Never Say Never by Rachael Sommers (books to get back into reading TXT) 📕

sick at the sight of them together. He was perfect for Camila—similar status, similar age, could probably give her the world—and she wondered if this was what Camila had felt that night at the bar when she had seen the woman flirting with Emily.

She fled without another word, slipped into her room and into the bathroom, sinking down to the floor against the closed door. She put her head in her hands, her mind overrun by what might be happening in the other room, and she hated herself for caring, hated herself for hurting, and hated herself for not being over Camila.

Last night had been so good with the two of them, it felt like such progress, and Emily didn’t know how much longer she could keep doing this back-and-forth—Camila icy one minute and friendly the next—because it was messing with her emotions almost more than she could bear.

She didn’t know how long she had sat there, but by the time she felt like she could move, it was nearly midnight. She still wasn’t tired, knew that it couldn’t be healthy, but there wasn’t much she could do about it.

She grabbed her blanket and headed for the couch again, stopping in her tracks at the sight of Camila, glasses on her nose and laptop on her lap.

And she was alone. The relief that flooded through her nearly knocked her off her feet.

“Emily.” Camila turned to face her, and damn her for always looking so perfect. “I thought you were tired.”

“Oh. Um, I was, but as soon as I got into bed, I was wide awake again. You know how that goes.”

“Mm.” Camila looked straight through her like she knew Emily had been lying through her teeth before, like she had seen the pain in Emily’s eyes and knew that she was the cause. Emily couldn’t look at her, stared at the floor instead, and debated fleeing back to her room.

“What, um—” Emily’s words came out in a croak, and she cleared her throat to try again. “What about you? What happened to your…friend?”

“I sent him away.” Camila waved her hand as if to brush him off. “He was a little too forward. He thought he was entitled to a date, since I no longer have a husband.”

“Men are the worst.”

“Some of them are, yes,” Camila said. “Perhaps I should stick to women.”

Emily bit her tongue.

“And now I have some work to catch up on.”

“Does it ever end?”

“Not really.” Camila looked tired, but there was a spark in her eyes. Emily knew Camila loved what she did, and wouldn’t change a thing about it. “If sleeping next to Jaime is an issue, you can take my bed, and I’ll take yours or the couch.”

“Oh no, I’m not kicking you out of your own bed.”

“It’s fine.” Camila brushed her off. “From the looks of things”—she glanced at the blanket Emily was holding—“I am in yours right now. Honestly, Emily, at least one of us should be using it.”

She went because she didn’t want to argue, even though she wanted Camila to come with her, but she didn’t dare ask because, regardless of what Camila might answer, it would ruin things between them.

It felt like they were standing on a precipice, balanced delicately on the edge, and one wrong word would be like a strong gust of wind, shattering the peace.

Emily wasn’t willing to risk that move, not yet—she would stay in the torturous state she was in now rather than risk losing Camila for good. So she walked down the hall and slid under sheets that smelled like Camila, and when she fell asleep, she dreamed of black nightgowns, pale skin, and shining green eyes.

Chapter 19

The time in London passed too quickly. Emily explored the beautiful city with Jaime, visiting historical landmarks and tourist traps, dozens of shops, or just walking, taking in the sights of the city. One day they went ice skating against the backdrop of the Tower of London, Jaime clinging to one of the stabilizing penguins and Emily using it as much as he did.

Her days were filled with light and laughter, and she and Camila played games some nights or just sat with one other, existing in the same space in a way they hadn’t been able to since the kiss, and Emily really didn’t want the trip to end.

But it had to, eventually.

On their last night, Camila was already in the suite, having finished work early, when Emily and Jaime returned. She announced that she had obtained four tickets to a West End show.

Jessica declined, saying she needed an early night before traveling, and Emily wondered if she should decline too, whether Camila and Jaime should have a night to themselves, but Jaime—and Camila, she was pretty sure—threw her a hopeful look, and she knew she couldn’t say no.

They went for dinner at a fancy restaurant and sat hidden away in a booth in the corner, giving them the illusion of privacy. The lights were dim, and from across the table, Camila’s eyes reflected the light of the table lamp, and even though Emily knew it wasn’t, it was hard not to think of it as a date.

“What are your plans for the holidays, Emily?” Camila asked after they had ordered and Jaime was occupied with a coloring book.

“I’m going home.” As soon as Emily arrived back from London, she would be driving with Cassie and Maia to visit her family in Rockport, and she planned to spend the five-hour journey sleeping. “I haven’t seen everyone for a while, so it’ll be nice.” Last Christmas Sarah had come to Cassie and Maia’s place in the city, but she wanted to host this year. Emily was looking forward to a break from big city life for a few days. “We’re driving up as soon as I get back.” Camila wasn’t planning to work Christmas Eve, a Monday, so Emily could spend five days in Rockport before returning to New York.

“With your sister and her girlfriend?”

“Yeah.