Evelyn
The party felt nothing like a party. At least, not to me.
I used to love parties, always in the thick of it, laughing and dancing—but tonight, I was just a shadow. A fucking sad shadow. Sitting in a corner, scrolling through my phone, pretending to be present. Pretending to listen to conversations when my mind was elsewhere. And it was no secret where it had wandered.
Forget about me. I was stressed, sad, emotionally wrecked—so many things I couldn’t even find the right word for it. Everyone around me could sense it, too. Not a single person was unaware. Even Cameron, on his own birthday, didn’t seem to be having much fun. Sure, he was laughing, dancing, making jokes like he always did, but something about him seemed off. Distant. Uncharacteristic.
He'd asked me a few times before the party if something was wrong, and I shrugged it off. But then he spoke to Mason for a second, and I had a hunch. That piece of garbage must have spilled the beans—told him about Jacob leaving tonight. Told him that ‘Jacob’s departure’ was the reason for my mood.
Maybe that explained Cameron’s shift.
I felt like such a bitch, ruining his day like this. I wanted to act normal, to put on a smile, but I couldn’t. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t even manage that. Every chuckle at Cameron’s jokes felt forced, hollow.
But what could I fucking do? My heart wasn’t here. It was with Jacob, and he was taking it with him.
It was just one flight, but it felt like everything would change if I let him get on that plane. Yet, I was the one who pushed him away, wasn’t I? Built walls so thick I could barely breathe behind them.
Wasn’t I killing myself in this process?
Now, after the cake was cut and everyone sat together, Cameron and I sat side by side. But something was off—awkward, tense. The tension had been growing since the party started, thickening with every passing second. And deep down, I knew the reason was me.
As guilty as I felt, as much as I wanted to stop Jacob from leaving, there was no denying it—I wanted to go to him, to forget everything and return to what we had, to the old us.
But how could I do that without hurting Cameron? How could I live with myself knowing I’d caused him pain? Yet, staying with him, never loving him the way I loved Jacob... That wouldn’t be fair either.
No. It wouldn’t.
So what the fuck was I supposed to do?!
“You really aren’t okay,” Cameron finally murmured, breaking the silence after what felt like five minutes. Maybe I was wrong. I hadn’t been counting. My mind was too far away.
“What are you talking about?” I forced a laugh—so obviously fake, I almost winced. “I know you’re thinking that because Mason told you something stupid, which—yeah—is true. But it doesn’t actually mean anything to me. I’ve…” My voice wavered, betraying me. “I’ve moved on from him.”
A small, almost melancholic smile crossed his lips as he glanced at me, taking another sip of his drink. He was drinking a lot tonight, and even though I was distracted, I noticed. It wasn’t the usual birthday kind of drinking. It was the kind of drinking people did when they were going through something. Going through shitty times.
And as much as I didn’t want to admit it, I knew I was the one putting Cameron through that.
But I still didn’t want to say it aloud. I couldn’t admit it, not to him, and not to myself.
“Say that again,” he said, setting his glass down and looking at me. Despite the loud music and the crowd of friends on the dance floor, it felt like we were in our own little bubble. The chaotic atmosphere didn’t touch us. Somehow, we could hear each other perfectly—maybe because we needed to be heard.
“Say…what?” My throat tightened, and I suddenly felt the need to choose my words carefully. Why was I so nervous? Maybe because I knew the truth, and I was terrified of hurting him?
Fuck. This was so messed up.
“Say you’ve moved on from Jacob,” he leaned in, his eyes locked on mine. “Louder this time. Without blinking or looking away.”
“What would that even prove?” I chuckled, still trying to deflect. “Cameron, I think you’ve had too much to drink. You should stop.” I reached for his half-finished glass of whiskey, but before I could take it, his hand wrapped around my wrist—not roughly, but firm enough to stop me.
“Say it, Evelyn,” he said, his voice dropping lower. “Just…say it.” There was something raw in his tone. It wasn’t just a demand; it was a plea.
I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t lie to him like that.
“If you really mean it, you should have no problem saying it,” he pressed, his voice firmer now. “So why can’t you? It’s kinda sus, isn’t it?”
“Because…” I tried again, but the words failed me. The silence between us stretched on, heavy and suffocating. I could feel Cameron’s patience slipping away.
Without another word, he tightened his grip on my hand and stood up, pulling me with him. “Come with me,” he said, dragging me out of the club.
“Cameron, where are we going?” I asked, confused, as he led me out into the parking lot. He didn’t answer. He just kept walking, his grip never loosening, until we reached his car.
I glanced at him, then at the car, my stomach knotting. “Are we going somewhere?” I asked again, but he stayed silent.
Once we reached the car, he let go of my hand and pulled his keys from his pocket, holding them out to me.
“What the—” I looked at the keys, then back at him, confused and frustrated. “What does this mean? You want me to drive?”
Cameron stayed quiet, his expression shifting, eyes darkening as if he was battling something inside. For a moment, I thought he was about to break. But then his jaw clenched, and he pushed the keys into my hand.
“Go, Evelyn,” he said, his voice raw and heavy. “Just go.”
Chapter 43: Together Again?
Evelyn
For a few seconds, even though I understood Cameron’s words perfectly, my body and mind refused to accept them. My soul though? I wouldn’t say anything from her side because it had been long since I’d been nice to her.
I was stunned—stunned by his sudden shift in demeanor, his unexpected decision, and the pained look in his eyes that seemed to cut right through me.
“Cameron… what are you—”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about, Evelyn,” he said, his voice steady as he took a step closer, his gaze locking with mine. “You know what you truly want. Every part of you knows. But you’re stopping yourself. I’ve watched you wrestle with this for days, and I’ve chosen to turn a blind eye, but I can’t do that anymore. You need to give yourself what you want. You can’t let fear imprison you like this. Life isn’t meant to be lived in chains. This is not how it fucking works! If you love him then go and fucking give it a chance!”
