Page 142 of Camera Shy

“All right, baby, I got you. I’ll feed the fish and you go knock your presentation out of the park. You just enjoy your last few days.”

“Enjoy my last few days of what?”

“Being single. Because the minute you get home, I’m making you mine, officially. No more gray area. No more questions about what we’re doing. And definitely no more kissing other people.”

“Good, okay, that sounds—”

The call waiting beeps, so I pull the phone from my ear to check who’s calling. I’m mistaken. It’s just a text message, but the notifications make me catch my breath.

Mason

I’m coming clean to Avery after the Legacy deal is secured.

We’re over, Palmer. For good this time. I want her back.

“Avery?” I hear Finn ask through the phone, but my head goes fuzzy. My heart is tingling with nervous anticipation. The same sick feeling of dread you get at the top of a roller coaster when you know you’re about to take a plunge.

“Finn, that sounds perfect, but I have to go. We’ll talk soon.”

I hang up and open the message thread. Palmer and Mason were friends while we were dating, and Palmer has stepped in as my intermediary through the worst part of our breakup, so I’m not surprised that they text.

What surprises me are all the naked pictures.

All the dirty text messages.

The I love yous and I want yous.

My heart has collapsed, but my investigative brain doesn’t fail me. I know what’s going on, but I want details. I need more facts. This is my best friend and my ex-boyfriend. Of all the people to rebound with. How they hell could they do this to me?

I run across a familiar message and can confirm Mason’s first lie to me. Rumble app, my ass. He must’ve accidentally duplicated the message and sent it to me because he was talking to me and Palmer at the same time. What a snake.

Mason

I want to see you tonight. It’s been over a month. I need that sweet pussy in my mouth again.

Palmer

Come get it. You know where I’m staying.

Mason

It’s either a flight or a twelve-hour drive to Albuquerque.

Palmer

I’ll make it worth your while.

It takes me another minute of scrolling before I realize the damage runs so much deeper.

This was no rebound.

Mason

I’m giving her the ring, tonight.

Palmer

Why are you going to propose if you don’t love her?

---