AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You should be nicer to Camille, she’s suffering.”
I looked down at her in surprise. “Not you, too?”
Mach pretended to be put in his place. He looked over Jazzy’s shoulder and then back at her face. “Where did my teenage sister go? Can you tell her we want her back?”
Jazzy rolled her eyes at him and dragged me farther into the restaurant. “C’mon, we need to eat Mach out of profits.”
When we reached the table, she pulled out the chair next to her.
Before I could sit, both my dad and Pamela stood to hug me.
“Camille, you look so healthy,” said Pamela, doing a quick head-to-toe appraisal.
“My girl, I heard you got a job.” My dad enveloped me in a hug before sitting back down.
I inhaled, and then exhaled with a big smile on my face. “I did,” I said, sitting down. I stopped the waiter passing by, “Mimosa, please.”
I turned back to my dad. “I’m reading grant requests. It’s really fun, and it feels good to offer funding to those in need.” I’m sure he completely missed my slight. “It’s a good job.”
“Well, good. I’m glad you’re contributing to society.” He nodded his chin as if he was satisfied with the results of the ‘Camille experiment’.
The waiter returned with my mimosa, and told us that we could join the buffet line at any time.
My dad stood, the table rattling as he thumped on the table with the palm of his hand. “Let’s go, Jazzy. I’m going to start with the shrimp cocktail.”
Who eats shrimp cocktail on Thanksgiving?
Jazzy pulled on my arm, “Come on.”
“I’ll wait a few moments.” I needed time to allow the champagne to work its relaxation magic on me.
When they were out of earshot, Pamela reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “How are you really, Camille?”
My shoulders dropped, and I sighed. “I hadn’t realized how mad I still am until Dad asked me about my job.”
She smiled at me, “It sounds like a great job for you.”
I didn’t tell her about the other plan to teach. “I know I sounded really snarky, but that’s just Dad making me nervous. I do like the job, and I’m actually really happy.”
She tilted her head, “Oh, I’m so glad.”
“I like the job, and the people, and…” I paused, wondering if I should tell her about Jacob. Of course, I would tell her about Jacob. “And I’ve been seeing Jacob Brooks.”
“Oh, that’s lovely.” She put her hand to her chest. “I always loved the two of you together.”
I was a little surprised. “What?”
She laughed. “Sweetie, did the two of you really think no one knew?”
I blinked my eyes, and shook my head. “Well, yeah. I knew Dad would be pissed off if I wasn’t focused on the Olympics, and I thought Mia would be pissed because she’s my best friend.” I wasn’t going to tell Pamela that Mia had already told us she knew all along.
“Camille, anyone with eyes could see the way Jacob watched you.”
I looked over at my dad in the buffet line, then back to Pamela. “Did my dad know?”
She snorted. “Camille! Jacob was at the hospital in London with your dad. What do you think?”
I dropped my head in my hands. “I’m so stupid. I thought he left me.”
