Page 28 of Taste Of You

“Don’t call me that,” I hiss out, hating the nickname he gave me. “Just Camille or Cami like my family used to call me.”

“Okay, Cami.” I nod in approval, hating the way my chest clenches at the old name, but it’s preferable to what Jet called me. “Being nineteen wasn’t a deterrent to land the job. You can serve, but don’t drink—you can’t do that while at work anyways—so lying was moot. It makes no sense. None of this does. Why lie about your age, being single, and your virginity?”

“Wait a minute.” Raising a hand, I motion for her to stop. “I may have lied about my age, but the other two were truths. Truths I shared with you and no one else. You knew I was and am a virgin, technically, a virgin since I’ve never had sex.”

“Technically? What does that even mean?”

“Gymnastic injury. Leave it at that.”

“Fair enough, but then how the fuck do you explain the baby?” she snaps, ignoring the fact I confided in her, just as Sandy comes back with our coffees. She puts Ana’s down with a bit more force than necessary, and a small amount spills over.

“I’ll be taking Lily with me to the grocery store. Need anything while I’m there?”

“No. I’m good.”

“Very well.” Sandy heads toward Lily’s room, but before she exits, she turns to look at our guest, fury in her eyes. “You’re judging someone without knowing the story. Be careful, young lady, because once that first chapter opens, you’ll feel as though you’ve been smacked in the face with a dose of remorse.”

Ana sits there looking abashed as Sandy exits and goes to Lily. We actually sit in silence while she gathers my niece, grabs her bag, and walks toward the door with a curious Lily looking over at Ana. Lily doesn’t like strangers and keeps her distance on the way out. Just looking.

Worry on that cute face.

“My Little Pony and pizza when you get back, bug?” At my words, she looks at me with a toothy grin.

“Pwomise?” Toddling over, she holds a finger out to me. Any finger works for a pinky promise.

“It’s a date.” Lily nods at my response and then climbs up my lap to fully hug me. “Love you,” I whisper and kiss the crown of her head, holding her tight for just another second.

“Love too.”

“Come on, kiddo. Let’s go get snacks, then.” Lily claps and scrambles off my lap, walking over to Sandy and taking her hand. She cuts her eyes to Ana but doesn’t say anything, just gives her the childhood equivalent of a glare as she walks out.

Any other time I would be in stitches with her sassiness, but the serious matter at hand keeps me in check.

Ana stares at the door my family just exited. “What’s really going on?”

“She’s not mine. Not biologically.”

“Explain? Please.”

“She’s my sister’s.” Taking a sip from my mug, I swallow, using the hot liquid to help me swallow past the sudden lump in my throat. “Lily is my niece.”

“I’m so confused...” Sitting forward, she picks up her coffee and just holds the mug. Tilting her head to the side, Ana studies me. Tries to make sense of what I tell her. “Are you babysitting? Do you have temporary custody? Is she—”

“My entire family died in a car accident, Ana. All I have left is Lily, and her nanny.”

“Jesus.” That’s all she says. Just looks at me with a weird mixture of shock and pity.

“It is what it is.” I shrug. “I’ve mourned...been angry, I don’t have that luxury anymore. Weeks after they passed, I was named her sole guardian as the sperm donor had signed away his rights. Almost overnight, I became her mom. The one who was going to protect and love her. At almost eighteen, I wasn’t worrying about prom, but preparing a funeral and fighting the state to stop them from placing my niece in an adoption agency.”

“I’m so sorry. This…everything…fuck!” Ana stands suddenly and starts to pace the small area across from us, back and forth a few times while she wipes her fingers under her eyes. “You were just a kid. Life is so unfair, Camille. You don’t deserve any of this, especially Jet being the douchebag he is.”

“Lying was a chance I took. This is the ramifications of that.” Not a lie. Some minuscule part of me has been expecting this. It’s why I tried to fight the pull.

I always knew this attraction—my love for him—would break me. And I do. I love him even if none of this makes sense.

Even if he hates me.

Never speaks to me again.

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