Page 15 of My Brother's Best Friend's Secret Baby

“Great role model,” Shae said snarkily. She rolled her eyes.

“You haven’t seen his work. If being a celibate recluse helps you create at that level, sign me up!”

The bartender came back with my drink and slid it over. It didn’t have an umbrella. I was a little disappointed.

“Can’t really argue with that. I saw your most recent ad.”

“You looked me up?”

“You sent your mom a copy for Christmas. She showed it to mine and so on.”

“Oh yeah. What did she think?”

“She was impressed. I’m not sure she quite got all of it, but the animation was excellent.”

“Thanks.”

“Statement of fact,” she said deadpan.

“Of course.”

I still couldn’t help being touched; this being the closest thing to praise it was possible to get out of Shae, who had always been the most practical person in my immediate circle. Including my parents.

“Do remember Camilla and Cooper Jones?” I asked.

“Of course.”

“We are working together now.”

“You’re own company?” Shae asked, perking up.

“That would be nice, but no. Cooper and I are the main graphic designers, and Camilla was just hired as a receptionist.”

“How’s that working out?” Shae asked, clearly remembering what Cooper used to be like.

My cousin had been around a lot when I was younger since my mother and hers were very close.

“Cooper is his usual charming self, but it is working out better than I might have expected.”

“Well, there’s an upside.”

“You haven’t heard the best part.”

“Oh? Do tell.”

“Camilla now lives down the hall from me in the same apartment building.”

“No shit?”

“Not a spec. Do you want to see her?” I asked, downing a gulp of my drink.

I wasn’t acting entirely out of altruism. I certainly wanted to help my little cousin make friends if I could, but it was also partly selfish. I was hoping that Camilla would get so busy with Shae as a new friend that she wouldn’t have as much time for me. It might also help her forgive me, as I figured caramel eclairs likely wouldn’t do the trick this time. I didn’t feel good about it, and I felt even worse when I realized that this is precisely how Cooper would have wanted me to feel if he had known what I had done with Camilla.

When we were finished with our drinks, I drove Shae back to the apartment building. Not that Shae was particularly tipsy. She just didn’t know where I lived. The elevator was out of commission when we arrived, so the stairs it was. I was suddenly glad that I only lived on the fourth floor.

Walking up to Camilla’s door, I knocked lightly, hoping she wasn’t furious still. After a long pause, I started to think that she might not be home, then I heard noises inside. I tried knocking again. When Camilla finally opened the door, she looked like she might have been crying. I hadn’t even realized that she was wearing mascara.

“What the fuck do you want?” Camilla demanded, locking me with what I immediately recognized as a death stare.

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