Page 93 of Bad for Business
After our talk, Dad asked if I wanted to spend the day at Pembroke with him. It sounded like a good idea. I thought it’d get my mind off Camille as I waited for a text or call from her. But now that I’m here, I just miss her.
“Davenport.”
I jump, looking over at Jude as he waits for my attention with raised eyebrows.
“Yes?”
“Should I repeat everything I just said? You weren’t listening to me, were you?”
I give him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. My mind is elsewhere.”
“Does it have to do with a certain brunette that happens to be missing today?” he asks.
I sigh. When I first got to Pembroke today, I stuck to chatting with my dad and his friends. Eventually, I made it over to my friends, but I still haven’t told anyone that I secured the board’s approval or that Camille left. I didn’t know how to bring up either topic.
“Yes. We got the board’s approval. Both our dads came to the house to tell us of our success and they found us…together.” My cheeks heat and my neck tingles at having to tell Jude these details.
He doesn’t seem bothered by it in the slightest. Instead, his face breaks out into a giant grin. “I knew it,” he calls, his voice a little loud.
My eyes go wide as I look around the gentlemen’s lounge. Luckily, it doesn’t catch anyone’s attention. Everyone’s too locked into their own conversations to really pay attention to us.
“Yes, you knew it,” I mutter.
“So I’m a matchmaker then?” Jude questions, his smile somehow getting even wider.
I roll my eyes at him. “Maybe. I don’t know. Things with Camille happened fast…but alsonotfast, if that makes sense.”
Jude lifts a shoulder. “Doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but the two of you.”
I let out a long breath before I sit back in my chair. “Well, let’s just say…her dad was beyond pissed.” I shake my head as I think back on Troy’s anger. It took everything in me to even let Camille leave with her father after hearing the horrible things he said to his daughter, but I had to let her go. I know she needed to handle that situation on her own.
Jude lets out a whistle. “Really? Because she worked for you?”
“I think? It seemed like more than that. But anyway, it didn’t go well. He demanded Camille leave with him now that the job is technically done. So, that’s what she did.”
Jude doesn’t say anything for a minute. He stays quiet, thinking about what I’ve told him before responding. “And how do you feel about her dad?”
“I hate her dad. I wish I could just punch the asshole in his face. You should’ve heard the way he talked to Camille. It was bad.”
“And how do you feel about her leaving?”
His question takes me by surprise because I’m not used to Jude being so thoughtful. I didn’t think he’d care about my feelings. I always thought Jude only cared about himself, but if I’ve learned anything this summer, it’s that I was wrong about Jude.
I miss Camille. I really do, but there’s also a sort of peace when I think about her. I was scared to watch her leave, but she made sure to calm every fear I had about us. Now, even though she’s gone and I don’t know when she’ll be back or what happens next, I believe we’ll get it figured out. Because of that, I feel better than I thought I would.
I let out a long breath. “Honestly? Okay. She had to go to figure things out with her dad. It had to happen. We’ll figure out the rest.”
“Yes, you will. You and Camille,” he says, shaking his head with a smile. “I knew it.”
“You were right.” I laugh, remembering the talk at Cal’s pool not too long ago.
“So, are we going to gloss over the fact you got your board approval?” He holds his hand out for me to shake. “Congratulations, man.”
I smile. I don’t know if it’s really hit me that we pulled it off. I won’t be losing my claim to Davenport Media. It feels fuckinggood. “Thank you. I still can’t believe it. I didn’t think it’d happen so soon.”
I don’t tell him this, but I feel good again. Really good. I like myself and who I’ve become, and it’s such a freeing feeling to finally feel that way again.
Jude looks at something behind me at the same moment we hear a staff member call out, “You’re not allowed in here. This is for men only.”
