Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
KAMILA
T he next morning after the party, Em and I went to the dining hall for a much-needed greasy brunch. Lucky for me, she was quiet most of the morning due to her bitch of a hangover and didn’t ask me any questions. My friends can’t find out what happened, not yet, anyway. Not while I’m still unsure of what’s to come.
It’s Tuesday morning now, meaning that today’s my first business class since the Kappa party. Groaning at the thought, I take in my surroundings and notice that the leaves are changing colors.
When did that happen? Fall is my favorite season, and the colors are just a small part of what I love about it. I’ve been so distracted this semester with work, classes, and?—
Wait. I stop dead in my tracks to find a flier for an internship on a bulletin board next to the business building. I’ve been meaning to look for one since the semester started but kept putting it off. And it’s not just any internship, but one that’s requesting public relations and marketing majors for their social media accounts. My goal is to work in the PR field for the entertainment industry, whether it be theater or Hollywood. An internship for the head of social media at King’s Wolf for the rest of the fall and the whole of the spring semester will help me build up my resume. It’s part-time, and it’s also worth two school credits, perfect. Maybe I can drop by this week and ask Mateo to put in a good word for me. I take a picture of the flier and continue making my way to the business building.
I arrive at the classroom with ten minutes to spare, feeling much better than before, knowing I have a potential internship lined up. But the realization that Cameron will be coming through those doors any minute has my stomach sinking. I hate this feeling of unsureness. Is he going to taunt me? Bait me? Hopefully, none of the above.
I’ve been filled with guilt ever since that night. The picture of Cameron driving into me and choking me fills my head, while the memory of my orgasm heats my body, but guilt quickly follows. I keep dodging my sister's calls. We’ve been texting, and every time I send her an ‘I love you’ the heaviness of the situation tightens my chest. My phone vibrates with a message from Levi. Before I open it, I jump at the deep voice beside me.
“Hey, Kamila. Texting Levi, I see. How’s he doing after you broke the news to him?” I tuck my phone back into my pocket and ignore him.
He smiles and leans forward. “Have you given any more thought to my proposition?”
He’s so close that I can smell his cologne. It’s different from the one he used to wear. It’s earthy with hints of smokiness.
“Did you just smell me?” Cameron presses his lips together, stifling a laugh.
I blush. Yes. “Nope.”
“Uh-huh.” He pulls his chair a little closer to mine. “Kamila, look at me.” I sigh and do as he says.
“What?”
He lowers his voice to a whisper, and his dark eyes fill with what I can only describe as inexplicable want. “Have you thought about my proposition? ”
My throat bobs as I swallow, trying not to get lost in the same want. “It can’t happen again.”
The words don’t sound convincing at all, making him smile because that look wasn’t just a natural reaction to our chemistry…it was also a test.
He leans in a little closer. “Your mind is saying one thing, but your body is telling me the opposite. Your face is slightly flushed, your breaths are uneven, your voice is unsteady, and your pupils are dilated.” He pauses when I scowl. “You want me just as badly as I do you.”
“You’re wrong,” I say with as much confidence as I can.
He narrows his eyes, backs away, and laughs softly. “Okay, I’ll stop talking about it.”
My body relaxes. “Thank you.”
“For now.”
Rubbing my forehead and rolling my eyes, I say, “Let’s just focus on class, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He leans back in his chair and gives me a wink that makes my legs press together. Which, of course, he doesn’t miss.
He’s far from done with this topic. Cameron is extremely stubborn, like me. He doesn’t stop until he gets what he wants, and he’s not wrong about me wanting him. I have thought about the proposition, I just can’t go through with it. Although it has been almost two and a half years since him and my sister broke up, and she’s clearly moved on from what she’s told me since I last saw her— no Kamila, those are just excuses. He’s getting into your head. What he did to you and Ana was wrong and unforgivable.
