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“How did we end up here?” I cry. “It was never supposed to be this way.”

“Sometimes life throws us curveballs,” she smiles softly. “But the universe putting you two here right now isn’t a coincidence.”

“It’s been six years.”

“Oh, that doesn’t matter. You’re young. You were finding yourself and building a career. Timing is everything.”

“But Cooper…” I start.

“No buts, Camille. This is about you.” She says firmly. “Your brother is a grown man, and he loves you both. Stop putting everyone else’s happiness above your own and ask yourself what you want.”

Fresh tears slip down my cheeks. “I don’t even know if he still feels that way.”

My mom chuckles beside me. “Honey, I’ve known that boy since he was sixteen years old. I watched him look at you like you hung the moon long before either of you knew what it meant. Trust me, what I saw on that screen tonight wasn’t something new.”

I let out a shaky breath. “There’s been so much wasted time.”

“No, sweetheart.” She squeezes my hand. “You lived your life. So did he. And somehow, after all these years, you’re sitting beside the same lake under the same stars. If that’s not worth paying attention to, I don’t know what is.”

We sit in peace for a moment, listening to the water lap against the shore.

“Besides,” Mom says with a smile, standing up and dusting sand off her shorts. “I’ve seen the way that man has been looking at you this week.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks.

“Mom.”

“What?” She laughs. “I’m your mother. It’s my job to embarrass you.”

I laugh through my tears. She kisses the top of my head and smiles.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Anytime, honey, now go enjoy your new hotel room!” She winks.

Oh shit, I forgot I’m in Drew’s room tonight.

I slide the plastic keycard through the slot, the small beep signaling the lock as it clicks open. The room is pitch-black; he must have already gone to bed. I quietly slip into the bathroom to change into my pajamas, remove my contacts, and brush my teeth. When I finish, I tiptoe across the carpet and crawl into my designated bed, my mind charged when I hit the pillow. Sharing a room with Drew is overwhelming enough, but doing it right after the realization of what happened at the bonfire makes it impossible to rest. I force my eyes closed, begging for sleep to take over my racing thoughts.

“Cami?”

Drew’s whisper cuts through the stillness of the dark room.

“Yeah?” I answer, my heart beating so hard against my ribs I'm certain he can hear it from across the room.

“About that photo…”

There is a long, agonizing pause before he finally finds the words. A knot starts forming in my throat.

“It was exactly what it looked like,” he whispers. The raw emotion laced in his voice is unmistakable, shattering the distance between us.

My tears start flowing down my cheeks, pooling at the corners of my pillow.

“You broke my heart.”

“I know.” He says with pain in his voice. “Can I explain?”

“I’m tired, Drew,” I say, turning to my side, facing the wall to solidify the end of the conversation. As much as I need answers from him, tonight just isn't the night.