Page 98 of Bad for Business
I didn’t know it was possible to care for someone as much as I care for her. I swear my heart does a flip in my chest at her words.
When I first found out we were forced to spend the summer together, I thought I was going to hate every second of it. I was crushed by her pretending that we never happened, and I was angry with her. I never could’ve expected how the summer would unfold.
But it’s been perfect.
I can’t be mad about the scowls, or jabs, or arguments, because all of it led to this moment right here.
Us together.
I think we’ve both done a lot of healing since we got here, healing we didn’t even realize we needed until we met eachother. I take Camille’s hand in mine once again and press a kiss against her knuckles.
“Hey, Cami?” I say, my voice quiet.
“Yes?”
“I’m starting to really like myself again.”
Her eyes soften and her hand squeezes mine. “Yeah?”
“Yes. I mean it. I feel good again.”
She smiles. “That makes me so happy. You’ve worked so hard. I’m so happy you see what I see. You’re an amazing person. Someone your mom would be incredibly proud of.”
I look across the SUV and see so many things as I look into Camille’s eyes. I see my future. I see summers in the Hamptons and winters in Manhattan. I see lazy mornings in bed and late nights tangled in the sheets.
I see it all with her.
I reach out and cup her cheek, loving how she immediately nuzzles into my touch. “I really like my life right now. And I’m really fucking excited about what the future looks like…with you.”
This makes her smile. “Even if I’m jobless and have no idea where I’ll work next?” There isn’t sadness in her tone at all. It seems like she’s actually happy about leaving her job.
I nod. “I think you should start your own PR firm. Spend the rest of the summer in the Hamptons with me. Continue to build relationships with the wealthiest people in New York. By the time fall comes around, you’ll have a full roster of potential new clients.”
She thinks over my words for a moment before slowly nodding her head. “That isn’t a bad idea. If only I had a place to stay…” Her words drift off as she looks at me with a playful smile.
“You’re not staying anywhere but with me,” I tell her before opening the door to the SUV and rounding the front to open hers as well.
She’s smiling at me the moment I pull her door open. “We just became boyfriend and girlfriend and we’re already moving in together? Do you think that’s a little soon?” she asks, a teasing tone to her voice.
I take her hand and help her out of the SUV. We only make it a few steps before I’m yanking on her hand and pulling her body flush to mine. “We’ve lived together for half the summer now. Nothing’s too soon. Not with us. Not with how I feel about you.”
“You sure you want to deal with my plans for the rest of the summer? You have your chance to get rid of me and the binder full of plans.”
I smile before brushing my thumb over her cheek and cradle the back of her neck with my hand. “I want to make plans with you for the rest of my life, princess. Bring on the binders.”
She gives me the biggest smile. It’s radiant. “Good answer.”
Then she rises to her tiptoes and kisses me.
It’s a kiss that promises forever.
A kiss that will stick with me for the rest of my life because I know that no matter what we still have to figure out, we’re going to do it together. How we feel about each other is stronger than anything that life can throw at us.
I started out the summer hating that Camille was my publicist. I was bitter about her not being mine.
Now, I get to enjoy the remainder of summer with her being my girlfriend.
And nothing has ever made more sense in my life than me being hers and her being mine.