I sense Cameron’s eyes on me. When I take a peek, I catch him smirking. We might not know each other like we used to, but he can still tell what I’m thinking just like I can him. He knows he’s getting to me, and he’s enjoying it. A little too much. I bob my head towards the professor, wordlessly telling him to pay attention to the lecture. He shrugs and turns back to the projection screen. Yet I can still make out the small smirk on his face before moving my attention back to the board.
Zoey and I are finishing our meals at Roxy’s before heading to King’s Wolf. It’s the first time the two of us have hung out alone. She texted me asking for a girl’s night out, and we invited all the other girls, but none of them could make it. It’s Thursday, which means tonight is ladies’ night at the bar where it’s two for one for women in King’s Wolf. Unlike Zo, my goal for tonight is to secure that internship. I need to ask Mateo if he’s willing to put in a good word for me.
I do have to admit that I was nervous to go out with her alone. She was Cameron’s friend first, which is fine. I’m just not sure how much she knows or wants to know about our odd situation. Thankfully, she hasn’t mentioned him at all . Cameron also hasn’t called or texted me since our class on Tuesday, which was a relief until I got a feeling in the pit of my stomach that something is off. It can’t be this easy to get rid of him.
“Hey, are you okay?” Zoey takes my hand in hers.
“Yeah, sorry, I zoned out for a second.”
“Okay, well, I’m ready when you are.”
“I’m all set. Let’s go.” We put our jackets on and head out. We’re both dressed casually compared to our usual night-out attires. Zo is wearing some loose jeans with sneakers and a black long-sleeved cropped top, her curly hair slicked back in a tight ponytail. Meanwhile, I decided to wear one of the few baggy, graphic t-shirts I own and tucked it into my ripped black jeans, paired with black boots, and, to complete the look, a high ponytail and red lipstick.
Zo and I make it to King’s Wolf, and the bar is just as busy as any regular Saturday night. Music blasts through the small, strong speakers surrounding the place. People’s voices still manage to be on the louder side, everyone yelling so that their friends can hear them. The atmosphere alone tells me that Nick is not DJ-ing tonight.
“You want to go talk to your friend before we find some seats?” Zo points towards the bar.
Nodding yes because I don’t feel like straining my vocal cords, we head to the bar. I’m more nervous than I should be and hadn’t realized how badly I want and need this internship till now. I lean up against the end of the bar and wave at Mateo. He smiles and holds up a finger, asking me to give him a minute.
“He’s cute,” Zo hums.
Bouncing on my feet, I tell her what I already know. “Yeah, he’s not really my type.”
She tilts her head. “Okay. So tell me, what is Kamila Morales’s type?”
And there it is. “Honestly, I have no idea anymore.”
Her confusion is clear. Before she’s able to ask me something else, Mateo interrupts us. “Hey, Kami and Kami’s new friend. What can I get for you ladies?”
“Well, Mateo, before we order, I wanted to ask you for a favor.” I shoot him a shy smile.
He exhales heavily, knowing my favors are never tiny. “What’s up?” He puts his rag over his right shoulder and leans forward to hear me better.
Here goes nothing. “I saw the flier for the internship, and I’m going to apply. I was wondering if you could put in a good word for me with whoever’s in charge of that.”
He shrugs. “Yeah, sure. The owner is friends with my mom. I’ll let her know.”
Containing my excitement at the possibility of getting an internship my junior year, I reply casually. “Thank you, Mateo.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Tara might be nice, but she always plays fair. She’ll end up picking the best candidate no matter what I tell her.”
Good, I want to be the best damn candidate, and I want to be pushed and taught as much as possible .
“That’s fine with me. I respect that.”
“And now, if you don’t mind, ladies, I have a lot of people waiting and only one other person working tonight.”
“Sorry about that. Here.” I lean over the counter and put some cash into the tip jar they keep hidden. “I’ll get two amaretto sours and Zoey?”
“Two vodka cranberries, please.”
“Coming right up.” He salutes us and goes to work
“Put it in on my tab!” I yell out. He throws me a thumbs up.
“You don’t have to do that.” Zo gets pushed closer to me by a guy walking past. Some of these people are animals.
“Yes, I did. You accompanied me here for work-related shit, it’s the least I can do.”
