Chapter 27
“Are you nervous?” Cam asked, looking at Emma sitting beside him as they waited for the rest of their party to join them for breakfast.
She blew out a breath that suggested the answer was yes. “I hope they’ll understand.” Last night, she and Cam decided to forgo a dinner date just the two of them in order to spend the evening with everyone. She didn’t want to ruin their last night together by announcing she needed to fly home the next day.
“Of course they will,” he assured her. “They’ll be excited for you.”
After they reached their room after dinner, they found themselves entangled in each other’s arms again, a whirl of heat and passion taking over. Cam knew part of it was fueled by the knowledge it would be the last time they saw each other in person for three months, and he’d wanted to savor every moment with her. He could tell she had been feeling the same way as they held onto each other late into the night. Once their breathing slowed and their hearts calmed, they finally discussed what all was to come.
“I know, but still,” her voice cut off as she saw people walk in, but it wasn’t them. They’d asked if they could all do breakfast together this morning. “I’m springing my leaving on them out of the blue. I don’t want them to be caught off guard.”
He gave her knee a reassuring squeeze under the table. “We’re doing this together,” Cam said. “It’s not like you’re the only one leaving today and we didn’t even get flights booked until last night. I don’t think they’ll mind that you waited until this morning to tell them.”
Emma tried telling him to stay the final day, but he insisted that it wouldn’t feel right being here without her. He booked the earliest one home he could find, his flight leaving an hour before hers. Whatever money Henry might be out for his unused ticket home on Saturday, he would insist on the man letting him pay it back.
Whenever Emma had brought up him flying to North Carolina with her, he’d wanted to say yes. Unfortunately, he knew she’d need to get on the next flight out the following day and his being there would only make her leaving and packing that much harder. She was hoping to see her aunt before she left, and he knew he’d have a hard time letting her get anything done as he’d be unable to keep his hands off of her.
“Here they come,” she said in a rushed whisper like they might be caught doing something they weren’t supposed to.
Sure enough, Asher and Lauren were headed their way and five minutes later Henry joined them followed by Lulu. Cam could tell they didn’t expect anything was up as they all fell into their normal casual conversations, ranging from the remodeling Henry wanted to do to his home office to the new skincare brand deal Lauren had secured for next month.
As he ate, he could practically feel Emma’s restraint as she waited to break her news. She had insisted on waiting until breakfast was almost over, something Cam swore she must’ve learned from Henry.
Many laughs and a full belly later, Emma broached the subject.
“So there’s something I want to tell you guys,” she started.
Cam noticed as several eyes immediately flicked from her to him and back, clearly assuming this news had something to do with them. He saw the surprise in Lulu’s eyes, likely thinking Emma was about to come clean.
Lauren’s head tilted as she cautiously asked, “What is it?”
Emma looked to Cam, who gave her a reassuring smile and nod to continue, probably not helping with any assumptions they were making.
“Well, yesterday I received some exciting and life-changing news.”
Lulu’s eyes widened. “You’re pregnant!” It felt like a shout as others turned to look at their table.
Cam could only describe Emma’s reaction as freaked out. “No! I’m not pregnant,” she said defensively. He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Oh thank god,” Lulu sighed. “I was hoping to convince you to join me in Vegas.”
Emma paused. “Why are you going to Vegas?”
Lulu smiled innocently. “Dan’s going for his birthday in a couple of months, so he invited me.”
Henry shook his head but Cam saw him stifle a smile. Suddenly he didn’t know if he could handle having girls should he have a family down the road. He didn’t like the idea of a daughter meeting up with a man in Vegas, or anywhere.
Emma was laughing as she responded. “Well, I still can’t do Vegas but I’m not pregnant.”
“Then what?” Lauren asked.
“I’ve been offered a photography position for the next three months that will include traveling across Europe to different archeological dig sites.”
“Emma,” Henry exclaimed, his smile wide. “That’s fantastic! How did this happen?”
She proceeded to tell them more, everyone smiling and offering bits of congratulations and encouragement. Cam let out a breath. He knew she had nothing to worry about.
“The reason I asked if we could have breakfast together, though, is because I have to fly home today.”
“Today?” Lauren’s tone was a mixture of surprise and something else.
Emma frowned at her. “I know it’s last minute and unexpected, but with this being our last day here anyhow before leaving tomorrow, I didn’t think it would be a big deal.”
Before anyone else could reply, Lauren was already speaking. “Then why can’t you wait one more day?”
Everyone was looking between the two women now, unsure of what to say.
“Because they need me in meetings Monday morning, and I need to get things ready at home.”
“We understand,” Henry said. “That’s just how it works sometimes.”
“How do you just get an offer yesterday and have to be there on Monday? That makes no sense.”
