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“Go.” Cam pointed to his office, and Bennett meandered that way, grinning the entire time. Once the man was safely ensconced in Cam’s office, knuckles brushed my shoulder, and a soft, velvety voice murmured, “Have a great day, Honeycutt.”

“Oh, yes. Of course! You—you too.” God, had I gone bonkers? This was high school all over again, at once flustered and exasperated by this beguiling man.

He laughed as he walked away. Helen’s near-maternal judgment as we made eye contact was a bit much.

“I know, okay?” I hissed at her. “I don’t need your silent sass.”

She turned to her computer, full of silent sass, and I drank my free, mysterious coffee.

Twelve

Later that morning, the marketing team had a pre-meeting at the public conference table in the center of the office. To no one’s surprise, Booboo was still “punishing” me with the silent treatment, and only scoffed when I presented the basics of my idea. For the Marketing Director, he had surprisingly little to say at our meeting.

Edmond, primarily in charge of social media, remained neutral to my idea. “You can present yours first. I have a concept I’ll be presenting as well.”

I tried to muster some enthusiasm. “That’s great!” As soon as the words left my mouth, my shoulders tensed, and I checked my surroundings to ensure Cam was nowhere within earshot.

Thank god.

If his bland smile was anything to go by, Edmond didn’t judge my choice of adjective.

Xavier was in charge of sponsorships and organizing marketing events—all of which had already been planned through the end of the year—so he had nothing to add. At the meeting’s conclusion, he shook his fist in a show of solidarity, though it didn’t seem directed toward me. “We got this.”

A fresh wave of butterflies fluttered to life in my stomach. “Yeah. Definitely.”

Thankfully, a room existed for more private meetings on the other side of the building, next to Shep’s office. At the appointed time, we headed that way, and Shep looked up from his desk as we passed, smiling at everyone. When he landed on me, however, his smile stiffened, and he returned to his work.

Camden’s father was never directly rude. Never cutting. His Southern gentleman manners smothered any overt dislike, but his aversion was clear nonetheless. Something about me had always vexed him, from the moment I met him at my high school freshman orientation.

I’d been standing with my mother in the gymnasium, friendless and tense, but she encouraged me to branch out, meet someone. Nervous and out of my element, I stepped into the mingling crowd of students and parents while my mother struck up an easy conversation with another mom.

Not for the first time, I wished I had her social skills.

I stumbled upon a dark-haired girl as she stood with her hands on her hips, contemplating the extracurriculars at a series of tables set up for clubs and sports.

“What do you think?” she asked out of the blue.

I looked beside me to make sure she wasn’t talking to someone else. “Uh— What do I think about what?”

She pointed at a table full of students in workout clothes. “I’m thinking cross-country.”

I injected a bit of teasing into my voice. “I was thinking cheerleading.”

Her head tilted, thoughtful. In all seriousness, she said, “I don’t like skirts.”

“I was kidding anyway. If someone threw me in the air, I’d scream.”

With a smile, she held out her hand. “I’m Maribel.”

“Shay.”

She gestured toward the tables. “Which one would you want?”

I scanned over my options, pausing on one that stood out. “Students for a Better Tomorrow.”

Maribel faced me, elfin features and luminous eyes taking my measure. “I’ll be real with you. I just moved here and don’t know anyone. You seem cool. I’ll join your better tomorrow if you join cross-country with me.”

I deliberated that for only two seconds before nodding vehemently. “Definitely. Let’s do it.”