Page 34 of I Think He Knows?

Ugh. So Lilly ended their relationship, not him? This adds a whole other level to this situation. I’m guessing that’s why he seemed so bothered by her showing up today.

“I know you don’t expect an explanation, but I’ve been wanting to share this with you,” he admits. “I didn’t want things to be awkward last night or today.”

I think it’s a good sign he wants to talk to me about this. If he didn’t think it was important to be honest, then he wouldn’t have addressed it, right? At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

“I heard you knew each other,” I tell him. “The rumor mill has already been churning. You know how gossip spreads like wildfire around the school.”

He groans. “Lewis knows about it and called me in to discuss it. Lilly told her about our previous relationship, and she wanted to make sure our working in the school together wouldn’t be an issue.”

“What did you say?”

“Both of us being at school isn’t a problem,” he says. “But I was caught off guard when she showed up today. It’s not Lilly’s style to hang out with co-workers. I guess she’s really trying to get to know the staff.”

“That makes sense,” I agree. “Did you work together at a different school?”

“No. We’ve never worked at the same place—until now.”

“Does it bother you she’s at Eastern Lake?”

I’m not holding anything back because I still have so many questions.

“There are plenty of other schools,” he says. “She claimed the job was too good to pass on, and since our school has such a great reputation, she had to take the opportunity.

I nod slowly. While it’s true our reputation is excellent, I’m wondering if that’s the only reason she’s at Eastern Lake Elementary. I have my suspicions there may be another reason.

“Anyway, there’s something else,” he continues.

Ugh. This can’t get worse.

“Saturday, the night I cancelled our dinner…” he trails off.

“Yes?”

“Lilly showed up to dinner with my parents,” he blurts out. “I had no idea she was going to be there, so as you can imagine, I wasn’t happy. Mostly because I thought I was having dinner with just them after they made such a big deal about seeing me. After I got to the restaurant, I found out my mother had invited Lilly to celebrate the new job.”

I was wrong. It does get worse.

So Cam’s ex-fiancé and his mother have stayed in touch even after their engagement ended. This is an unfortunate and bizarre twist I wasn’t prepared for.

“Your parents still talk to Lilly even after you broke up?”

He frowns. “It’s a bit more complicated than that. Long story short, my parents and Lilly’s parents are very, very close. Our fathers played college football together.”

Wait—what? I’m trying to absorb everything he’s telling me.

“Believe me, I know it’s a lot,” he says. “Remember when I told you my parents are intense? This situation made everything worse.”

“I’m sure it did.”

I stare out the car window as I try to figure out what else to say. On one hand I appreciate Cam being so open about this when he doesn’t owe me anything. I’m also a bit disappointed because every time I think Cam and I are making progress something gets in the way. A beautiful ex-fiancé who happens to be besties with his mother seems like a significant interference.

“So Lilly was the one to call off the engagement, and your parents are upset with you?”

He nods as he focuses on the road ahead of us.

“My parents think I gave up too soon and I didn’t fight for the relationship,” he says. “Even after I told them we weren’t ready. They believe they know what’s best for everyone around them, and nothing else matters. Lilly and I splitting up destroyed their perfect image of how life was supposed to be.”

We pull into the parking lot of the restaurant, which means we need to halt this conversation to meet Jess and Leo.

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