ELLE'S POV
I come home exhausted from work, still thinking about dinner with Damian. The moment I step inside, my mother fires her usual jabs. I don't respond, I just keep walking. My shoulders ache, my head is pounding, and the last thing I want is another argument. Even though they sting, I'm too tired to react. All I want is space. Anything that isn't her.
In my room, I head straight for the closet. Only then does it hit me; this dinner might actually be a blessing. Anything is better than being trapped here with my mother tonight. My fingers tremble slightly as I flip through hangers. Silk brushes my knuckles. Cool fabric. Normal things. Safe things. A distraction.
I pull out a dress, hold it against me, then toss it aside. I can't focus. My hands keep drifting up to my chest like I'm trying to steady my heartbeat.
The front door opens and, seconds later, my mother's voice explodes through the hallway. A whole performance, twirling, laughing.
"My sunshine is home!" she squeals, rushing to hug Camila. "Honestly, Camila, I swear the hospital mixed up my babies. You should've been mine, not that stubborn one."
She jerks her chin toward me without even glancing.
I close my eyes. Of course she said it. And she meant it.
When they finally detach, Cam slips into my room and quietly closes the door behind her.
"What is going on?"
I let out a long breath and toss a dress onto my bed. "Damian asked me to dinner. Out of nowhere. And he sounded… weird. I don't know. But I said yes because honestly..." I gesture helplessly toward the living room, "...I cannot sit here with my mother tonight."
Cam nods in instant agreement. "Fair."
Then her face freezes. "Wait. Where's the dinner? A restaurant? His house? Yours?"
I blink. Then blink again.
"I… didn't ask."
Her mouth falls open. "Elle, be honest. Did your brain didn't stay back at the office?"
"What is wrong with me today?" I mutter, pressing both hands to my forehead.
"Call him. Call him right now before he... oh God! Before he ends up..."
My phone rings.
Both of us jump.
Damian.
I swallow and answer. "Hey," I say with a smile I don't feel. "Don't tell me you're calling to cancel."
"Not cancelling," he says "Are you ready?"
"I just got home. I need to shower and get dressed."
"I'll come pick you up."
My heart drops. "No! No, it's fine. Really. I can manage."
"I'm already on your street." Not a question.
My pulse spikes. Already?
"It's not a bother," he adds.
Full panic mode hits.
Panic makes me stupid. "Oh! Um-Camila's boyfriend's here. So it'd be awkward if you came up."
There's a pause. A very heavy, suspicious pause.
Then: "Alright. I'll wait outside."
I hang up and run back to the living room.
"MOM," I whisper-shout, my hands clasped. "Please. Please do NOT come near the door. Do not speak to Damian. Do not breathe toward the hallway. Please."
She doesn't even look away from the TV. "I can't promise anything."
"Mom, I'm serious." I'm practically kneeling beside her now. My voice shakes; I hate it. "Please. I'm begging."
She finally glances at me slow and amused. "I could even be invisible, little moon. If he tries to come up? Poof. Gone." She wiggles her fingers.
My relief is short-lived.
"But," she adds, turning back to the TV, "everything has a price."
I close my eyes. "What do you want?"
"Follow me home," she says casually, like she's asking for salt. "That's all."
"What? Mom, no. Absolutely not."
She ignores me completely and calls, "Camila, did you see this part? The episode where the brother sleeps with Carla?"
Cam pokes her head out, surprised. "Yes? You made me watch the whole episode last weekend."
I stare at them both.
Last weekend? They hang out now?
How? When? My brain spins so hard I nearly forget the crisis at hand.
"Fine," I snap. "Fine. I'll go. Happy now?"
She smiles sweetly. "Very."
I storm back into my room, furious and defeated, and Camila meets me at the doorway with pale and shaky eyes.
"Elle…" She swallows. "Damian called me."
My stomach sinks. "What did he say?"
"He asked if he could come up."
She winces. "To say hi. And check if my boyfriend wouldn't mind."
"Oh no."
"And I panicked. I really, really panicked."
"Cam…"
"I said yes."
I stare at her, dead silent, while my entire soul leaves my body.
Damian is coming up.
My mother is in the living room.
I am officially, undeniably, catastrophically doomed.