Page 14 of Not That Into You

“Hello!” She grins as she sits next to Gina.

I narrow my eyes at her, and she widens hers in response. “What?”

“You know what.”

Her friendliness may be genuine, but her innocent expression telegraphs guilt.

Claire looks between us. “What’s going on?”

“She”—I point at Hayley—“gave away my favorite work spot to the enemy.”

Anna smirks. “You have an enemy?”

“Yes. Cameron.”

There’s a chorus of ohs.

Claire chuckles while looking at Hayley. “Why’d you do that?”

Hayley gives me a pitiful look. “I’m sorry. He said he needed to talk to you.”

“You could’ve given him my number.”

Her eyes widen. “I thought that would piss you off.”

Claire, Anna, and Gina all nod.

“Fine. But then you could’ve given him my email address.”

Hayley gives me an apologetic look. “He said it was urgent.”

I roll my eyes. “You could have taken a message.”

“He said it was important. He promised to play nice.” She lifts her hands, palms up. “What was I supposed to say?”

“That you didn’t know where I was?”

“Yes, but . . .” She bites her bottom lip. “He seemed desperate. Was he a jerk?”

“He was . . .” I huff out a breath. “Cameron. Irritatingly full of himself.” I cross my arms. “He didn’t tell you why he wanted to talk to me?”

“No.”

“Hm.”

Claire leans in. “Why did he want to talk to you?”

“He wanted to . . .” I shake my head. I still can’t wrap my brain around this morning’s conversation. “He wanted me to pretend to be his girlfriend next weekend in the Hamptons.”

“What?” they all say at once.

I give them a brief recap of my conversation with Cameron and am somewhat mollified when even Hayley seems as appalled as I feel.

“I can only assume he slipped and hit his head on the sidewalk outside whatever gastropub he was frequenting last night. I still don’t understand how he led his mother to believe he’s dating me.”

Hayley slowly shakes her head. “You and Cameron?”

I give her a look meant to convey, I know. Crazy, right?

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