Only Ever Yours

His lips flatten and he closes his eyes, shaking his head before he reopens them. “I’m so sorry, Cam… I—”

“Stop. Our time is limited. Tell me, how are you? It looks like you’ve been working out.”

Dad chuckles softly, and just like that the conversation takes a positive turn and we spend the rest of our time together chatting away, pretending like we’re not sitting in a visiting room that’s being recorded.

When our time is up, I hug him, tell him I love him and I’ll see him next week, and then head out. With all the stops, it’s a two-hour bus ride back to Chester Creek. I use the time to check out the job listings in the newspaper. I find a few places hiring, but of course when I call and give them my name, they tell me they’ll take my number and get back to me.

I’m feeling utterly defeated when I walk down the hall toward my apartment and find Yasmin standing outside my door with a prominent frown on her face.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, instantly concerned. Then I notice what she has in her hand—another cup of Starbucks coffee. Oh, shit.

“We need to talk.”

“This feels a lot like déjà vu,” I mutter, snatching the coffee out of her hand and taking a sip.

“That’s because it kind of is,” she says as we sit on my couch. “I need you to go out with Isaac again.”

“Nope, no way, not happening.”

“Camilla, please,” Yasmin begs. “He’s requested me… you… personally. If you don’t go, I’ll be caught and lose my job.”

“He requested me?” What in the actual hell? Why would he do that?

“Yep, he emailed last night after he dropped you off.”

“It doesn’t make any sense. The date went horribly. I was a mess, completely unprofessional. He spent more time asking if I was okay than enjoying himself. Why in the world would he go out of his way to request me?”

Yasmin shrugs. “I don’t know, but he requested me to attend a business dinner with him.”

When I groan, remembering how awkward the date was thanks to me, Yasmin mistakes my reason and asks, “Was he super pervy?” She scrunches her nose up in disgust.

“No, actually…” My cheeks heat against my will, and Yasmin, of course, catches it.

“Ohhh, he was hot, wasn’t he?”

There’s no point in denying it. “So freaking hot. He’s a bit older, but you can tell, even with him fully dressed in his tux, he’s built. Messy just-fucked hair, a tattoo running down the side of his neck with a quote that reads, ‘Against all odds.’ Oh, and did I mention he’s Isaac Petrosian?” When Yasmin squints her eyes, having no clue who he is, I explain. “He’s one of the largest real estate developers on the West Coast, hell, probably in the country. He’s worth millions.”

Not that I give a shit about money. I’ve dated men with money, was engaged to one, and they do nothing for me. If anything, after watching the way money shattered my father and his livelihood, it’s more like a turnoff. Greed has the capability of rotting someone from the inside out.

But Isaac seemed different, like he didn’t feel the need to flaunt that he was probably the wealthiest man at the event last night. Don’t get me wrong, he carried himself with confidence and ease, but his I don’t give a fuck attitude seemed more from him really not caring what people thought and less from the fact he could probably buy them all out.

And I won’t even mention to her the sparks that flew between us when we were dancing. The way he held me in his arms. For those few moments, it didn’t feel like two strangers on a first date. When I was in his arms, it felt like I’d known him my entire life, like we just fit…

“He sounds like a catch and a half,” Yasmin says, snapping me from my thoughts.

“Exactly, so why the hell is he requesting my bumbling, awkward ass?”

She laughs. “Umm, maybe because you’re a total knockout and have the personality to match.”

“Not last night… I was in rough shape.”

“Well, he must’ve seen something you didn’t.” She shrugs. “On the bright side, it’s another grand in your pocket.”

That’s definitely a plus but… “I can’t take your money again. It should be you going on the date, not me.”

She shakes her head. “No way. I put you in this situation in the first place. I have commitments four other nights, and I’m seeing Todd again.” Hearts dance in her eyes and a smile spreads across her cheeks.

“I’m judging by your face-splitting grin, your date with Todd went well?”

“It was amazing,” she gushes. “He was a complete gentleman. He took me to dinner at Pioneer’s and then we went for a walk downtown and got ice cream for dessert.”