“Don’t forget who needed a girl’s night out.” She points a finger at herself.
“In that case, the next round is on you.” Zo nods her head, content with my answer.
After Mateo returns with our drinks, Zo and I search for a table. We look for fifteen minutes till a booth for two opens up. Zoey tells me about herself since I basically know nothing. She’s from Boston, she’s a biology major planning to go pre-med, her parents are both teachers who met during their senior year of college, and they’ve been together ever since.
I quickly tell her about my family situation, including how my biological dad ran out on us when Ana and I were babies. However, it wasn’t hard on me and my sister since we don’t remember a thing. Mom was more than enough, and my stepdad is an amazing male role model for both me and my sister, even if he hasn’t been around for an extremely long amount of time.
Zo shifts uncomfortably at Ana’s name and doesn’t press for any more information. Why is she reacting this way?
Then, the thought of what Will asked at the party comes to the forefront of my mind. Which reminds me…I open my mouth to ask why her boyfriend pulled that little stunt at the party wh en the music gets even louder and more people join the dance floor.
My ears are going to be doing a number on me tonight after we leave.
“You want to dance?” I say, hoping she’ll oblige. It’s too loud for us to talk now.
“What?”
I make pointing gestures to the dance floor. She chugs her drink and nods emphatically.
Hand in hand, we push through the crowd and find a spot. We start dancing and singing with everyone else as I shut my eyes and lose myself to the music.
Halfway through the next song, right when I’m doing a slow spin, Zoey jumps. I turn, worried that somebody hurt her, but nope, she’s now in Will’s arms.
What is he doing here? The girl could’ve at least given me a heads up.
They start talking while I lean over, trying to listen, but the music is just too damn loud. You have to be right next to a person's mouth in order to hear them.
Zo then turns back around, giving me her attention. “Kami, look who’s here,” she says, beaming.
My smile doesn’t reach my eyes because if Will is here, then so is Cameron.
“Hey, Will.” I wave.
“Hey, Kami.” He’s wearing that dopey look he’s had ever since he and Zoey started going out.
She frowns and stands next to me, putting her mouth next to my ear. “I swear I didn’t know he was coming. He was hanging out with the guys and Cam convinced everyone to go to a couple of bars.”
“Of course, he did.” Just as I predicted. His desperation is getting to be a little much, and it’s kind of a turn-off. Colleges might seem big, but if you meet someone new on campus, chances are they know somebody you do, or they know somebody who knows somebody that you do. There’s always a connection somehow. Meaning it is extremely likely to run into somebody you know, especially on a night like this.
Zo pouts. “I’m sorry, Kami. I really didn’t know. I hadn’t even texted him tonight.”
“I believe you.” And I do. “I might head out early, though.” The last thing I feel like doing is having it out with Cameron the rest of the night.
She shakes her head. “Please stay.”
I’m not a people pleaser, and despite that, I’d feel bad if I were to ditch her.
Looking her over, I nod my head with annoyance. “Okay.” She hugs me tightly, making me wince. Zo is much stronger than she looks.
Once we aren’t hugging anymore, I look at our surroundings and come up empty. Maybe he decided to leave early. The music finally goes down a notch enough not to have to scream at the top of our lungs. I focus my attention back to Zo and pull her closer. “I have a question.”
“Yeah?”
“Promise me you won’t be mad at Will.”
Zoey narrows her eyes. “What did the idiot do now?”
Biting my inner cheek to keep myself from laughing, I ignore the fact that Will is definitely getting into some sort of trouble tonight. “Did he mention that he gave my phone number to Cameron on Saturday?”
She tilts her head. “No, he didn’t. How would he even…” I see the moment everything clicks. “Oh, that was a really stupid move, William. He got it from my phone, didn’t he?” Even in the dim lighting, I can see her face heating.
Somebody’s in trouble.
“Cameron pressured him, and I didn’t want to rat him out. I needed to know if you’d been part of it.”
“I would have never given him your number without your permission. I’m so sorry that Will did that, Kami,” she says in a serious tone.
