“To know what?”
“That I loved you. And I would do anything to protect you.”
“Oh, Cameron.” I wish he hadn’t said it. There’s no going back from here.
“You know it’s true,” he whispers.
And I do. Just as he has always known that I have never returned those feelings.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. I can wait.”
I just shake my head. No more. I don’t want anyone waiting for me anymore. I can’t take that responsibility.
“No, Cameron. I need you to understand. I’m not going to change my mind. Ever.”
He just smirks and I feel a sudden urge to wipe it from his face. I’ve tolerated his arrogance because it made him a good business partner, but I don’t want him feeling that about me.
“I’m here for you. I’ve always been here. I was here when your life came crashing down around you. I was here when your attacker broke into your home and stole your grandmother’s ring. And I’ll be here when all this settles down and you realize that I’m the only person you’ve ever been able to rely on. Not Xavier. Me.”
He drapes his coat around my shoulders as I stand there, thinking about his words.
“Come on, I’ll take you home. One more night in that apartment and you can stay with me tomorrow until you find a new place. I’ll have the guest room made up.”
“Wait. Cameron.”
“Hmm?”
“I didn’t tell you that my grandmother’s ring was stolen.”
“What?”
“I said, I didn’t tell you that my grandmother’s ring was stolen. Only Xavier knew that.” This doesn’t make sense.
“I’m sure you did, maybe you just forgot,” he says, waving my words away.
“I didn’t forget! I know I didn’t. I didn’t tell the police either. That ring was worth nothing. It was just some costume jewelry. I didn’t list it on the insurance either. But you. You knew that was my grandmother’s ring. So how did you know it was stolen?”
His face freezes, then he just shrugs. “You were upset, I can’t remember when you told me. We’ve talked a lot in the last few weeks, Iz. You probably just don’t remember!”
“No! Oh my God. Cameron. How did you know?”
“I…”
I back away. There’s only one way. “No. Please. No.”
“Isabella.”
“Oh my God. The slipper!” My head aches with the revelation. “You went to Damien’s dance studio when you went to bribe him to go away. That’s where I left it. And that’s where you got it. Oh my god. You’re the one who broke in and… put the slipper in my apartment. You were trying to frame him.”
“Isabella, wait no. You have it all wrong.”
I feel so sick I can barely stand straight. The feeling of walking into my trashed apartment comes hurtling back to the front of my mind. The way I felt seeing my ballet slipper again, reliving the worst moment of my life. My stomach turns and I bend over and retch into the gutter. I push him away as he tries to help me.
“It was you. It was you?”
His face tells me everything I need to know.
“Isabella.”
“Why? WHY?”
The anguish is etched deep on his face as he stumbles for the right words. But there are none. “I was just trying to help you. Remind you, that I’m here for you. That I’ve always been here for you.”
“That’s not what love is, Cameron! Scaring me into your arms?! Do you have any idea how utterly fucked up that is?!” The betrayal is so colossal, I can’t even comprehend it.
“Then what IS love then? I have been here for you all this time, Isabella. I stepped in, got rid of that piece of shit, and he hasn’t bothered you until now! That is love, Iz. Not some teenage puppy love you didn’t even trust enough with your secret.”
And it all becomes clear. “Oh my god, is that what this was all about? Xavier?”
“No! It’s about us. It’s always been about us. Isabella, please understand why I did this!”
He reaches out and grabs my wrist. I have no energy to shake him off. I don’t have the energy to process what my life is, has been.
“Let go of me, Cameron.” His touch disgusts me so much, I almost retch again.
“No, Isabella-…”
“She said ‘let go.'”
We both whip our heads around at the sound of the voice.
Xavier.
How? I don’t care.
“Get lost, you fucking creep.” Cameron spits.
“Now, I’m saying it. Let go of her,” Xavier says. He doesn’t move, just stands there, his hands in his pockets, staring Cameron down. But something in his voice makes Cameron obey and he drops my hand and takes a step back.
“Xavier!” I cry and run over to him.
He doesn’t say anything, just takes one tiny step to move his body in front of me. “You okay?” he says, and I just nod. I am. He is here.
“Everything is fine. She doesn’t want you here,” Cameron scoffs.
“I think I’ll let her speak for herself.”
“I’m okay. Can you take me home, please?” I beg Xavier gently. He pulls off his jacket and throws it around my shoulders.
“Isabella! Wait!” Cameron yells out as I walk away. The sound of his voice makes my body shudder.
I force myself to stop and address him once and for all. “No. I can’t believe that I’m saying this to you. After everything. But no. Don’t you ever come near me again. I don’t know who you are anymore, Cameron. Maybe I’ve never known.”
He storms toward me, but Xavier blocks him, a hand against his chest.
“You heard her.”
“What, you’re going to smash my face in? Is that all you know how to do?” Cameron smirks. And in that moment I feel like I hate him more than I’ve ever hated anyone.
“No. I know when someone’s not even worth touching,” Xavier says.
I look at my former friend one last time and turn to walk away.
“Isabella!” he yells.
“Forget Isabella. That fucking name you convinced me to take. My name is Malynda. But you should forget that too.”
***