Cam could feel Emma’s back go taut as she sat up straighter. “It came in Monday, but I’ve not been checking my phone since it’s vacation.”
Lauren gave her a look that Cam hadn’t seen on her before. It was far from the sweet and supportive woman he’d glimpsed all week. “I’ve watched you look at your phone numerous times,” she argued, causing Emma’s head to go back at the implied accusation.
Lulu jumped in. “Woah, woah, woah. What’s the big deal if she leaves today or tomorrow? This is a huge opportunity for her.”
Cam felt thankful for the question, and he was guessing Emma did too considering the look of hurt and annoyance mixed over her features. He didn’t understand why Lauren cared so badly when she left.
The woman looked at her sister, then Emma, her dad, then to Asher. They all waited as what he could only assume was a silent conversation passed between the couple. Then Lauren faced the group. “Asher and I have an announcement, too.”
Cam tensed this time for reasons he didn’t understand, except that some internal instinct told him whatever came next wasn’t going to be the breezy interaction he expected for this breakfast before they left.
“What?” Henry asked, prompting her to continue.
Lauren gave a quick glance at Emma before turning to her dad. She swallowed. “Asher and I are engaged.”
Everyone was taken aback at that, though Henry quickly recovered from his reaction. “Okay,” he said. “That’s a bit surprising.” Then as if making a quick decision, he added, “I suppose congratulations are in order.”
Lauren opened her mouth. “There’s more.”
“You’re the pregnant one,” Lulu said decisively.
Lauren gave her an incredulous look. “No. I’m not pregnant either, and I don’t appreciate what that implies.”
Cam watched as Asher scratched the back of his neck looking very uncomfortable at this table right now. Lulu threw her hands up. “Fine, then I guess no one is pregnant.”
Emma huffed a laugh, the first sound she made since the latest announcement.
Lauren sighed. “As you all know, my job entails a certain sort of relationship with my audience,” she began explaining. “And since Asher and I want to get married, that means the world will be expecting me to share every second of it with them.”
“Tell the world no,” Lulu suggested, only to receive a glare in return.
“I don’t mind that. It’s part of the job,” Lauren responded. “However, when I learned everyone would be here for the trip, we decided to rearrange our schedules so that we could make it, too.” She looked toward Asher and then back. “We’ve set it up with the hotel to have a small and intimate ceremony here on the beach tonight.”
“What about your audience?” Lulu asked.
Lauren shrugged. “We’re doing this for us with just our family, and then we’ll have a public wedding and ceremony where I’ll share all of the photos and events leading up to it online. But this one is just for us.” Then she looked at Emma. “Can’t you wait one more day?”
Henry cut in before Emma could answer. “I don’t think it’s fair to ask her to do that,” he said gently.
Lauren ignored him. “You’re always traveling and on the go. Do you know how hard it was to find a time to do this whenever we would all be together?” Cam felt Emma grab for his hand under the table. He gave it a tight squeeze letting her know he was here. “I mean, come on,” Lauren continued. “It’s my wedding. Just one day. Can at least one day just be about me?”
He felt her hand tighten in his, knowing that bit of fury that lay inside her had been ignited. “What do you mean one day about you?” Emma bit out. “Your entire life is about you.”
Cam tensed at how quickly this was escalating.
“Emma, that’s not fair,” Lulu interjected. “You don’t mean that.”
To her credit, Emma removed her hand from Cam’s and squeezed her temples as she shook her head. “You’re right.” She looked at Lauren. “I’m sorry, that was rude and I didn’t mean it. I know your job requires you to share everything.” She took a deep breath. “But this decision was really hard to come to, and if I wait until tomorrow, then I won’t have much time at home to get my apartment squared away, or pack, or see my aunt.”
But Lauren was shaking her head, not interested in the excuses. “If you wanted to be here and support us, you would be,” she accused. “Is it because you’re still mad?”
Emma’s face twisted in repugnance at the question. “I’m not mad,” she replied. “I told you yesterday, I’m happy for you.”
Cam could feel the atmosphere change. He, Lulu, and Henry unsure of what to do or say. Asher looked anywhere but at Emma. Cam wished he could save her from this, shield her from whatever hurtful things were bound to be thrown out between close friends in a fight. He’d seen his own go through it. Hell, he’d even had ridiculous fights with his friends who were more like brothers.
“I saw the way you looked at me when I told you how Asher and I started talking.” Lauren’s tone had become laced with anger.
“You didn’t tell me,” Emma corrected with just as much venom. “You accidentally told on yourself and then panicked when you realized your mistake.” Then as if a thought hit her, she added, “And how ironic you should make this all about you not getting one day of the spotlight whenever the trip you insisted on spending time with me turned into you dating my ex.”
