8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
Cameron
Something is off with Nila tonight, but I don’t know what it is. She’s smiling like she always does and engaging with my friends—specifically Addy. But her eyes just aren’t sparkling the way they usually do. Whenever she thinks no one is looking, she fiddles with her necklace and appears somber.
And I don’t like it.
Hopefully, it’s not my fault.
My mind replays the conversation we had about Tucker, and I feel bad ... sort of.
Is that why she’s acting a little off tonight?
If Nila wanted to hang out with Tucker, then that’s what she should be doing right now ... but it made my stomach sick to think about her going out with him .
“This band is really good.” Nila’s voice brings me out of my thoughts. “Thanks for inviting me out.”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, of course. This is one of my favorite places.” It’s a little dive bar, but it’s popular and well-known for the quality live musicians that come to play. We come here often and sit out on the patio, listening to music. It’s a nice break.
Nila takes out her phone to snap some pictures of us and then takes a selfie of her and Addy. I wonder if she’ll post it on her own Instagram. Honestly, I haven’t even looked through what she’s posted on my account since the first couple of posts of me at practice.
I can’t stand the notifications and the way I feel bombarded by them. But...
I’m starting to like having Nila around.
And I don’t want to trade her out for someone else.
“Can we take a picture together?” I blurt out before I can think about it, and I don’t miss the looks on Kade’s and Blaze’s faces.
Nila’s eyes flash with something I can’t discern. “Sure. We can’t post it on your account, though—and I can’t post it on mine until after the job is over.”
“I wasn’t planning on posting it,” I say carefully. “I just want to have a picture of us.”
Gosh, I sound like a sappy idiot right now.
“Here.” Addy breaks into the conversation, offering to take my phone. “I’ll take it for you. ”
I’m relieved for the interruption and hand over my phone, taking a breath and holding it as I lean in and drape my arm around Nila’s chair.
“Smile.” Addy beams, giving us both a goofy look as she snaps a few photos.
I look down at Nila, who’s smiling at the camera, and I can’t help but admire her up close. Beneath the light dusting of makeup on her face, I can make out the little freckles splattered across her creamy skin like flecks of paint.
“Got it,” Addy says, her voice dropping.
I clear my throat and lean away, the jasmine scent of Nila’s perfume lingering in my nostrils. Addy’s eyes follow me, narrowing as she hands back my phone. I shrug at her, having no clue what her expression is about.
However, just a few moments later, my phone buzzes. I glance down at the text, surprised to see who it’s from.
Addy: You like her.
My face grows hot. I grab my phone up from off the table, glancing over to Nila. Thankfully, her eyes are on the musician—a tall, blonde woman singing a Fleetwood Mac cover. I open the text and before I can reply, I’m hit with another message.
Addy: I can see it in the way you look at her. You should tell her.
I roll my eyes, shaking my head at the message. After my terrible breakup with Lacey, there’s no way I’m putting myself on the line again. Besides, Nila is fresh out of a relationship, and she made it clear she doesn’t want to be tied down.
Whatever it is that I’m feeling will fade . She’s leaving soon anyway.
My stomach flips at the thought. But before I can dwell on it, my phone begins to ring—which is a welcome distraction.
I glance down to see my dad’s profile picture lighting up the screen. I push back from the table and answer it, walking away to escape the noise.
“Hey, Dad.” I slip around the corner of the patio, leaning against the brick building and taking in the sights of the people walking down the row of bars and lounges.
“Hey, I was just wondering how things were going?” His voice is as cheerful as ever, but there’s something amiss in his tone—I just can’t put my finger on it.
“Um, things are good. We’re out at the Metro right now.”
“Yeah? Did you take Nila with you?”
“She’s here, yeah. I don’t know how much longer she’ll be in town, though. I guess she did her job so well that they don’t think they need her anymore. The fight stuff blew over.”
“Oh ... well ... you don’t sound too thrilled about it.”
“No, it’s not that,” I say hesitantly, trying to think through how I’m feeling. “They’re apparently going to be hiring a replacement to work as my social media manager full-time, but I don’t think they’ll be following me around the way she does.”
Dad laughs. “That’ll be good then.”
“Yeah...” My voice trails off. “But I don’t know.”
“Don’t know what?”
“It doesn’t feel like she’s been here very long.”
“She hasn’t been.” He chuckles. “But it sounds to me like you don’t want her to leave.”
“I—uh—”
“She’s a really sweet person,” he interjects. “Not to mention, she’s ambitious and driven. I saw the way you look at her.”
“I don’t look at her any certain way.” I groan, thinking of Addy’s texts.
“Is she single?”
“Yeah, but she just got out of a relationship. And she doesn’t want to be tied down—she’s focused on her career.”
