Camera Shy (Lessons in Love, #1)(92)

“Take it back,” I seethe. “Do not call her that, especially not to my face.”

Mom told me none of this. All she said was that she was finally at peace. It dawns on me that Mom was doing what she did my entire life—she protected me from seeing Dad’s true colors so I could enjoy the good parts, and be blind to the worst of him. She didn’t want me to know…

What a fucking monster I came from.

“Champ, relax. It’s just the fallout of a lover’s—”

“Stop,” I bark. “You did a lot of things to my mother. Loving her is not one of them. I’m so sick of this. You know something, Dad? I wake up every day and I don’t try to be a good person. That’s not the standard I live by. Every day I wake up and I just try to be less like you. That’s how I know my life is moving in the right direction. I can’t…do this anymore. I can’t excuse all the disgusting parts of you anymore. I’m done.” I release the breath I’ve been holding for ten years. “I’m fucking done.”

Dad’s startled by my outburst. Never once in the past decade have I been honest with him about how I feel. Maybe I should’ve said all this sooner, because he finally looks ashamed of himself.

“Champ, I don’t—”

“I don’t want to see you anymore. I want you off my mortgage. I’m selling the truck. I don’t want a damn thing tying you to me anymore. Not until you grow the fuck up, Dad.” I slam back into the back of the booth in frustration. The entire seat shifts an inch and I rise to peek over the back of the booth and apologize to the diner behind me.

My heart drops when I see the top of Avery’s head. Goddamn it. How long has she been sitting there? She must’ve heard everything. I scramble out of the booth and around to her side. She does her best to turn her head, but it’s too late. I see her wet eyes.

And it’s the straw that falls on the already broken camel’s back. It should’ve been enough that Dad took the best parts of my mother and made her into a depressed, anxiety-ridden shell of herself. But now he just made Avery cry, and that’s a line no one gets to cross.

Never again. Not while she’s with me.

I hook my finger under her chin and turn her gaze toward me. She rolls her eyes and shrugs her shoulders in defeat as I survey her glistening cheeks.

“I’m caught,” she mutters under her breath. I wipe away her tears with my thumbs.

“Ready to go?” I ask softly.

She nods. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry, Queen. I hate seeing you cry.” I kiss the top of her forehead. I take her hand in mine. “Let me make it up to you.”





26


Avery





We’re in the jetted two-person tub in the enchanting penthouse suite when Finn finally asks me the obvious question on his mind…

He was mostly silent on the walk over here. He was distracted in his thoughts as he retrieved our keys from the concierge and took the elevators to the top floor. He only smiled at my shocked expression when I walked into the room and saw it decorated as if it were our honeymoon suite.

With rose petals everywhere, it looked picturesque. The scent of sweet amber and vanilla filled the air. And the view…

From the balcony, it’s a bird’s eye view of the lit-up, dancing fountains. We’re on top of the world tonight. But Finn’s mood is deflated.

When we first arrived, after unbuttoning his dress shirt, he immediately filled the tub, even going as far as throwing a handful of loose petals on top of the water. He stripped me down, careful not to rip my dress. He took his time peeling off my lace thong and matching strapless bra before he ushered me into the tub, assuring me this was only part one of his apology. Stripping down naked, he joined me, but made sure to take his seat across from me, keeping the distance between us.

“How much of that conversation did you hear?” he asks, his eye fixed on the water line.

“What conversation?” I play dumb. I’m already uncomfortable. Finn’s guilt for something he didn’t do or say makes it ten times worse. I want to comfort him, but I’m still licking my own wounds.

“Avery,” he grunts out.

“From the moment your dad informed you that you can pull a much hotter girl than me.” My laugh is harsh and bitter. “He’s not wrong.” I try to wink playfully, but Finn is not remotely amused.

“He’s an ass—”

“Finn, it’s fine. If I was upset, it was because of something that happened in the bathroom.” It’s a half-truth. Emma’s antics hurt my feelings. Mr. Harvey’s words obliterated them. It’s one thing for a jealous woman to be cruel when she desperately wants what you have, but Finn’s dad’s disapproval… Especially over the way I look? I don’t know how to process that…

“What happened in the bathroom?” He cocks one eyebrow.

I lean back, letting my head rest on the ledge of the deep tub. “One of the waitresses wanted your number. I overheard. Apparently, she does butt stuff.”

Finn tries to control his smile but fails. A snort breaks free from his lips. “I’m sorry. I think I momentarily blacked out when you said butt stuff. Where did we land on that subject, by the way?”

“Oh yeah, let’s go for it.”