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“You sure did, John. Thank you so much.” She turned to the group of men. “Well, it was nice to meet all of you. I’m glad you arrived safely, and I’ll see you in a short while for dinner.”
They all said a goodbye, and then John directed each man to one of the two vehicles.
Mia just stared at me pointedly as we walked back to the truck.
Before the men riding with us climbed in the back seat, Mia said quietly, “Really?”
“It was last Christmas. It was no big deal. It was casual.” The words didn’t match the thought that maybe this was a good moment to start making some of my amends.
“Obviously not to Brett.” She pushed the start button and the diesel engine of the off-road, four-door truck roared to life.
Three men jumped in the back, including Brett, preventing any further discussion between Mia and me.
After Mia pulled out of the airport parking lot, Brett leaned forward, resting his elbow on my seat back. “It’s good to see you, Camille.”
Peering over my shoulder, I gave him a half smile. “You too, Brett.”
One of the men snickered.
He scooted closer, restrained by his seatbelt from actually climbing up into the front seat. “Will we have any time to get dinner while I’m in town?”
I crossed my arms, pulling my coat tighter around myself. My excuse was the cold, biting air of the day, but I knew it was also armor for shame that I had used Brett so carelessly.
Mia answered for me in a somewhat snarky tone. “Camille has a pretty busy shooting schedule. She told the photographers she would be available every day. Didn’t you, Camille?”
With a sideways glance, Mia told me that is exactly where I should find myself. I added apologetically, “Yeah, I did. I’m sorry.”
To her soon-to-be brother-in-law, Mia said, “I am sure there are plenty of other women for you to cast your pretty golden eyes on.”
Her comment made me smile, because his eyes were the only pretty thing about his features. The rest of his face was actually hard. A scar running through his eyebrow gave him the appearance of a Russian gangster. Too many pucks to the face made him appear almost frightening. But he did have those eyes, and a smile that would melt your panties off.
“Ah, Mia, are you sad you didn’t find me first?” He teased her.
She shook her head. “I pity.”
He laughed and sat back in his seat.
The drive to the hotel was filled with talk of dinner plans, the upcoming shooting schedule, and Mia and John’s wedding next spring.
I stayed silent. I’d forgotten about Brett. Well, I hadn’t exactly forgotten about Brett, I’d just thought we were both not looking for anything serious. My mind was racing with ideas about how I could get out of dinner tonight. I knew that wouldn’t be possible since I’d organized this entire event, but I could still imagine a terrible illness that would render me completely unavailable, if only for tonight.
Mia’s movements were tense with barely contained aggravation toward me. I could feel her stewing as she helped all the men unload their bags and check into the hotel. Her smile was pretty but it didn’t meet her eyes.
By the time Mia and I were headed back to her house, I couldn’t take the cold shoulder any longer. “Just spit it out, Mia. I don’t want to hide my relationship with Jacob, so let’s just get it out.”
She shook her head. “I’m not mad about Jacob. I know you love him. I’m not even mad about Brett.” Snow started to gently fall.
“Then why are giving me the silent treatment?”
Her shoulders dropped. “I guess I wish your past would stop interfering with your future.”
I looked out the window so she couldn’t read my expression.
She continued, “I know you have been very flirtatious in the past. It’s you, I know that. But with Brett, it just hit really close, with him being John’s brother and all. I feel stuck in the middle. And yeah, now that I’m talking about it, maybe I am a little mad. Because it will always be there now. Jacob and Brett.”
I huffed, “Mia, it really wasn’t that big of a deal. It was once last Christmas after Ford’s party. It didn’t mean anything.”
Now she was really mad. “The fact that it didn’t mean anything makes it worse. I told you after the party that Brett really liked you.”
