Camila pov
Anthony had texted to let me know he was picking me up and that he was outside. I happily skipped out. I noticed he was parked in the lot, and people kept glancing and whispering as I got into his car. I could see the disappointment on his face.
He said he couldn't take me to the surprise spot but that he'd make it up to me. Frankly, I didn't care. He took me to a pastry shop, and we got milkshakes—vanilla for me, coffee for him. I told him thanks. Hell, at least he showed up, and I appreciated that more than anything else. Just his presence was enough, and the fact that he bothered to explain why—his reason was valid.
He would look good in a suit and tie, but he didn't seem like the type who wanted to be in one.
He dropped me home, and I waved goodbye. I wanted to kiss him on the cheek, but I kept that to myself. What if he freaked out? What if he just wanted to be friends and only felt sorry for me? I pushed all that to the back of my mind and walked into the kitchen.
My mom was there. Her fair skin and straight strawberry-blonde hair dangled down her back. She was a little shorter than I was, but the kind of person who commanded respect at first glance. She was beautiful—and, to be honest, God's greatest gift to me. My mother, Precela Anderson.
I took her last name as well. My dad? Who knows. He sucks. He moved back to Nigeria after their divorce, and my mom doesn't talk about him much—which makes sense. He won't even take my calls. My mom likes to say I'm the best thing she got from him.
I stopped trying to call or message him after he told me I was a disappointment and that he was disowning me. I remember when I was eleven—he slapped me so hard I flew across the room and broke my arm. That was the beginning of the end.
And since my brother likes to travel—he owns a small investment agency and moves around a lot—I don't see him much either. So my mom is my world. But I hardly see her too, because she throws herself into work.
I ran up and hugged her. She hugged me back. She's always happy to see me. She kissed my forehead and offered me some chicken tenders, fries, and pink lemonade she had just made. I took some and spent the rest of the afternoon chatting and watching cat videos with her in her room.
Moments like these were rare.
I told her about the breakup and how I met Anthony. She shook her head and told me I had her support, and that if I wanted, I could have my friends over anytime. I already knew that, so I just snuggled closer to her—not knowing when we'd have a moment like this again.
She told me about her business partner and the meetings she'd have to attend, and how busy she'd be in the coming days. I was just happy we could share this moment.