Chapter 28
twenty-eight
CAMILLA
If Elena was in that room, she’d say something like shit has hit the fan, and she’d be right. I couldn’t bring myself to move as I stared at Greyson hovering in the doorway, then at Julian’s face washed of all color. The air grew suffocating from the fact that neither knew each other existed until a few days before.
Greyson looked as handsome as ever in his fitted Ralph Lauren suit. You couldn’t catch him dead in jeans, even on his days off from working at the office. His messy, wavy hair was held out of his face by his designer sunglasses on top of his head, and his grey eyes still shined when he saw me.
He brushed past Julian to pick me up and kiss me hard enough for me to lose my breath. “I missed you so much, Cami.”
I couldn’t bear to look over at Julian, especially when my head was still spinning from our conversation. “How…how are you here?” I asked in a daze.
“I wanted to surprise you. You can thank Elena for giving me directions to this place. She also canceled your flight so we can fly back together in my dad’s jet.”
“You didn’t have to come all this way,” I said.
“I just couldn’t wait any longer to see you.” When he moved to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, I saw the hurt flash in his eyes when I flinched back. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’m just surprised to see you.” Maybe it was guilt making me uneasy, or the surprise he was in a small town like Willow’s Cove, much less in Julian’s living room.
“We’ll go to that Thai restaurant you like as soon as we land.” He took out his wallet and walked over to Julian. “Before I forget, thank you for letting Cami stay here. How much do I owe you?”
He meant well, but I knew Julian took offense when his jaw tightened as he looked down at the hundred dollar bills offered out to him. “No need. I was happy to have Mila here.”
Greyson’s brows flickered with confusion at the nickname he’d never heard before. “Thanks. You must be some friend.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
“If that’s what you want to call it.” Julian snapped back. Despite there being a window letting fresh air in, the more I stood between them, the more my chest tightened and I couldn’t breathe.
Greyson adjusted his tie and turned back to me. “Are you packed, Cami?”
I shook my head. “No. I was just going to finish before you showed up, but I don’t think the clothes I bought while I was here will fit in my suitcase.”
“Where’s the nearest store? I’ll go get another one while you finish up.” I wasn’t surprised he didn’t hesitate for a solution; he was constantly willing to go out of his way for people.
“Just follow the road you took until you hit downtown. There’s only one market here.”
He chuckled under his breath. “God, I hate small towns. I’ll be right back.” He kissed my forehead and left me and Julian in echoing silence.
“So that’s the infamous Greyson. He seems like a good guy.” His tone didn’t reflect the look of despair all over his face.
“He is.” When neither of us said anything for what felt like forever, I took it as it was—goodbye. I sympathized with what he and Sofia went through, and I wished more than anything he would’ve just told me the truth, because at least whatever decision I made after would’ve been my own. But, I couldn’t just throw away nearly three years with Greyson because I suddenly knew. I had to accept that Julian was another chapter in my life I had to close.
“When Greyson comes back, I’m leaving with him, but I’m gonna say something just once, and then walk out of here.”
He nodded distantly.
“I love him, Julian, but I’m always going to love you too. Maybe I did feel something while I was here; I just didn’t want to admit it because it won’t change anything.” Tears threatened my eyes but I held them back. “Maybe, in another life, we did it right.” I knew if I looked at him again, I’d get sucked back in, so I turned away for the last time.