By the murderous look in her eyes, I’m a little scared for Will now. “It’s fine, really, I shouldn’t have even asked.”
She crosses her arms. “No, it’s a good thing you told me. Apparently, some boundaries need to be set ASAP. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go yell at my boyfriend for the first time since we started dating. I’ll be right outside, text me if you need anything.”
I don’t even try to stop her as she stomps off. That woman is very intimidating when she’s mad, and I do not want to get caught in the middle of all that. I wasn’t trying to start a fight, but I needed to know that I could confide in Zoey. Although, I’d be lying if I said I felt bad for Will.
I’m debating on what to do or where in the bar to go next and decide to stay where I am dancing alone since Zo should be back soon. After dancing to two pop songs alone, “Dembow” by Danny Ocean starts playing. Damn, I miss Em and Luna, they would’ve stayed and danced with me. Zoey has been gone for longer than I expected. Hopefully, she didn’t get too mad at Will, or worse, ditched me. Before when I almost left, I wouldn’t have considered it if she was alone, but I am alone. Still, she doesn’t seem like that kind of person. For my own sanity, I try typing up a message when I feel a presence behind me and turn to find Cameron towering over me. He’s wearing a smirk while his eyebrow piercing glints in the flashing bar lights. He takes in my appearance, looking at me from head to toe, then up to meet my eyes. I lean my head to the side, avoiding the way his gray t-shirt hugs his slim yet muscular body.
“Did you know I was coming to King’s Wolf?”
“No, I just got lucky.” His face is unreadable.
“Still not happening, Cameron.” Not wanting to discuss the topic any further, I begin to walk away. He grabs my hand, stopping me in my tracks. The touch sends an unexpected jolt through my body, and that’s the last thing I need right now .
“Who said I came here to talk about that?”
Looking down at our connecting hands, he let’s go. “You didn’t need to, I can see it all over your face.” My cheeks heat with anger and annoyance. “What do you want, Cameron? Apart from that ? I was dancing peacefully till you interrupted me. So, what. Do. You. Want?”
His eyes darken and he strides till he’s a couple of inches away from me. “I know I interrupted you. I’ve been watching you since Zoey left to fight with Will. Thanks for that by the way, I’m sure I’ll get an earful of shrieking later.”
I smile. “Happy to oblige.”
We stare at each other, neither one of us willing to be the first to look away. Another pointless challenge. His eyes shift to my lips and I take a step back before he’s able to make a move. “Eres Mía” by Romeo Santos blasts through the speakers. Great. Yet another song my mom played when she tried teaching Cameron how to dance.
“Thinking about how I couldn’t dance?” Cameron says, amused.
A smile threatens to appear. “Couldn’t? You had two left feet and you probably still do.”
He lets out a dark laugh. “Alright, Kamila, humor me for a minute. If I can keep up with you during this song, you have to sit down and have a real conversation with me about what happened the other night.”
He’s funny if he thinks he can keep up with me after what I’ve seen him do in the past. Plus, he hasn’t had my mom’s help in years and his parents can’t dance either.
“Deal.”
He holds out his hand, and when I take it, he pulls me flat against his chest. Even with my tall boots Cameron needs to bend down slightly so that our hips can come somewhat close to touching. He begins to move his feet and hips from side to side in sync with the song and me. My eyes widen. No fucking way.
“Wait—How—Who?” I stumble over my words .
He grins and lowers his mouth to my ear. “A lot can happen in two years, Kamila.”
Cameron spins me around, and somehow, I manage to stay in step with him. He moves forward, then brings me backward, everything done with the right foot and hip work. He’s almost as good as I am, and I’ve been doing this since I was five. This is nothing like the seventeen-year-old boy who knocked over one of our lamps in the living room while learning the basics of this dance.
His stare is intense when he brings our hips together and rolls his into mine in perfect time with the beat.
We dance until the song is over, my eyes remain wide the entire time as I wait for my punishment.
He pulls away but doesn’t let go of my hand. “I think you owe me a conversation now.”