Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
KAMILA
I ’m pacing in my small living room, second-guessing every part of the plan. I’m even second-guessing my outfit. I look down at my black leggings and red sweater, rolling my eyes.
“Your outfit doesn’t make a difference in what’s about to happen, Kamila,” I say to no one in particular because there is nobody else here.
God, I’m acting insane.
Cameron texted me that he was coming over around one-thirty. It’s one-twenty, and he’s usually punctual, so I don’t expect him any later or earlier.
Luckily, I have home court advantage for this conversation. Emma is staying with her parents to study for an early final. It’s alumni weekend and the last Saturday before finals, meaning everyone is either going crazy by partying or insane because they’re studying. I probably would’ve been out bar hopping with Jake and Levi till late tonight, but here I am, about to have one of the most nerve-wracking conversations of my life that could last all day and night.
Okay, that’s a little too dramatic, even for me .
A knock on the door drags me out of my repetitive doubts. It’s only one-twenty-three, he shouldn’t be here yet.
Jesus, Kamila, paranoid much?
I plaster on a fake smile and make my way to the door. Once I open it, I’m met with dark eyes surrounded by chestnut-colored hair.
“?Hola hermanita!”
My smile falls immediately and my brain starts going into overdrive. Out of all the semesters I have been here, never once has she visited me, until now.
“Look at your face, you’re totally surprised.”
I manage to nod my head. Surprised is an understatement.
“Well, aren’t you going to invite me in?”
As if I’m on autopilot, I nod again, trying to keep my nerves in check while I feel my face drain of color.
“Yeah, sure, come in.” The statement comes out shaky and unsure. “Leave your stuff anywhere you want.”
I scramble looking for my phone to text Cameron while trying to distract Ana. “So, what are you doing here?”
Shit. Shit. Shit. Where the hell is my phone?
Turning to the couch, I see Ana standing there, holding it up. “I assume you’re looking for this.” She hands it to me, and I give her a tight smile in return.
Ana answers my question as I open the text thread with Cam.
“Well, hermanita, I decided I should be the bigger person here and put this stupid fight to rest. After all, we still live in the same house.”
Me: ABORT. Ana is here!
Taking a deep breath, I turn back to my sister, process what she just said, and try to find the patience to deal with her.
She just implied that I didn’t put in the effort to speak to her the day after we fought, when she ignored me .
“Well, that is very kind of you,” I lie, wanting nothing else but for her to leave. “You’ve never visited me before.”
My phone stays silent and it doesn’t light up with a text back .
Oh my God, I think I’m going to be sick. I’m in deep, deep shit if he doesn’t see my message in time.
“Are you not listening to me?” My head snaps to Ana, who’s looking at me skeptically. “Why do you keep staring at the door? Wait, are you expecting someone? Is it a boy? Also, where’s Emma? I haven’t seen her in ages.” She stands up to peek inside Em’s open door, not caring or waiting for my response as to where she might be.
Not only do I feel like my chest is about to explode, but I’m also pissed and hurt that my sister came without so much as a simple apology. Anger, guilt, worry, and sadness wash over me like a tidal wave, and I’m frozen, not knowing how to resolve all of this.
Then there’s the knock. This can’t be happening.
Ana whips her head and smiles. “Is that the mystery guest?”
I’m going to pass out. She wasn’t supposed to find out this way.
“Look at you, so nervous.” She lays a hand on my shoulder, and I flinch at her touch. “Relax, it’s just me, I’ll get it.”
“No!” Before I can stop her, she’s across the room in three seconds flat. The door slams wide open, and there, after two and a half years, she’s staring into the eyes of her ex-boyfriend. The first boy to ever break her heart and the only one she’s ever loved. And I’m the one who brought him here.
Cameron’s face blanches in horror until it’s masked by pure, unforgiving anger.
What the hell was that reaction?