I don’t need to add actual attraction to the equation.
His girlfriend laughs, throwing her auburn hair back with her head. She’s tall with milky white skin and perfectly placed freckles on the bridge of her nose. She actually reminds me a lot of my good friend Emma in looks, definitely not in demeanor.
I’m not jealous of Shanna. But I don’t like her. It’s the vibe she gives off. My divorce-attorney senses tell me she’s hard to please. I give their marriage less time than I give Landon and Selena’s.
“What are you doing over here all alone?” Selena loops her arm through mine, like my thoughts summoned her to me.
“I was just people watching.”
“See any cute guys?” Selena’s gaze sweeps over the party. “Landon has some nice friends.”
“Tell me about the best man.” I glance his way again and catch him looking at me. Instead of averting his eyes, he tips his glass to me and smiles.
“Hess? You can’t date him. He’s taken.”
“So I’ve heard.” I turn to my sister. “I’m just curious about him because he stepped in on my flight when I had a diabetes misstep.”
Selena touches my arm. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. It was no big deal. I just wanted to know what Hess is like—if that’s his norm or just one really good moment.”
“Oh, that’s his norm. Hess is the best there is. A total softy of a guy.”
“Hmm.” I steal another look. “Send me his phone number. I want to coordinate the bachelor and bachelorette parties.”
“Now?”
“Yeah, why not?”
“My phone is back at the head table. I’ll send it to you when we sit down for dinner.” She grabs my wrist in excitement. “Isn’t this night magical?”
I smile, equally loving and hating how happy she is. “Yeah, it’s beautiful.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and hug her to my side. “You’re beautiful.”
“I wish Mom could be here to see it.”
“I took a lot of pictures; she’ll see it after her shift tonight.” My mom just landed a new job with good benefits. She couldn’t jeopardize it to attend one party. She could’ve, but luckily, I convinced her that wouldn’t be wise.
“Selena, mi amor, where are you?” Landon’s voice comes over the speaker, and we turn to where the microphone is.
She waves her hand in the air with a giggle. “Here I am!”
“Oh, you’re so gorgeous.” Landon looks over the guests. “Isn’t my fiancée the most gorgeous woman here tonight?”
Everyone raises their glasses while Selena bounces joyfully on her toes.
“Should we start dinner?”
“Yes!” she squeals.
“Alright, you heard the lady. Let’s move inside for dinner.”
It takes a moment for everybody to find their chairs. I smile when Hess sits down across from me, but my smile falters when Shanna takes the seat beside him.
The waiters funnel through the room, holding trays of chips and salsa, taquitos, avocado eggrolls, and mini tostadas. They serve the head table first—it pays to be in the wedding party.
I glance at my phone and see Hess’s contact information from Selena and decide to send a friendly text while I wait for my plate.
Camila
I turn my back for one minute, and you cheat on me with a soon-to-be fiancée? How could you?
I watch the corner of his mouth lift as he reads my text. He glances up at me with narrowed eyes.
“I want to wash my hands before I eat.” Shanna abruptly stands, kissing him on the cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
Hess waits until she walks away before sending me a reply.
Hess
Don’t pretend like you care.
Camila
Five and a half years of blissful marriage down the drain. I don’t know what happened.
Hess
Like you aren’t cheating on me too.
I meet his gaze and scoff in rebuttal, which only draws out his smile.
Hess
Don’t act like you’re innocent. I saw the little black nightie in your luggage when we were looking for the glucagon. I know you’re not wearing that kind of lingerie for me.
My jaw drops.
Camila
You little perv.
Well, in light of your cheating, I want a divorce.
Hess
No, I want a divorce.
Camila
You can’t have a divorce. I asked for one first.
Hess
You don’t have the corner on the market on our divorce. I can get one if I want.
I’m smiling as I read his texts.
“Who are you texting?” Landon’s mom asks. “Must be someone special if they can make you smile like that.”
My head pops up. “Oh, uh…” From the corner of my eye, I see the amusement taking over Hess’s expression. “No one special. I was just going over the details of an upcoming divorce case.”
“Yes, Selena tells us you’re a divorce attorney,” Landon’s dad says. “That must be very sad and hard to watch.”
“It is, especially since the majority of marriages end in divorce.”
“Well, that’s depressing talk for an engagement party.” Shanna laughs as she takes her seat.
No, Shanna, it’s realist talk.
“Mmm.” Dineen rolls her lips together. “Have you guys tried the guacamole? It’s delicious.”
Clyde shakes his head. “It’s good, but I’m more of a seafood kind of guy.”
“He does love seafood,” Dineen says.
“Maybe we should serve Mexican food along with crab and lobster at our wedding. Then everyone will be happy.” Landon looks at Selena.
“I was thinking food trucks!” Selena’s shoulders bounce up and down excitedly. “Lots of different kinds of food trucks.”
I swallow fast, half choking on my taquito.
“Um, sorry.” I clear my throat while dabbing at my lips with a napkin.
“Selena”—I gently smile at my sister—“I don’t know if we have the budget for food trucks.
” I look at Landon. “Or expensive seafood.” Let’s be honest, I’m the one who’s going to be footing the bill for this wedding.
The sooner they know their budget restrictions, the better.
Dineen waves my concerns away. “Didn’t Selena tell you? Clyde and I are planning on paying for the entire wedding.”
