Page 72 of Knot Just A Fan

We haven’t decided which of those two is more likely.

The thing with Cami is, she hides her true feelings below the bluster and sarcasm, the wickedly-clever sensibilities, the witty comebacks, and the dark humor. Beneath all that, I know one thing about her: her family’s scandals.

Cami comes from a family of seven other siblings, and she one of three Omegas. On top of swearing she never wants a pack after what happened to her out of the Academy, she’s always sworn that she’d never be offered a place in a decent one anyhow, given the baggage that comes with all the scandals her well-connected family’s been part of. Most of them live in London, and while well-off, they’ve been embroiled in financial and social affairs that Cami wants nothing to do with. She’s gone so far as to take her maternal grandmother’s surname, Douglas, professionally, so no one connects her to her actual family.

Bottom line, Cami puts up a front, but I don’t know every detail about what it’s hiding. Other than she’s got a heart of gold, and, I suspect, has fairytale dreams of a romance that sweeps her away. But she will never admit this to me.

Exhibit A: I catch her wiping tears when we watch a heart-wrenching romantic film that I pick. I hear the music she listens to when she thinks I don’t. I just have always had a suspicion she really does want love. Not a pack.

Maybe an Alpha who also doesn’t want a pack. Like Ash.

She points at the clock. “We can talk about him later.” She bites her cheek, but can’t hide the smile creeping in the corner of her mouth.

“He has been a changed man since he came over here last week. I’ve never seen him so polite. He’s got it bad for you.”

“Who wouldn’t?” she says waving a hand in the air and rolling her eyes dramatically. “But who says he isn’t badforme? Now, let’s focus. Two more of these. And then, time to face the beast.”

Two hours later, I’m headed for the station to catch a train to the deepest, darkest southwest of England. To see none other than Ronan O’Sullivan, and do my best to bring him around.

Hope is a thin thing, and I struggle to hold on. If he can focus on that moment in Ash’s office, when they scented me as one and saw me apart from the girl behind the camera lens, maybe.

But I’m pinning my hopes squarely on the bonus to come out of this trip: the last video call of the day was a potential employer that would be adreamcome true. A company called Coastal Dreamscapes, based on the Devon-Cornwall border. They handle marketing for various companies across both counties. And they’re seeking an in-house photographer.

Commuting would be fine. I could live anywhere, as long as I can be shooting and producing material in Devon and Cornwall for the projects that come up. So say I received four projects in a week, as long as I shot all the necessary material, I wouldn’t need to be in the office more than once or twice a month to edit in-house and go over designs and layouts and such. I know nothing about graphic design but Cami’s more than happy to train me a bit. I’ve told her she should come and interview as well. Her eye for color and design, and my photography—we could be a two-for-one deal.

But first, I need to meet them in person. This brings me to the unexpected: they’ve agreed to reimburse my travel costs if I can come down to Exeter in the next few weeks.

“She’s going to Cornwalltoday,” Cami had piped up. “Is that soon enough?”

I explained to the husband-wife team running the company, Alice and Myles, that I was on my way to a wedding in Newquay, and could extend my stay if they had time to squeeze me in in the next few days.

And so, a dream could come true while another is shattered. Or maybe I’ll be really surprised and they’llbothcome true.

Cami and I reach the train station and scramble in out of the rain. “Weather’s shit. But this luck is incredible,” I say, shaking the worst of the wet off my jacket.

“You make your own luck, and getting up on that stage even when your fucking heart was breaking, that was you making it, girlfriend,” says Cami.

But I think neither of us feel lucky about our prospective Alphas.

Cami’s messaged Ash twice today with no response. She hasn’t gone so far as to call him.Could’ve just been a holiday shag, really. I’m not that bothered.Which is total bullshit, but I keep my mouth shut.

Similarly, Grayson hasn’t answered me. I texted him a small “hey” this morning, and had no reply. I texted Enzo as well. He made sure I had his number before we parted ways. Before, I’d only ever spoken directly to Ash and Grayson. Neither of them answer when I call, and an unsettling twist of my gut keeps me on edge.

I turn to Cami, who’s carrying the world’s hugest golf umbrella. “I wish you could come, but I know I need to talk to Ronan alone. And you’ve got work to catch up on. And you’ve done more than enough traipsing with me.”

Cami’s got a meeting with her Guild mentor she’s postponed twice now, as well as paperwork piled up. “Girl, France and Spain wasmyholiday that I draggedyouon! So stow it.”Then she grins. “If you need anything thing, you message meimmediately.Keep me updated though, yeah? And I’ve got a second-cousin called Colin down there in St. Austell. You need someone to help you out, let me know and I’ll get him and his mates over. He owns a pub. Haven’t seen Colin in years but we were both black sheep.”

I give her a hug while keeping an arm around my bag with my portfolio in a waterproof case.

“I want a running stream of updates, mate,” says Cami, giving me a hug and patting my head. “You’re amazing, my friend.”

I smile wide. “Not without you.” I frown for a second. “Don’t worry about Ash. I’m sure the guys are just busy.”

I’m worried about Gray and EnzoandAsh.But since none of them are answering, they must be doing band stuff, meeting with people, or rehearsing sans Ronan, or maybe they just took the day to go sit in the hot tub and relax. That’s what I tell myself.

Not that Willow’s got to them, and talked them out of me.

Cami shrugs. “It is what it is.” I see it on her face. It is way more than it is, but we both smile and wave and know we’re on the precipice of broken hearts. Which I never thought I’d say about Cami and Ash of all people. He was right there under our noses, all this time. But he didn’t seem like this Ash until he properly met Cami. Sat in our living room and watched her work her magic.

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