Chapter 2

Cameron still hadn't come home by the next day.

The only thing on my phone was a message and a photo Paige had sent in the early hours of the morning.

"Iris, everyone was having so much fun last night that we drank too much and crashed at my place. Cameron won't be coming home tonight, so don't worry."

In the photo, Cameron lay shirtless, passed out on Paige's bed, with the lingerie she'd changed out of right beside him.

I stared at the screen for a long time.

I typed out question after question, then deleted every one. In the end, they all stuck in my throat.

I locked my phone and headed out to pick up my parents from the airport. They were flying in for the wedding.

I was standing at the curb waiting for my ride when Cameron's Maybach rolled to a stop in front of me.

He lowered the window and waved me over. "Iris, I'll take you."

I froze for a moment.

But one look at the gridlocked traffic, and I got in anyway.

The second I sat down, a heavy, perfumed scent hit me.

It was Paige's favorite fragrance.

There was a pink cartoon pillow on the passenger seat that hadn't been there before.

But Cameron didn't like cartoons, and he hated pink.

He glanced at the pillow in my hands.

He sounded exasperated as he explained, but there was a hint of pleasure in his voice.

"Paige insisted on stuffing it in here. She really treats me like her personal chauffeur."

I didn't answer. I turned my head away and closed my eyes.

All I could think about was when we'd first gotten together.

I'd spent three days and three nights praying on my knees in a little chapel, then given him a St. Christopher medal to keep him safe on the road. Cameron tossed it aside without even looking at it.

"I don't like keeping junk like that in my car."

So it turned out he never needed a reason to brush me off, but he could always find an excuse to make room for Paige.

"We're here."

The car came to a stop.

I opened my eyes and froze, frantic and furious.

"Cameron, weren't we going to the airport to pick up my parents? Where are we?"

Cameron unbuckled his seat belt without any rush, as if the answer were obvious.

"If we're putting on a show, we have to go all in. Paige's parents are in town today, so we're all having lunch together."

"And what about my parents?"

A flicker of impatience crossed his face. "They're grown adults. They're not going to get lost.

"I'll send someone to take them to the hotel. Stop worrying."

"Then you can put on this show yourselves. I'm done playing along!"

Fighting back the anger surging in my chest, I turned to push the door open.

Cameron grabbed my arm.

He frowned at me like I was being completely unreasonable.

"Stop it. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton know how close you and Paige are. It won't make sense if you're not there."

In the middle of our standoff, my phone buzzed.

It was my parents calling.

I hurried to answer.

But Cameron suddenly leaned over and snatched the phone out of my hand.

"There's no time. After lunch, I'll go see them with you.

"Don't forget, we lost the game. Don't make a scene."

The game. Always the game.

I suddenly felt drained, and a sting I couldn't put into words burned behind my eyes.

I could force myself to play along with his games for the sake of his so-called competitive spirit.

But ever since Paige came along, every time he said "a bet's a bet," I felt more and more like a joke.

I looked at Cameron, disappointed.

Suddenly, I wanted to ask him why.

But when the words reached my lips, it no longer seemed worth it.

I managed a thin smile.

"Fine. I'll go in with you."

Cameron let out a breath and reached for me, satisfied.

I quietly moved out of his reach, my voice perfectly calm.

"Can I have my phone back now?"

Cameron caught the distance in my voice, and his jaw tightened.

I ignored him, took my phone, and sent a message straight to his archrival.

"That proposal I turned down last time... can I take back my answer?"