PYKE
Instead of getting offended, I find myself smiling while Camila is in a deep frown.
“I didn’t steal that. And just so you know, I was not proposing.” I release my arms from her, taking a seat in front of the dinner.
Her scowl deepens. “So, all those words you’ve said were not actually true? You don’t mean it?”
“What do you think?” I ask, provoking her.
She blinks, bites her bottom lip, and looks down at the miniature car in her hand.
Shit! She’s not gonna cry, isn’t she?
“I shouldn’t have believed you, you know,” she mutters.
“Come here.” I gesture my hand.
She hesitates for seconds.
“Sit, Babe.” I look up at her and hold her hands. “I mean every word I said. I can’t live a second without you. Who would have thought I will fall in love one day? But I never regretted falling hard for you. I love you so much, Camila.”
I take the car from her hand. “I should’ve let you find this out by yourself, but since you are doubtful about my intentions, open the compartment.”
She looks at me with confusion, then looks back to the car, studying it. “I don’t know it opens.”
“See? You’ve never taken a good look at how special your Uncle Levi made it for you.”
She rolls her eyes, opening the compartment after showing her the button. Her eyes widen when she finds a small folded paper stocked inside. She picks it up with her thumb and pointer fingernail, unfolds the white paper, and reads whatever written on it.
I used to play that car every night before I go to sleep, but I only found out about that paper after closing the door in her face. I was sitting on my couch when I found the small key button.
Her hand covers her mouth as she reads through. I know it was a message from her Uncle Levi and whatever it is, I know it means so much to Camila.
“Om my God, Pyke.” Her arms wrap around my neck as she cries in my arms.
“I wanna see, Levi.”
***
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” I ask her again when I see her constant fidgeting in her seat.
“Yeah, Love. I don’t wanna start my session without meeting him first.” She looks at me with a smile of confidence.
“How about your mother? I can’t risk you again. We can just meet Levi somewhere far from her.”
She squeezes my hand. “I’m the strongest woman you’ve ever met, remember that, Pyke?”
“That’s my girl. But you can always tell me if you want to back out, okay? We’ll turn around in an instant even if we’re already in front of their house. But don’t expect to see something fancy.”
She rolls her eyes. “I know, Pyke. I saw her once and it said it all. Her dress, her hair, and face.”
“Okay.”
“And I’m not going there to meet her, remember?”
“I know, Babe. Issa, my parents, and Wright will kill me once they know I’m taking you there.”
“They won’t.”
“I don’t care either. As long as this is what you want and will give you closure.”
“How much longer?” she asks.
I know she feels excited and terrified at the same time. She manages to relax when she finds a pop radio station in my car. She hums, drumming her fingers on her knees.
I feel relieved when she’s so loosened up back to the cantankerous Camila I knew. She even moves her body and sings along to some lyrics of Pink’s Walk Me Home—mostly to the chorus. A smile spreads across my lips to hear her out of tune a few times.
“Hey, I don’t know how to sing, okay?” She playfully slaps my arm.
“I’m not complaining.” I laugh. It’s good to laugh again now she knows that I love her and she’s mine to torment with my charms.
“You’re not complaining, but you’re mocking me.” She joins laughing with me.
“You can dance though.”
“Not that good.”
“But you know better than me.”
“What is your hidden talent, Love, besides in bed?” My heart flip-flops every time she calls me Love.
“So, you admit that I have a talent in bed?”
Her brow arches. “Do you still need an ego-booster.”
I shake my head. “I’ve got the best ego-boosting woman for life. Don’t want anything anymore.”
“I forgot to ask you about your club when is the schedule of the renovation?” she asks with curiosity.
“It’s insured, Babe. Hopefully, they can start next month. I was thinking of selling it when it’s done.”
“What? Why?”
My head snaps to her side.
“Why the hell are you going to sell the club?” She looks pissed.
“I was only planning because a lot of things happened inside that club. I want to start a new life with you.”