“Cameron, it’s not what I want. You’re misunderstanding everything,” I pleaded, struggling to convince him, and myself.
Cameron’s laugh was bitter, a sound of resigned acceptance. “How long do you plan to keep this charade and do this to yourself? Do you really think pretending to be happy with me while your heart belongs elsewhere won’t hurt us both? Let me tell you, Evelyn—it fucking will. So much that you can’t even imagine. And trust me, this will only get worse if you don’t stop right now, right here,” He said, “It’s not just about avoiding pain—you're setting us up for more heartache. You’re choosing a path of regrets and sorrow if you don’t follow your heart. This is not going to end well. You will hurt me more by choosing to not live with the man you love because I might have you, but you will still never be mine and I never wanted you like that. I wanted you whole, to myself, all mine—but you only feel completed with him. He is the one who completes you and it fucking hurts to admit, but I can’t change it. But at least, I can accept it knowing you’d be happy with him. Don’t do this to yourself just because you fear hurting me because you will end up hurting both of us in the cycle. This needs to stop, Evelyn—for both of us.”
His words were like a cold splash of water, bringing clarity to the confusion I had tried so hard to deny. I saw the glimmer of tears in his eyes, and the silence between us felt like a heavy shroud.
God.
“I’ve dragged you into this mess, haven’t I?” My voice cracked as I looked at him, tears brimming in my eyes. It wasn’t that I didn’t love Cameron, but my love for Jacob was all-encompassing. I could never place anyone above him—not even myself.
“You didn’t drag me into anything, sweetheart,” he said, stepping closer and gently cupping my cheek. His touch was warm and soothing, but it only made me ache more for Jacob. I wished more than anything that this tender touch was his, that I could be with him, anywhere but here. “I knew from the beginning this was a losing battle. I took my chance at happiness, and I don’t regret a single moment with you.”
His unexpected words left me momentarily speechless. “You don’t?” I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper. Overwhelmed with guilt, I struggled to find the right words, but they eluded me.
“No,” he replied with a sad, gentle smile. “I don’t.” His thumb brushed away a tear from my cheek, his touch tender. “And there’s something I haven’t told you. This is my last month in America. I’m moving to Scotland to take over my father’s business. So, in these last few weeks, I did the most daring thing I could think of—I tried to win over my crush and make her love me back. And, I might have failed but—”
“You didn’t,” I said, finishing his sentence with a sigh, tears slipping down my cheeks once more. “But your crush couldn’t love you more than her first love. She couldn’t erase him from her heart. She couldn’t make herself belong to anyone else. I love you, Cameron, but it’s just that….I love him more.”
A genuine smile tugged at his lips, though sadness lingered behind his blue eyes. For the first time in days, I saw a strange relief flood his expression. “Then… tell Jacob that he might win the girl, but I’ve still won,” he said, letting out a soft chuckle before placing a tender kiss on my forehead.
“Go. You’re running late,” he added, his voice firm yet warm. “Besides, tickets aren’t cheap these days. Why waste money when you could just stop him from catching his flight?”
A small laugh escaped me, a fleeting moment of levity in the midst of everything. “Thanks, Cameron,” I said, leaning in to plant a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for helping me. If it hadn’t been for you, I would have never realized what I truly want.”
“You’re welcome. Now GO!” he urged, turning me toward his car with a playful shove. “That’s my favorite car, and soon it’ll be carrying my favorite woman, so drive safely.”
“Okay,” I replied, managing a final smile before leaning in to give him another quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”
I got into his car, started the engine, and sped out of the parking lot. Cameron’s voice called out from behind me, “Best of luck!”
His words warmed me, and I felt a rush of adrenaline as I accelerated, my anxiety spiking with every passing second.
What if he’s already left? What if he’s boarded the flight?
I needed him close. I couldn’t bear another moment without him.
Within minutes, I reached home, my mind racing with worry. If I broke any traffic laws, my dad would deal with it later. I dashed inside the house, finding Clara and Dad waiting for me in the living room, their expressions a mix of concern and urgency.
“Where is he?” I asked, my voice strained with panic.
“He left fifteen minutes ago,” Dad replied, standing up and looking at me, “You don’t have much time. Hurry.” He let out, as if he already knew my decision. Well, of course, he could read me too fucking easily.
My heart sank at the thought of Jacob being so close to leaving. I didn’t even think to ask about his flight time. I was too overwhelmed to think straight.
“Yes, Evelyn,” Clara urged, standing up as well. “You can’t waste any more time. Go!”
I nodded quickly and rushed outside, jumped back into the car, and sped toward the airport. The road was mostly empty but not totally, and I drove recklessly, ignoring the shouting drivers and the screeching of tires. I had only one focus—reaching my destination—Jacob Adriano.
Anxiety clawed at me, cold sweat forming on my forehead. My heart pounded against my ribs, and my stomach twisted in knots.
I prayed to every deity I could think of, pleading for a delay or for me to reach him faster. “Be late, be late,” I whispered fervently. “For once, be late.”
As if answering my desperate plea, I saw it—a familiar black car ahead. I could make out his profile, relaxed and unaware, as he took a sip from a takeaway cup—his Americano, just as always.
Relief washed over me, but there was no time to waste. I floored the accelerator, maneuvering around him and stopping my car directly in his path. His eyes locked onto mine as his car screeched to a halt, just inches from a collision.
Without hesitation, I threw open my door and stepped out. He followed, getting out of his car without needing to be asked, his eyes slightly wide with surprise.
“Evelyn, what—”
Before he could finish, I grabbed the collar of his white shirt and pulled him down, crashing my lips against his.
Finally.