Chapter 20 Sorry
Leopold was chillin' with Amara at this fancy joint, candles and all, when he saw the message. His face went from zero to stormy real quick.
Amara noticed and asked, "What's up?"
Leopold just held his breath, not saying a damn thing.
He finally texted back: [What’s it to me?]
Marcus saw the message and smirked: [So, you and Camilla are really done this time?]
Leopold glanced at it, biting back his frustration, but he kept it cool in his reply: [Got a problem with that?]
Marcus: [No, wouldn’t dare]
Marcus: [So, if someone else goes after Camilla, you’re cool with it, right?]
Simon jumped in: [Do you gonna make a move?]
Marcus replied with a "yes" emoji.
Oliver: [Hahaha]
Simon: [You're a character.]
No one really bought it.
Leopold saw the emoji and shrugged it off, typing back: [Sure, knock yourself out.]
Marcus, feeling smug, put his phone away, thinking, 'Let’s see if Leopold regrets this later.'
By nine, Leopold dropped Amara off at her dorm.
Amara said, "Babe, thanks for making this the best birthday ever."
She held his hand, not wanting to let go. "Leaving you sucks. How are you so chill? Won’t you miss me?"
Her eyes sparkled, her smile was sweet, and her voice was all flirty, making his heart do a little dance.
Leopold’s eyes softened as he looked at her. He ruffled her hair. "You’ve got class tomorrow. It’s been a long day. Get some rest."
Amara pouted but nodded, "Okay, I’ll head in."
This whole goodbye took him a good half hour.
Driving out of the campus, he was supposed to turn left to go home, but Marcus’s photo popped into his head, and he turned right instead.
Halfway there, it started drizzling, the raindrops turning the lights into a blurry mess.
In the rearview mirror, he saw a cashmere plaid blanket on the back seat, probably left by Amara.
He suddenly remembered how Camilla used to complain about the AC in his car being too cold. She’d made him buy that light brown plaid blanket.
After they split, the blanket just sat there, unused until today.
A honk snapped him back, and as the light turned green, he hit the gas.
At the bar, he tossed his keys to the bartender and made his way through the first floor like he owned the place.
Being a regular, the manager greeted him right away.
Leopold asked, "Where’s Marcus?"
"They’re all in the private room upstairs."
Ignoring the manager, Leopold headed straight up.
Inside, the crew was pretty wasted, slumped over and mumbling.
Leopold scanned the room; no Camilla, and Marcus was still somewhat sober.
"What are you doing here?" Marcus asked, surprised. "Weren’t you with your girl?"
"Just dropped her off at school," Leopold said casually, then found a spot to sit.
Marcus didn’t push it, just smirked. "Just cracked open a bottle, want some?"
He poured half a glass and handed it over.
Leopold took a sip. "Not bad."
After a beat, he asked casually, "Didn’t you say Camilla was here? Haven’t seen her."
Marcus swirled his wine, half-smiling. "You come here just to see her?"
Leopold’s face cooled. "Just wanted a drink. Is it a crime to ask?"
Marcus shrugged. "Saw her in the hallway. She was here for a bit, probably bounced by now."
Leopold didn’t say anything, but he visibly relaxed. Camilla wasn’t really the bar type anyway.
Putting down his glass, Leopold stood up. "Got work tomorrow. Put tonight’s tab on me."
Marcus watched him leave, eyes darkening a bit.
After a moment, he sighed softly, "Sorry, man."
They hadn’t been in the private room for an hour when Juniper, after downing half a bottle, passed out.
Camilla had a few drinks too and couldn’t drive, so she called a driver for Juniper and then grabbed a cab home.
Halfway there, it started pouring, and the cabbie only agreed to drop her at the alley entrance since it was so late.
Camilla didn’t have an umbrella and had no clue when the rain would stop, so she decided to make a run for it.
"Camilla!"
A clear voice called from behind, stopping her. She turned to see Sebastian walking through the rain with an umbrella.
"Planning to run home in this?"
Sebastian wasn’t in his usual shirt; he was in casual clothes, looking way more laid-back.
Camilla nodded; that was the plan.
"Take this umbrella." Sebastian insisted, handing it to her.
Camilla frowned. "What about you?"
She kinda wanted to suggest sharing it.
"I’ll borrow one from the store." He ran to the shop across the street and borrowed a collapsible umbrella from the grumpy owner.
Camilla was surprised. The shop owner was known for his bad temper, barely acknowledging customers. How did Sebastian manage that?
"Their electrical system had issues before, and I helped out." Sebastian didn’t elaborate. Seeing the rain lighten a bit, he opened his umbrella and stepped into the rain.
Camilla watched him for a couple of seconds before following.
In the old neighborhood, the streetlights were dim, and the rain made them even weaker.
Suddenly, lightning flashed, and the wind rustled the trees loudly. Camilla tightened her grip on the umbrella and quickened her pace.
Walking through the rain-soaked alley, she noticed Sebastian kept about 6 feet away, not too far, not too close.
Was he aware she was scared and slowed down on purpose?
Just then, Sebastian turned back. "What’s wrong?"
She said, "Nothing."
"Can you keep up?"
"Yeah."
The rain was so heavy that by the time Camilla got home, her pants were soaked enough to wring out water.
She quickly stripped off her wet clothes, took a hot shower, changed into her pajamas, and drank some cold medicine to avoid getting sick.
As she sipped the bitter medicine, Sebastian’s image holding the umbrella flashed in her mind—tall, broad, and reassuring.
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