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“Isn’t this such a fun, spontaneous idea?” Isabella said. “Your brother has been working himself absolutely knackered this week, and he needs a break. A moment to be carefree, to not think. I had the idea at lunch, and John jumped on it.”
Cameron looked at Brandon. “Did you jump on the idea?”
He hesitated. When Isabella glanced at him, he smiled graciously. “I could use a change of scenery. Not sure we’ll make it to Christchurch and back though.”
“Rubbish,” John said. “We’ve all night.”
“What’s in Christchurch?” Cameron asked.
“Firefly Drive-in Theatre.”
“All that way for a movie, when we have our double-feature tomorrow?”
“While we’re looking forward to that,” Isabella said, “this is about having fun. The journey more than the destination.”
“Well, enjoy. I can’t come.”
Isabella pouted. “Why not?”
“Georgie and Henry are coming any second now.”
“Nope, they’re not,” John said. “I saw them pass here in their SUV headed for the manse.”
Cameron frowned. “They’re probably dropping off his things and then coming back.”
“Did they message you?”
Cameron checked his phone. “No. But it’s only quarter past. Our walk isn’t running away.”
“Isabella and I escaped a heavy shower on our way in. Miserable weather for a walk.”
“But not for a drive?”
“Oh, it’s one of those five-minute things. Will clear up in no time.”
Cameron should text, ask Henry the plan.
John took his phone and set it on the far side of the desk. “We’re offering you an adventure, Cameron. Not hopeful maybes.”
Isabella swooped in on his other side, looping an arm around his elbow. “Can we all go together, please? My brother would hate playing chauffeur while Brandon and I talk the whole time.”
John nodded. “This way you’ll keep me company. I’ll even let you choose the music.”
It was twenty-five past. Who was he kidding? They weren’t coming. Distance had probably shown Henry that Cameron wasn’t the right match. Or he’d decided Cameron was too much work to teach, even for a fling.
Isabella kissed his cheek. “We’ll get snacks for the car.”
“Nothing crumby,” John said.
She winked at him and mouthed, “Very crumby.”
A small laugh bubbled in his throat, and he let them usher him out of the studios and into John’s convertible.
His belly twisted as they pulled out of the parking area. He couldn’t shake his disappointment. He’d hoped all day to see Henry.
But waiting beyond thirty minutes was pathetic. She should have texted—“Oh, wait,” Cameron said. “My phone’s still on my desk.”
John kept driving. “I have mine in case of emergency.”
“You don’t have all the numbers I need.”
“Brandon? Do you have your phone?”
Brandon met John’s eyes in the rearview, startled. “Hmm? Yes, I do.”
John looked at Cameron. “See. You’re not missing anything critical.” He palmed Cameron’s thigh. “I promise to drive you back tomorrow for it and your car.”
Cameron moved to push John’s hand off him, but John returned it to the steering wheel.
At the red light, Brandon leaned between the gap in the front seats. “Who are those people staring at you and John, Cameron?”
“Who? Where?”
“Diagonally across the intersection.”
Sure enough, Henry and Georgie stood waiting for the pedestrian light, holding three reusable coffee cups between them.
Cameron’s heart pounded, and John drove as the lights turned green.
“Pull over,” Cameron said. “Pull over, Henry and Georgie were on their way to me.”
John looked at them as he passed.
“John! Stop. Let me out.”
He turned a corner and sped up.
“Seriously. Pull over. You’re being immature. I had a date with them before you came.”
“Trust me,” John said. “I’m doing you a favor.”
Cameron gritted his teeth. He’d jump out at the next possible opportunity.
Brandon’s sure, even voice sounded from the back. “John, please respect my brother’s wishes.”
“I’m trying to watch out for him.”
Cameron glared. “What does that mean?”
“Henry is trouble. Mike from the party, he knew Henry in England. He told us stories.”
“Stories? What are you talking about?”
“Doesn’t it seem suspicious that his mum died falling down the stairs? The same way his sister got injured?”
Cameron frowned. “Who told you that?”
“One of Henry’s exes.”
Well. “Hardly a trustworthy source.”
John donned an apologetic look, and Brandon, who’d been braced to help Cameron, was tugged back by Isabella.
“I don’t want you to get hurt,” John said.
Cameron frowned. “Did you really see their SUV going up the hill?”
“I saw an SUV and it could have been them.”
“You lied to me.”
“I’m protecting you.”
“I can look after myself.”
John chuckled. “You might think you can.”
John pressed down on the gas and made the last light that led to the highway.
It was over. Even if they slowed down in the next town, he had no way of making it home.
No way of messaging Henry to tell him what’d happened, that he was sorry. Why hadn’t he insisted on waiting? It had rained, so they’d probably taken cover and were running late.
He glared out the window, refusing to look even one second at John.
Isabella giggled, thoroughly distracting Brandon. At least he was having a good time. But God, Cameron just wanted this day to end so they could head back.
