Page 34 of Dissolving Prejudice

“You know, he might have had a good reason.” Soren sighed, and I turned to see him rubbing his jaw. “I mean, who knows what he went through during those months he spent in jail? It might have affected him mentally, and he needed time.”

My brows pulled into a deep frown, and I stood up, walking toward the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked their backyard, which was basically the shore, then stopped. Focusing on the ocean, I took a moment to consider Soren’s words. Knowing Camilo the way I did, I knew being in jail didn’t break him. He was unbreakable, right?

“Truth is, I don’t care why he left. He left, and that’s it.” I bit on my bottom lip as an awful feeling took over me. Resentment. Anger over being neglected and betrayed by the one I loved the most. “I’m a selfish man, so even if he left in search of a cure for cancer, I couldn’t give a shit. He should have stayed here with me, but he didn’t. That’s why I’ll never forgive him.”

“You’re not selfish, Shay-Lee, just hurt. And while you have every right to be, please remember that there’s no weakness in forgiveness.”

And while Soren made sense, as he often did, he had missed the point. I wasn’t just mad at Camilo—I hated him. I hated him so much I felt it bubbling inside me. This fire that reignited within my soul threatened to burn me alive, and I couldn’t stand it. He had no right to break into my life just when I started to believe the lie I had told myself for years, that I was happy and everything was fine. Because the truth was, nothing was fine. Ever since he’d left, I had a hole ripped in my chest. I managed to distract myself from this pain, but now, when he was here, almost in arm’s reach, I could no longer do that. I could no longer live through my days, acting like the past didn’t haunt every part of me.

Not long after Soren and I talked, Ash came back home with June. They went to the farmer’s market and did some grocery shopping for dinner, which they offered me to stay for. Knowing that Miles, Andrei, Jessie, and Levi were also about to join made passing on the invitation easier. I didn’t hate them as I once had. More importantly, they no longer hated me, but it was still awkward being around their group. Surprisingly, Jordan felt the same way, and I say surprisingly because he used to be close friends with Levi and Jessie.

Entering the driveway of the Beverly Hills mansion we were renting until our new house was ready, I drove while checking my mirror. I had no idea why, but I was half expecting Camilo to appear out of nowhere. Maybe it was because I hadn’t heard a word from him since our dinner on Saturday? He had been dead silent since, and as it was already Wednesday, I suspected he was planning something.

I parked my car next to the gorgeous Aston Martin I’d bought Jordan for his last birthday, then got out. The cold evening air hit my skin, and I closed my eyes and took a deep inhale. I loved the fresh smell of cut grass that the breeze carried with it. That was why, in our new house, which would be in Bel Air, I made sure the property would spread over miles of green lawns with lots of trees, plants, and gardens. I had no idea why this sudden love for nature struck me, but it did. Who knew, maybe I’d take on gardening once we moved in.

The delicious scent of food enveloped me the second I entered our house, making me walk straight to our kitchen, where I found Jordan. Standing by the stove, he was stirring something while singing along with some song. Jordan actually had a beautiful voice, which I only found out about after we moved in together, and I caught him singing in the shower.

He had yet to notice me, so enjoying this simple moment, I leaned my shoulder against the wall and continued watching him when a forgotten memory from years ago struck me.

“What the hell is that smell?” Camilo frowned after he walked into the tiny-ass kitchen of our rented apartment. Since I was currently broke, Camilo paid for the place, and we couldn’t afford more. Yet, despite what I feared in the beginning, this little home had grown on me, as it was full of him.

Looking at the burning shit glued to the frying pan, I frowned. “It was supposed to be a tofu omelet.”

Camilo stood behind me, his hands on my hips as he peeked over my shoulder at the mess. “Did I cheat on you in your dream again, and this is your way of killing me?”

I turned my head to look back at him. “Fuck off. I was trying to be nice.”

“By poisoning me?” He smirked, and I was suddenly dumbstruck by how handsome he was.

I huffed. “And if you cheat on me again, I will kill you.”

He laughed. “It was a dream, Shay-Lee.”

“I don’t care.” I pouted when he wrapped his arms from behind me.

“Fine. Then I won’t do it again.”

My body filled with so much warmth at his touch, making me feel unbelievably protected.

The scent of burning goo made me look back at the frying pan. “Shit!” I turned off the stove, my stomach rolling with disappointment. “I just wanted to do something nice for you for a change, and I fucked it up.”

Camilo swung my body so I’d face him, then pulled me into a hug. “What are you talking about?” He breathed me in at the same time his hands held me close.

“Nothing… I just feel like I’m a burden.”

“Stop being an idiot.” His arms tightened around me as I kept my hands on his lower back, slowly caressing his scar that I loved so fucking much. “I love taking care of you. Besides, you’re taking care of me just as much.”

“You’re lying,” I muttered, my cheek smeared against his strong chest.

“Didn’t you give me a wonderful back massage last night?”

I nodded.

“You also helped me with my math the other day.”

“Well, that’s ’cause you’re stupid.”

He laughed, and I loved how rich and full of life his voice was.