“We were talking about name calling. What are you going to do the next time Mauro calls you a name?”
Another eye roll. “I will stand up for myself wespeckfully.”
I gave her a big kiss and she giggled. “Exactly. And yes we can do snack and play when we get home and then Tia Priya and Tio Sanjay are coming over. You’ll hang out with Tia, and Tio and I will work for a bit.”
“Yes!” She pumped her little fist in the air at the mention of time with Priya. “Are they staying for dinner?”
“We can ask them, I’m sure they’d love to.”
“Okay good.” With that she put her little head against my shoulder and stuck her thumb in her mouth. I held her tight as we walked up to our house. Suddenly a random thought popped into my head.
How would Camilo get along with Libe? Would he be turned off by me having a kid?
An image of Camilo and Libe sitting down in my living room playing and laughing came into my mind with such clarity it felt like a memory. The idea of sharing moments like this with someone, exchanging a look at Libe’s antics, was a yearning I’d not indulged in since the divorce. I could see it now though, and Camilo’s face was right there, front and center.
This infatuation was getting ridiculous.
As I walked up the stoop to my door I thought about my earlier meeting with Camilo and Melissa. He held himself so tightly, like he was bracing for the world to fuck with him. I knew I’d freaked him out when I’d asked for weekly face-to-face meetings. I wondered if he could tell I was full of shit.
Obviously, I didn’t need that level of involvement in the project. It was just an excuse to see him again. I wasn’t even sure what my endgame was with any of it, but when I saw a chance to get more time with Camilo—who I thought had disappeared from my life forever last Friday—all I could do was find a way to lock it down.
chapter five
camilo
“Last time I take your advice at a fancy gala!” I yelled as I barged into Ayako’s office, firmly closing the door behind me. I paced the space in front of her desk a couple of times, then slumped into a chair while she stared at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Could you please start by telling me what the hell you’re talking about? I thought you were with Melissa and that donor.”
I pulled hard on my hair when she said the worddonorand covered my face with my hands. “It’s the same guy.”
“Who’s the same guy?” Ayako asked sounding exasperated.
I took my hands off my face and leaned my head back, staring at the ceiling, before facing her again.
“Tom, the guy from the gala, is the fucking mystery donor!”
Ayako’s face went from confusion to realization and then horror.
“Oh shit.”
I hung my head sighing. “Exactly.”
“Oh my God, did he say something at the meeting? Was he an asshole about it? He seemed like a nice guy, but we knowthatcounts for nothing.”
I tried to collect my thoughts and tamp down the panic, which had returned with a vengeance. I was going to give my brain whiplash from the hot and cold. One moment I’m elatedabout getting to see Tom again, and the next I’m having a meltdown because I have to see him again.
“No he was fine, actually went out of his way to make me feel comfortable. He didn’t mention anything.”
Ayako relaxed her shoulders. “That’s good then, right?”
I shook my head again, struggling to come up with everything that was going through my mind at the moment.
“It’s good he didn’t spill the beans on me choking down his dick at the party, sure, but that doesn’t mean I’m free and clear. He wants to be closely involved in the initial stages of the project, Ayako!” I stood up and started pacing again as I talked. “Apparently he’s giving the money for personal reasons. The plan is for us to meet once a week, so I can keep him updated on the project.”
Ayako burst out laughing.
“Oh shit, Camilo. This could only happen to you! Of course, the guy you decide to suck off at a party turns out to be the millionaire who wants to fix the shelter. You can’t make this shit up!” She cackled some more while I glared at her, hating my life.