“Ah, I see. Well, if you have feelings...”
“I don’t have feelings,” I snap, shaking my head. “I barely know her.”
“Okay, well, just don’t let something good pass you by. You may end up regretting not doing something about it.”
I sigh, his advice leaving my head a pounding wreck. “Thanks, Dad. But I think I’ll just let it be.”
“Why do you say that?” he asks.
“Because … after everything that happened with Lacey— ”
“Lacey wasn’t kind to you from the very beginning,” he cuts me off. “I never liked her.” He’s not wrong. Dad never liked my ex-girlfriend. “She put you down constantly, and I think she only dated you to try and launch her career as a model.”
And it worked, so she broke up with me.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say, pulling at the hem of my long-sleeved black Henley. “It’s a waste of breath. I’m over her.”
Finally .
It’s embarrassing to admit how difficult it was for me to come to terms with letting Lacey go. Especially considering the way she treated me. But … losing someone I care about has always been a struggle for me; ever since my mother passed away, it’s been especially hard for me to handle loss. Dad knows this, of course. He’s been my rock through it all.
“I know you’re over Lacey, but I don’t want you to write off every woman just because she was a fluke.”
“Alright,” I mutter. “I had no idea you were suddenly a love guru.”
He chuckles and then pauses. “I went out on a date tonight.”
“...oh?” I manage to choke out. This is the first time he’s ever mentioned dating since Mom passed away, and as much as I knew it was bound to happen one day, I feel strange confronting it.
This must’ve been why something sounded off when I answered the phone .
“Yeah...” His voice trails off. “I didn’t want to blindside you with it. That’s all.”
I blink, swallowing the grief tugging at my heart. I want my dad to be happy—and I remind myself of that as I open my mouth to speak. “Did it go well?”
“Um,” he breathes out sharply. “I suppose. I don’t really remember what makes a good date. It’s been so many years, and your mom and I met in high school.”
I can hear the nerves in his voice, and suddenly, all the mixed feelings I have fade away.
My dad is calling me for support.
I smile. “If nothing catastrophic happened, it’s already better than half the dates I’ve been on.”
He chuckles. “A couple of guys that I golf with set me up with her. I asked to see her again.”
“And?”
“She said yes, but I’m trying not to get too excited. I’ve heard all the horror stories about dating. I’ve really only had one relationship, and well ... I don’t know if I’m cut out for this new type of dating.”
I laugh. “I don’t think you’ll need to worry about ladies your age only wanting to Netflix and chill, Dad.”
“I still don’t even know what that means.”
“It’s better that you don’t,” I mumble, shuddering at the thought of my dad doing anything along those lines. Gross. “But I’m glad you had a good time, and I hope your second date is just as successful.”
“Me too. I hope you have a good night.”
“Love ya.”
“Love you too, son.”
I hang up the phone and slide it into my pocket, nearly startling as I realize Nila is right beside me. “I did not see you sneak up on me.”
She laughs softly. “I got a little worried when you disappeared. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t get kidnapped.”
I smile down at her, my stomach fluttering as I take in the way her red hair is swept off to the side and her leather jacket hangs perfectly on her petite shoulders. “No one wants to nab me . I think if either of us were to get kidnapped, it would be you .”
“You could probably take them.”
I laugh. “Probably. It’s hard to say. One shot to the crotch and I’d be done.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“Yeah, don’t take a cheap shot on me.” I chuckle.
“Thanks again for inviting me out.” She looks up at me, her red-painted lips glistening under the streetlights.
Jeez, she’s a sight.
“Yeah, no problem. My friends really like you.”
“I like your friends,” she says, her voice softening. “I love how close you all are. It’s really cool.”
“Yeah. Do you have any friends like that?”
She doesn’t answer me, her eyes drifting toward the street as she clutches her necklace again. I find myself wondering what her life is like in New York City, but before I can ask, she looks up at me, her eyes shining with moisture.
“I lost my gran a few years ago. She was my best friend.”
My heart aches at her expression. “I’m really sorry, Nila. I know what it’s like to lose someone close to you … I lost my mom when I was in high school.”
She nods, looking away again. “I don’t talk to anyone the way I talked to her. I think I miss having someone to open up to. I really wish I could’ve talked to her today.”
Every ounce of my being wants to wrap my arms around her and hold her. “If you want to talk—”
“No, it’s okay, I…” Her voice trails off as she pulls her phone out, her eyes going wide. “Wait, what is this?”
Her mouth drops open, and I try to steal a peek at what she’s looking at.
“Is it your ex?” I ask.
“No...” She shakes her head at me and then holds out her phone. “It’s yours .”