Never Say Never Rachael Sommers (story read aloud txt) 📖

He scrunched up his face “You don’t love my mom?”

“She definitely doesn’t love me,” she said, though what she should have said was no, but somehow she couldn’t because, even though she didn’t think she was in love with Camila, she was halfway there, and to deny it would feel too much like a lie.

“Oh.” Jaime looked disappointed. “I love you.” He blinked up at her. “Can I marry you?”

“You’re a little young for me, buddy. Maybe when you’re older.”

“Okay!” He went back to playing, looking much happier; all thoughts of his two favorite people fighting forgotten.

* * *

“What do you mean, there are no spare rooms?” Camila glared at Jessica. The other woman stood in front of Camila’s desk nervously, her tablet clutched in trembling hands.

“Um, well, as you know, I reserved your usual suite a few months ago and reserved a room for myself, but when I called to request an additional room, they said they’re fully booked for the holidays.” Jessica spoke fast when she was nervous, but Camila kept up with her frantic speech. “But, uh, Emily can have my room, and I’ll find another hotel nearby, or an Airbnb. It’s not—”

“Nonsense,” Camila raised her hand. “I need you nearby.”

“But…you need Emily nearby too.”

Camila scowled. “Are you sure they won’t make an exception for me?”

“I tried, but…” Jessica trailed off.

“Get the manager on the phone.” Most people were more amenable when she spoke to them herself rather than her assistant, and Jessica returned to her desk and patched the call through a few moments later.

“Ms. Evans.” The manager used his best customer service voice. “I’m sorry about this, but as I told Ms. Morgan, we have no rooms available—”

“Not a single one?” Camila asked. The hotel was huge and expensive, and there was no way it could be full, regardless of the time of the year. “Hell, I’d even take a broom closet, if you have one.”

“We have no vacancies.”

Camila gritted her teeth.

“But if I could remind you, your suite has two bedrooms and can sleep four.”

Camila was well aware of that fact. Her original plan had been for Emily to stay with her, close to Jaime, which was why Jessica hadn’t reserved something earlier. But in light of recent events, she thought Emily might be more comfortable in her own room.

Now it looked like they would have to share close quarters for the entire time they were in London.

Not ideal.

“That will have to do, then,” Camila replied, her voice clipped. “Thank you.” She hung up, muttering under her breath.

Jessica knocked timidly on her door, and Camila glanced up. Jessica hovered whenever Camila was in a mood.

“Any luck?”

“No.” Camila rubbed her temples. She had a vicious headache coming on. “Emily will have to stay in my suite.”

“Oh well, at least she has somewhere. I’m going to book the flight next. Do you want Emily up in first class with you and Jaime, or coach with me?”

Camila considered. She didn’t want Emily too close, but Jaime would have a tantrum if she wasn’t nearby.

“Just put us all in first class,” Camila decided, because then Jessica could act as a buffer. Besides, the seats in first class were roomy enough that their arms and legs wouldn’t touch if there was turbulence.

“Are…are you sure?”

Camila waved her away. “Yes. Go and book the flight before I change my mind.”

Jessica scurried off, and Camila looked longingly at the bar in the corner, but she knew that scotch would do little to ease the ache behind her eyes.

Camila was bone-tired by the time she got home at seven o’clock, even though it was a relatively early night for her.

Jaime was already struggling to keep his eyes open. She pulled him into a hug and he snuggled into her chest, his arms draping around her neck. She calmed instantly.

“Did Emily wear you out today?” she asked him. He mumbled in response.

“We went to the park,” Emily told her, “and then the gym. You should think about signing him up for martial arts classes—I think he would do well. And it would be good for him to meet some other kids his age.”

“Thank you for your parenting input.” It came out with more bite than she intended—an aftereffect of the day she’d had, and she hadn’t even really meant it, regretted it as soon as she saw the wounded look in Emily’s eyes.

“I wasn’t—” Emily protested, but then cut herself off with a shake of her head. “Never mind. I’ll keep my mouth shut.” Her words crackled with an undercurrent of anger. She climbed to her feet. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Wait.”

Emily stopped in her tracks, turning back to face Camila, expecting an apology.

“Here. Details for the trip next month.” She handed Emily the folder Jessica had put together. Emily took it without looking at it. “We fly out on the seventeenth, return on the twenty-first.”

“Great.” Emily’s voice was flat, and Camila wished it didn’t feel like a knife in her chest.

“And there…there weren’t any extra rooms in the hotel, so you’ll be staying in a suite with me and Jaime.”

“Can’t wait.” Her voice was heavy with sarcasm, and Camila winced, but Emily had already turned to leave. “Bye, Jaime!” She called over her shoulder, but Jaime was half-asleep.

Camila woke Jaime up enough for him to brush his teeth and put on his pajamas. She sat in the chair next to his bed, ready to read him a story from one of the books he had picked up from the library.

She had barely opened the book when Jaime, suddenly wide awake, asked, “Mama?”

“Yes, sweetheart?” She thought he might want a different book, but his question was simple.

“Why don’t you love Emily?”

“I… What?” She didn’t think he had heard the conversation this morning, much less that he would remember it. “Why would you ask that?”

“Why are you fighting with her?”

“I… We’re not fighting.”

“You are,” he said solemnly. “She’s upset.”

His words felt like a sucker punch right to her gut.

“Where is this coming from?”

“I asked Emily if