Anthony pov
I woke up and ran down to the gym. I had texted Camila the night before but went straight to bed. I wasn't sure if she had responded—I was too afraid to check.
Now, with that assignment off my shoulders, I had time—time I hadn't had before. I picked up Prince and pretended to work out, trying to distract myself. I noticed Kara watching me from upstairs, but I said nothing.
That was another thing—she had made a move last night. Not that I could blame her. I had definitely given her the wrong impression. She was amazing, but she wasn't Camila.
If I entertained anything with Kara, it would be a distraction, and that wouldn't be fair—not to her, not to me.
Then my phone buzzed. A notification from my dad: a reminder that I was required at a meeting in two weeks. Non-negotiable. Part of our deal was that I'd attend occasional meetings with him.
But that wasn't what sent my heart to the floor.
Camila had responded.
My hands trembled as I tapped on her contact.
She actually responded.
Camila:Julia is fine. She's sleeping.
Am I okay? No—but you already knew that.
That hit me like a truck.
She wasn't okay.
I did that to her.
I missed her. I knew she wouldn't take me back, but God, I missed her.
I remembered when we had just started dating. I'd found out that Deron had tried to get her back multiple times—but she didn't even give him the time of day. Apparently, she told him that exes were exes for a reason, and that she'd never get back with one.
I knew then that I had lost her.
Still, I just wanted to be close to her.
I couldn't help myself. I asked if there was anything I could've done to make it better. It made no sense. I just needed to say something—anything—to talk to her. I told her I was sorry, and that if she ever needed a ride or anything at all, she could give me a call.
To my surprise, she responded.
A voice note.
She sounded a bit bitter.
"I'm fine. I have my own car now. I don't need a personal driver."
That hit home. Like nothing else could.
Maybe I should move on.
Maybe giving Kara a chance wasn't such a bad idea.
What was I even thinking? Honestly, anything to make the pain go away.
But I knew that a rebound—or casual sex, which wasn't something I was above—wouldn't help. It wouldn't make things better.
I just needed her.
She was all I needed.
I still had her birthday gift in my room—wrapped neatly in a box.
A Demon Slayer jacket. I knew she wanted it.
Her birthday was coming up.
God, I missed her smile.
I decided to push the conversation to the back of my mind and say nothing—for now. I'd respond later.
She said we were still friends. Maybe that's all we could be now.
I'd give her the gift on her birthday.
And then I'd ask her if she was sure—really sure—that we were better off as just that.
Camila's POV
When I saw Anthony 's message, my heart clenched.
I answered honestly, because pretending wouldn't help either of us.
I didn't expect him to respond again, but he did. Apologizing. Reaching out. Offering a ride like old times. It felt hollow and heavy, like reopening a wound I was still trying to patch up.
So I replied—not cruelly, but clearly.
"I have my own car . I don't need a personal driver."
It wasn't about the ride. It was about the space.
I knew my words would sting. They stung me, too.
But I couldn't let him think we could be friends i had lied through my teeth in softness— we couldn't be maybe he could be but I couldn't
And still…
When I put my phone down, I stared at the ceiling.
I hated how much I still loved him.
That doesn't matter I couldn't let it matter
Julia needed me. Even tho she had her own relationship issues she kept telling me to talk to Anthony and work it out
He was the one that chose to leave
He left me with out a Care
If anyone was to ask to talk to work things clout it would have to be him and his ego would never let him
my birthday was coming up and I had to make plans
Old wounds needed to be bandaged and left alone
Anthony and his possible new girl could suck it