“You don’t have to sell that, you know,” she mutters in a sadder tone.
“Is it because of Kyland’s job at stake? I will open a new one. Don’t worry about that, and I’m still paying his salary until now.”
“I met you there you know. That club is part of everyone’s life—including mine.”
“It’s settled then. I’ll keep that for as long as you want. I love you and if that club means so much to you, then it also means to me.”
I park my car in a small untrimmed lawn with a small wrought iron table and two iron chair lounges in front of the old and rusty trailer home, and an old rectangular-shaped barbecue stand grill under the tree.
I unlatch my seat belt while Camila is just looking with wide eyes to where Levi and Liv live together.
“Babe, are you sure you’re still up for this?”
She gulps and nods at me. Her hands tremble, making her struggles to unfasten her seat belt.
“Deep breath, Babe. You can still change your mind even if we are already there inside, okay?” I cup her face and kiss her softly.
She nods. “It’s now or never.”
A soft knock on my window releases my hands from Camila.
“Ready, Mr. Hughes?” Fitz asks as soon as I open the door.
“Mr. Hughes, huh? And first name basis with my future wife?”
Camila giggles beside me. “We’re close, Mr. Hughes. What can I say?”
“No one gets closer to you other than me, Camila.”
“Wow, Camila King-Hughes. Hmm, there’s a ring to it. It sounds loaded.” She laughs even more.
“Did you forget you are, silly. Ready?” I get out to open her door when I notice Fitz already does it for her, and she’s already saying thank you.
I groan inwardly. Instead of throwing a glare at Fitz for doing his job, I just hold Camila’s cold hand, squeezing it with a silent prayer.
Fitz marches to the trailer door and knocks.
“Seriously, he’s annoying me,” I mutter.
“He’s only doing his job to check for our safety, Pyke. Cut him some slacks.”
“Yeah, and part of his job calling you Cam, right?” I sound like a terrible jealous and asshole boyfriend.
“Don’t get jealous because you’re too cute to be true.”
“Call me if anything, Mr. Hughes.”
“I know, smart-ass.” Rolling my eyes.
Liv is wearing a light blue worn-out dress smiles brightly as she welcomes us to her home. She looks like Camila minus the radiant looks and age. Camila has her eyes, hair, height, and the shape of her face. There is no question she’s Camila’s mother. I saw some of her pictures during her younger years and the latest pictures taken at the police station when Athena forced and threatened her and Levi’s lives if she would not agree to the terms.
Camila grips my hand tightly when her mother calls her name.
“Mr. Hughes, please come in.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Mendéz.”
We pass by a narrow hallway to a small living room that smells moth and old leather. There’s a single brown worn-out couch and a small flat-screen TV mounted on the crusted cream wall. A single size mattress lies in the small room with a single door closet that separates from the living room.
“That’s Levi’s room. Mine is to that door before the kitchen.” Liv must see a question in my face.
“Take a seat, Camila, Mr. Hughes. I made peach ice tea, Levi’s favorites.”
“No thank you,” Camila answers quickly.
Liv nods as she presses her lips together. “Can I get you both something. There isn’t much to offer, but I bake your favorite cookies—”
“I’m not here to walk down memory lane since we don’t have any. I’m here for Levi,” Camila’s bitter and angry voice makes Liv flinch. She deserves it for leaving Camila, but I might not meet Camila if she didn’t abandon her.
“Okay, he will be here sooner.”
“Thank you for allowing us to visit on such short notice, Mrs. Mendéz.”
“That’s the best I can do, Mr. Hughes.”
“It’s just Pyke, Mrs. Mendéz.”
“Liv is fine, Pyke. Take care of Camila,” she says quickly, glancing at Camila who doesn’t seem to care about our conversation. She just stares blankly at the torn painted wall. I wish I can read what’s on her mind right now and her silence worries me.
“With my life,” I assure her.
A moment later, the trailer door squeaks open and slams shut, making Camila almost jump in her seat.
“Mom! Who—”