Page 38 of The Fallacy of True Love
Too bad my time was running out.
We were discussing coffee culture when Cam excused herself to use the bathroom. The second she was out of hearing distance, Nikki turned to me. “So, what did Cam tell you at the bar?”
“She asked me what my bottle was saying, and then she ordered me to drink with you.” No hi or sorry for shooting you down. She didn’t waste time on pleasantries, but maybe that wasn’t a bad thing.
Nikki laughed while Eric said, “Sounds like our girl.”
“She can be extremely direct,” Nikki told me.
“Like a bullet shot point-blank,” Eric put in.
She raised her eyebrows at him, which only had him shrugging. Turning to me again, she said, “Cam talks a tough game and has the hardest shell I know. But she’s as loyal as they come.”
“I can tell. I don’t mind the directness,” I reassured her. “Actually, I enjoy it.”
The two exchanged a loaded look, the kind that signaled a deep understanding of the other person, so much that you could read their thoughts without speaking. It was the same kind of look I saw between my parents and my sisters with their partners.
Dani and I once had that too.
Remembering it was like pouring a bucket of ice-cold water over my head. It was a reality check that as fun as this trip had been, it was just that—a trip. A distraction. And in a couple of hours, this would be a memory. That one night when three friends adopted me and took my mind off my failed relationship.
“Glad to know she doesn’t scare you off,” Nikki was saying. “Are you coming back anytime soon?”
“Hopefully in the summer.” I’d been saving for a trip with Dani. Now, though…
My phone rang with a call from an unknown number.
“That’s me.” Nikki held up her phone. “Text me whenever you’re in the area.”
“Will do.“
Cam came up to the table, deliberately blocking me out as she spoke to her friends. “I’m going.” She pulled out a few bills from her pocket.
I stood. “I’ll walk you back.”
Her head snapped in my direction. “I don’t need you to walk me back.”
“That’s a great idea,” Nikki piped up. “Also, your place is on the way to the bus terminal, so it makes total sense.”
“No.” Cam slapped the cash on the table.
I half-expected her to storm off, but she paused to hug Nikki. As she moved to do the same to Eric, Nikki looked at me and mouthed, “Go with her.”
I grabbed my wallet, but Nikki shook her head, mouthing, “It’s on us.”
Cam said, “Bye,” and walked off.
“Go,” Eric whispered to me as soon as she left.
“Thanks, guys,” I said, bussing Nikki’s cheek and slapping Eric’s shoulder. “I owe you.”
“Take care, Lonzo,” Nikki called out as I waved and jogged after Cam, who was already out the door.
It took me no time to catch up with her. Like this morning, she simply sighed. “You know this could be called stalking, right? Harassment, even.”
“I’m just walking in the same direction as you.” I made sure to keep a careful distance from her. “Do you want me to stay behind you?”
“Why, so you can watch my butt all the way to my place?”