Cam clenched his jaw, unsure what was happening. Emma hadn’t told him anything about yesterday or what they might be referring to. But he couldn’t deny the confusion and hit to his pride he was feeling that Emma might be conflicted over Lauren and Asher, or how they met. It sounded like it was right under her nose after the breakup, so sure anyone might be upset about that, but she’d assured him that she was over Asher.
“So much for not caring, huh?” Lauren asked spitefully. “It’s not my fault that I figured Lulu had told you by then.”
He saw the way Emma reacted as if she’d been slapped, immediately looking toward Lulu. “You knew?” Her voice was a hurt whisper.
Lulu’s face scrunched in response. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she started.
Cam could read the confusion and hurt on Emma’s face, and he again placed his hand on her knee for reassurance, though he was beginning to question his footing in all of this. What was happening? Was Emma mad because Lulu knew about Lauren and Asher and didn’t tell her? Or was there more to it? Was it simply that she felt left out of everything? He tried to block out the pressing questions and the tightness gripping at his chest.
“Why didn’t you?” Her question was asked in anger and Lulu’s response was hoarse like she hated being in this position.
“It doesn’t matter,” Lauren protested. “At the end of the day, none of this should matter. Not how we started talking. Not that you guys have a history. None of it. It’s all old news, and now we’re trying to start this new chapter and we want you all a part of it.”
Emma choked out a laugh that sounded more vicious than anything. Cam saw that Asher was choosing to look down, his mouth shut much like Cam’s at this point, and even Henry seemed to sit back, the image of a dad who knew they’d have to work it out amongst themselves. Still, it didn’t stop Lulu from speaking up.
“Emma, I’m sorry. It wasn’t that I wanted to keep anything from you, I just didn’t know the right way to approach it.”
“How about honesty?” Emma shot back.
It was Lulu’s turn to scoff out a laugh. “Real ironic coming from you.”
“What’s that mean?” Lauren asked, a brow arched as she looked between the two of them.
“You’re supposed to be my best friend,” Emma said, ignoring Lauren.
“I am,” Lulu exclaimed, while Lauren asked again, “What’s ironic?” They continued to ignore her.
“Then why couldn’t you tell me? You knew I didn’t care about the breakup,” she said, not even bothering to sound guilty over the admission. “You should’ve known I wouldn’t have cared except maybe an initial shock.”
Cam could tell Lulu was tired of being in the middle of it as her temper rose and her tone sharpened. “I said I’m sorry Emma. Can’t you put yourself in my shoes for a minute? I’m not going to choose between my sister and my best friend.”
He could feel the way Emma internalized that as an invisible blow, her entire body freezing and her face falling. “So much for being a sister too, huh?” Her words sliced as sharp as knives through the air. “I’m part of the family until it’s an inconvenience.”
Henry spoke up. “That’s not true. No matter what goes on between you three, you’re one of us, Emma. You always will be.” She blinked back the tears.
“You’re overreacting,” Lauren commented as she rolled her eyes, which Cam knew wouldn’t help matters. If only he knew the right thing to say or how to save this. He didn’t want Emma’s life to blow up. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
“You know what?” Lulu spat, clearly as pissed off as the rest of them at this point. “I’m tired of being the bad guy when it’s the two of you and your poor decisions putting me in the middle of this. Have either of you considered what kind of position you’ve put me in? And yet you want to talk about being sisters and best friends.” She shook her head as a scowl formed on her face.
Emma was still stone beneath his touch, her lips a tight line like she was refraining from letting any more of her anger spew at this table.
“No one is saying you’re the bad guy,” Lauren huffed, equally irate at this point. “And neither am I. It’s not my fault Asher chose me.”
Emma’s nostrils flared. “That’s cute.” Cam tensed as he could sense what was coming next. “How does it feel to be chosen by someone I turned down?” she asked. Cam recoiled. He knew she was just angry, but she would regret this, he knew it.
“Emma,” he tried, but she ignored him.
“Does it feel good knowing that you’re engaged to someone after their first choice said no?”
“Jesus, Emma!” Lulu said.
“You’re being a bitch,” Lauren responded with hate in her eyes. “I’d feel ashamed letting my jealousy take over with my boyfriend sitting right next to me.”
The world began slowing down as Cam felt the calm anger wash over Emma beside him, the snarl of a smile spreading across her face. He felt his heart sink even before she opened her mouth. He placed his hand on her arm, saying quietly, if not desperately, “Don’t,” but she didn’t listen.
“Am I?” Emma asked. “Or are you being the self-righteous asshole that I was dreading having to spend a week on vacation with? You know what’s funny? I didn’t want to come on this trip and once Lulu assured me you weren’t coming, I finally said yes.” She leaned closer to make her words clear.
