Chapter 5 An Unexpected Guest

Mia nodded, taking a sip of her drink. "Yeah, I understand."

Then, with a smirk, she nudged Camille's arm.

"Well, look on the bright side. "Maybe some tall, dark, and handsome Indian guy will sweep you off your feet at the wedding, and your mom will finally no longer bother you."

Camille snorted. "Yeah, because that's just what I need right now."

Mia grinned. "Hey, you never know."

Camille just shook her head.

But there was nothing very exciting in the situation. She was just thinking of how everything in her life seemed to be colliding right now.

Her past, her family and now Adrian.

It felt like the universe was arranging something in her life.

She just didn't know what.

Camille had little energy left to walk through the door of her apartment.

Her body felt like lead, her head heavy from the events of the day. She had spent the entire shift avoiding Adrian Vaughn, and now, with exhaustion hanging heavy around her like a second skin, she had finally made it home.

Shutting the door behind her, she tossed her bag on the couch and dragged herself to the bathroom.

Once the warm water hit her skin, she felt as if she could finally exhale.

She continued to stand, allowing the heat to soak into her muscles, washing away the tension of the day, but no matter how much she tried to relax, her mind just kept coming back.

Call from mother's phone.

Sister's wedding.

Adrian.

Why did it have to be now, after so many years?

Camille sighed, pushing those thoughts away. She emerged from the shower, toweled herself dry, and slipped on a loose t-shirt and shorts before padding into the living room.

Her couch looked incredibly inviting, soft, warm, and perfect for sprawling against the cushions.

Just as she was about to land on it, she muttered to herself, "Screw it. I'll eat first."

Well, the kitchen didn't have much gourmet food to offer now, but at this point, really, all she wanted was something fast and filling.

Noodles.

That would do.

She had just grabbed a pot when

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Camille froze.

She turned towards the door, brow furrowed.

Who in the world was knocking on her door at this hour of the night?

It wasn't like she had expected anyone.

A sudden wave of paranoia swept through her; maybe a neighbor complained about noise; worse, what if it was him?

Shaking off the ridiculous thought, she walked cautiously toward the door and peeked through the peephole.

Her stomach dropped.

It was Mia in her scrubs and crying.

Camille opened the door immediately.

"Mia?"

When Mia saw Camille, her whole face fell.

Her lips quivered, her breath got shaky before Camille could do anything as she suddenly found herself in a close embrace.

"He cheated on me," said Mia in a choking voice, raw and broken.

Camille stiffened.

"What?"

Mia pulled back just a bit, her eyes were red and swollen. I walked in on him. He was with some other woman, and when I confronted him, he just... laughed.

Rage boiled within Camille at this.

She clenched her fists. "What a bastard!"

Mia wiped her face with the sleeve of her scrubs, her voice small when she said, "He kicked me out of the house."

Camille winced inside.

That jerk.

He had the guts to cheat on her and then throw her out like she was the problem.

"Oh my God, I'm going to kill him," Camille muttered while pacing angrily. "What kind of disgusting, pathetic...."

Mia gave a wet laugh and sniffed. "You are always so melodramatic."

"I mean this!" Camille whirled on her, fire in her eyes. "He doesn't deserve you, Mia. I swear to God, I will....."

"Camille," sighed Mia. "I don't want revenge right now." I just.... I need a place to stay. "Can I crash here for a while?" The concern about Camille faded totally.

She stretched her hand and held Mia's hand in it. "Of course. Take your time."

Mia let out a frail smile and turned her face around the apartment. "Wow. I haven't been here in ages. You still keep it messy, though."

Camille snorted. "Shut up."

Mia collapsed on the couch and sighed. "God, I feel like I got hit by a truck."

"You want some tea?" Or wine? "Or maybe both?" Camille asked, sitting beside her.

Mia smiled weakly. "Tea. If I drank wine, I'd end up crying much more."

"It's tea, then."

Camille stood up and headed towards the kitchen.

As she filled the kettle, she felt some of the tension in her chest loosen. She had detection with Mia and diversion, at best, from Adrian Vaughn.

Mia's voice floated from the living room just as Camille thought she could relax.

"So..." Even through her fatigue, the teasing tone was clear in Mia's voice, "who were you dodging at work today?"

Camille froze.

The kettle nearly slipped from her hands.

Damn it.

She should have known.

Mia would have noticed it.

Camille hesitated for a moment, before forcing a casual response. "No one."

Mia snorted. "Liar."

Camille sighed, stirring sugar into the tea. "It's... complicated."

Mia perked up instantly.

"Ooh, that means it's interesting."

Camille shot her a glare as she handed over the cup. "Drop it."

Mia pouted. "Fine. For now."

Camille rolled her eyes, though it felt physically impossible to restrain the small smile tugging at her lips.

At least it gave her something else to focus her attention on.

Maybe, just maybe, she could avoid thinking about Adrian Vaughn for one more night.

Almost no sleep touched Camille on that night.

After Mia had finally fallen asleep on the couch, wrapped in one of Camille's spare blankets, Camille was still lying awake, gazing at the ceiling.

Replaying everything in her mind were the events of the day, her mother's call, her supervisor humiliating her before the staff and most importantly, Adrian Vaughn.

Nothing about what had happened made sense.

Why here? Why now?

And more importantly, did he remember her?