Chapter 30: A Wounded Soul

Chapter 30: A Wounded Soul
MERA

Camilo held out a small silver box containing a ring, and I swear my heart stopped before sinking into my stomach.

Just then, Ava said yes, and Camila squealed, bouncing on her toes with excitement as her brother and Ava shared a long, passionate kiss. She then ran over to congratulate them.

"Hey, are you OK?" I heard Lorenzo’s voice, and I turned my head to see him already on his feet. He reached out to help me up, and I nodded.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I said, though my voice came out softer than I intended as I forced the best smile I could manage, thankful he couldn’t see my heart, how it bled.

We walked over together to congratulate them, and then I asked to be excused. Lorenzo helped me get out of my skates, and I dashed to the restroom, a hot lump lodged in my throat.

I slid down and collapsed inside, completely devastated. What had I been thinking? Why did I allow myself to fall for him when I knew it was wrong?

Yes, he had been withdrawn, but I believed that he would eventually come around. It was wrong, but I still wanted him. I was in love with him, and I couldn't help how I felt, even as it made me a bad person. He had opened that door; he had confessed his feelings to me. Why did he do that?

My vision was blurry, and my head was spinning as I bawled my eyes out on the hard floor until I heard a knock at the door. "Mera?" Camila's voice came, and I quickly wiped away my tears, scrambling for my voice.

“Yeah?”

“Are you alright in there?”

“I’m fine."

“Listen, we want to head down to the club for some drinks to celebrate, so we’ll wait for you in the car, okay?”

“Okay. I’ll be down in a second.” I tried to fix my makeup as much as I could so no one would notice I had been crying, but there was nothing I could do about my red eyes. So I headed out and hoped they wouldn’t pay too much attention to me.

I didn't even want to go to the club, but I knew it wouldn't look right if I didn't. The last thing I wanted was to bring attention to myself because I knew if I did, they would see right through me. They would see my wounded soul.

Getting into the car, the driver took off. And Camila asked if I was okay, to which I said I was. Ava, thankfully, wasn't riding with us. She and Camilo had come in Camilo's car while Camila, Lorenzo, and I were driven by Fern, the driver.

Camila and Lorenzo fell into conversation while I looked outside, watching the road, wondering if my heart would eventually stop bleeding... scared, I was making a mistake by going to the club. Maybe I should have risked being funny and gone back to the house.

•••

THE FOLLOWING DAY AT THE OFFICE
MERA

"Hey, you," I said to Lorenzo as he entered my office carrying three bags.

"I brought you ladies' lunch," he said, pausing and looking at me before continuing to say he was impressed. "I couldn't believe Camila when she told me you woke up this morning. Do you even know how you got home?” he asked, walking over to the corner table and setting the bags down.

"I have no idea," I admitted, blushing in embarrassment, and he said I should have seen myself, laughing.

"You were too cute, especially when you started crying and fighting Camilo as he tried to carry you inside."

"I did what?" My heart rate spiked as I wondered whether I’d accidentally revealed our secret, and his next words made me freeze, wide-eyed.

"You said he broke your heart and started screaming, fighting him off before breaking down sobbing, prompting Ava and Camila to join in."

"What?" My face turned pale.

"Yeah, Fern, the driver, stepped in when the three of you began crying and hugging each other."

"Oh my God," I muttered, burying my face in my palms.

“Hey, you were drunk. We’ve all done stupid stuff while drunk. Plus, you eventually stopped resisting, and Camilo took you inside," he said with a shrug. That last part made my brows furrow in confusion.

"I thought you said Fern helped?"

"Yes, he did."

"So why did Camilo take me inside?"

"Fern had Ava. Camilo had you,” he replied, and I couldn’t help the way my heart skipped a beat at that as I whispered that I would never drink again.

“Don’t quit, just take it easy next time. You were really throwing them back last night. I was surprised you had not already passed out at the club."

“I was… wasn’t I?” I whispered, my heart sinking as the reason for it came back to mind.

“Any particular reason why?” He asked, sitting across from my desk. “I’m a good listener.”

“Thanks, but there wasn’t any reason. It... it had just been a while, that’s all. I have not drunk since my 18th birthday, so I guess I forgot how." I responded, and he nodded, inviting me to eat with him.

“I’ll be right over. I want to finish these emails.”

After sending the emails, I moved over to the couch and joined Lorenzo, informing him that Camila, with whom I was working, needed to leave to meet with a client. He said she had texted him, but he had only just seen it.

My thoughts drifted back to the club as we ate, to how happy Ava was and how I just sat there, smiling every time she looked at me while bleeding inside.

Blinking, I pushed the memory away, telling myself that she had every right to be happy. I deserved what I was going through. I was a bad person. Sighing, I closed my eyes again and forced myself to focus on work.

But the universe would not let me forget, as the door opened and Camilo walked in, and my heart stuttered so hard that I almost gasped.