“I knew that you’d make your relationship a way to see yourself as better than me, to pity me, to make me the one who felt awkward even though I didn’t go lapping up someone else’s scraps.” Cam could feel the weight of the words, the heavy consequences they would have as she kept going.
“So I didn’t want to be around you. Yet, you pretended to be all sweet and nice, the mousy little Lauren who everyone adores like you’ve not been twisting the narrative to make me the pathetic ex this entire time,” Emma snarled. “And you did all this while knowing you were scheming to force me to be at your wedding to the very person whom you didn’t even talk to me about until yesterday.”
Cam tried to keep his features calm, not look as bothered as he felt. But he couldn’t help but feel a punch to the gut when she brought up the wedding after she didn’t even tell him about their talk yesterday. Was it merely betrayal she was feeling or was there more?
“What’s it matter?” Lauren questioned. “If you’re so happy for me and clearly moved on,” she indicated toward Cam, though the gesture somehow felt hateful. “Then why does it matter if we have a surprise wedding?”
Everyone sat quiet, even the diners around them, probably all reeling in the juiciness happening at their table. Cam felt like everyone in the room was sitting on the edge of their seats and holding their breaths as Emma let out that soft laugh that was anything but the lyrical sound he’d been falling for.
“There you go again, relying on me having a boyfriend as your reason not to feel guilty. Or at least that’s how you put it yesterday, right? Your actions didn’t matter anymore since it all worked out and I’m dating someone, too. Do I have that right?”
Lauren didn’t even bother with a response, but Cam said, “Emma,” her name sounding like a plea.
“Well guess what, Lauren?” Oh no, he couldn’t do this. He couldn’t sit here while she dragged him down with her. But he couldn’t move. “Cam and I aren’t dating.” Everyone seemed to stop everything at that. Breathing. Thinking. All of it. Or maybe that was just Cam who felt that way as she dropped a bomb that affected him as much as her.
“What?” Lauren looked disbelieving.
Emma laughed, a hysterical and obscene sound. Cam felt like she’d lost it, was losing herself to the pain this fight was causing her. “That’s right.” She shrugged. “I’d only met Cam the night before. I was actually kicking out a failed attempt at a one-night stand when he came down the hall and witnessed the pathetic sight.”
He cringed, his touch leaving her leg as he clasped his hands together, trying to hold onto any self-respect he had left. Yeah, he brought this on himself for joining the lie, but damn if he didn’t feel blindsided to be thrown under the bus by Emma of all people.
“You’re kidding,” Lauren said.
“Nope, just ask Lulu.” Emma smirked.
Lauren’s face fell into a stunned expression as she went from one woman to the other. “You knew?” she practically shouted. “You knew this entire time and left us looking like idiots?” Before she let her sister respond she looked back at Emma. “Who does that?” she spat. “What kind of psycho invites a guy she just met to stay with her for a week?”
“What kind of desperation does it take to sleep with your friend’s ex?” Emma shot back.
Lauren was shaking her head, words seeming to have escaped her. Henry was staring down into his lap at this point, Asher looking to be in pain, and Lulu’s face turning more and more red from what could only be anger and exasperation. Yet none of that topped the festering resentment growing inside Cam, especially when no one would meet his eyes.
“You know what?” Lauren finally said. “I think you should go. I don’t want you at my wedding. Besides, this is a family trip.”
Emma’s nostrils flared, and Cam knew the comment hit its mark, but he was having a hard time caring at the moment. She drug him down with her. In her moment of wrath, she decided to ditch him and not consider what her actions would mean for him.
Before anyone else could reply, Emma stood up, not even waiting for Cam. “Yeah, that much is clear. Enjoy your vacation,” she hissed, then she left, not bothering a glance behind.
Cam swallowed, then swallowed again, hating himself for going along with this, for allowing himself in this position, and mostly for allowing his heart to let her in. He knew she was capable of destroying him. He just hadn’t thought it would be like this.
He took a deep breath, then spoke. “I’m really sorry for how all of this unfolded and for my part in it.” He looked at Henry, whose face was unreadable. “I will reimburse you for my trip. I’m headed home today as well.” He sat his napkin on the table and rose, unable to keep the strained expression from his face. He didn’t know what else to say, so he restated, “I’m sorry.”
As he went to leave, Lulu reached out, giving his forearm a tight squeeze and a sympathetic look before letting go so he could continue. The gesture only twisted his insides further.
As he headed for the room to grab his already packed bag, Cam felt the heaviness in his heart echo his footsteps. He wasn’t ready to face her. Not now, not ever.