I glance at Selena before giving Landon’s mom a polite smile. “That’s so kind of you to offer, but we’re more than capable of handling it.”
“Nonsense!” Dineen slaps the table. “Landon is our only child, and we won’t have it any other way.”
Irritation tightens my core. We may not have the kind of money they have, but my salary, combined with some of my inheritance, can certainly pay for a modest wedding for my sister.
“Cami, it’s okay.” Selena must notice my growing anger. “Landon and I already agreed to let the Hamiltons pay for everything.”
“While I appreciate their kindness, there’s really no need.” There’s a smile on my lips, but I’m too riled up for it to look genuine.
“The good news is,” Hess chimes in with an overly enthusiastic tone, “the venue is free, so there’s no expense there.”
“Right?” Landon jumps on board. “Camila, you’re going to love Hess’s barn.”
Their tactic worked. I’m officially distracted from who’s paying for the wedding.
“Hess’s barn?”
“Yeah, that’s where the wedding will take place.” Selena leans forward with excitement. “It’s perfect!”
A barn?
My little sister wants to have her wedding in a smelly barn. The marriage is doomed more than I thought.
“I wanted to get married in the barn,” Shanna whispers to Hess but not quietly enough.
“There can be more than one wedding there.”
“It just won’t be as special now.”
“Sure, it will.”
I glance away, not wanting to get caught listening in on their conversation. But I’m back on the cowboy train, wondering why Hess has a barn.
Selena laughs, dragging my eyes to her and the way she leans into Landon and rests her head on his shoulder while she giggles at his joke, which probably wasn’t even funny.
“Okay, food trucks it is.” Landon places a soft kiss on the side of her head. “And if you get barbecue sauce on your dress, don’t blame me.”
“Personally, pulled pork and mac ‘n’ cheese sound a lot better than mini crab cakes.” Clyde’s eyes crinkle with fondness as he looks at my sister, and it hits me that, for the first time, Selena will have a father figure in her life—one that doesn’t seem like he sucks.
Selena’s biological dad, Hector, stayed married to my mom for about fourteen months. And after that, there was a revolving door of less-than-ideal men who came in and out of our childhood. Nothing stable and normal like Clyde Hamilton.
Clyde is tall and thin, like his son. He’s completely bald, which will probably happen to Landon over the years, but I don’t have the heart to point that out to my hairstylist sister. She’ll love him no matter what, even when he’s old and hairless.
I catch myself.
None of this matters, because their marriage won’t last long enough for Landon to lose his hair or for them to grow old together. Right? That’s what I said, what I predicted, what I know. Then, where did this idea of Selena growing old with Landon come from? I know better.
“We have a lot to do in such a short amount of time,” Dineen says. “If we can cross off the food, that will help a lot.”
A lot to do in a short amount of time?
I lean forward, taking a sip of the drink in front of me. “Sorry, when is this wedding happening?”
“Five and a half months.” There’s an edge of warning in Selena’s tone, or maybe it’s just a plea—a please-don’t-say-anything-about-how-fast-the-timeline-is desperation in her voice.
Somewhere in between the sip of water and my bitter laugh, I choke.
“Oh, looks like your drink went down the wrong tube,” Dineen says.
Nothing’s worse than coughing over and over while a group of people watches you intently.
“Eh, she’ll be alright.” Hess eats a chip through his smile.
“I thought the whole thing was a little fast,” Clyde keeps the conversation going despite my distress, “but I just want what the happy couple wants.”
He’s an enabler—enabling bad choices left and right.
“Five months?” I’m finally able to speak. “That means, by the time you two get married, you will have only known each other about eight months. Doesn’t that seem—”
“Great!” Hess pops another chip in his mouth.
My glare comes in the shape of two tiny slits. “I was going to say crazy.”
“Crazy in love.” Hess adds an infuriating grin.
“Camila, I know you’re just trying to watch out for your little sister,” Landon says, leaning over to look directly at me.
“And before I met Selena, I would’ve thought it crazy to get married to someone I’ve only known for eight months, but I promise I love her.
You and I…we’ll take care of Selena and watch over her together. ”
“Aww. How could I not love you?” Selena’s eyes brim with love, and she leans in for a tender kiss.
My heart twists with discomfort. I need to get on board with this marriage, or I will lose my sister for good. I can always come back later and say, 'I told you so,' when I’m picking up the pieces of her broken heart.
“You’re right.” I force an enthusiastic smile. “And tonight is about celebrating.” I scoot my chair back, grab the gift bag behind me, and hand it to Selena. “So, in honor of your engagement, I got you both a little something.”
“Cami, I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You might not thank me after you open it. It’s not a traditional engagement gift. But you can think of it as an early shower gift.”
She reaches into the bag excitedly and pulls out a skimpy, black negligee and holds it up for everyone at the table to see. “Cami, I can’t believe you!” She blushes. “Not in front of Landon’s parents!”
My gloating eyes travel to Hess, and he laughs in defeat.
“Now, I know why you said it was a present for both of them.” Clyde laughs as he nudges his son.
“Thank you,” Landon chimes in. “We’ll treasure it always.”
My phone dings beside me.
Hess
So I guess you’re not cheating on me after all.
Camila
Not this week.
We both smile at each other as we take another bite of food.
I’ve decided it’s kind of fun texting back and forth with my husband.