Xander shot a look at Elijah. "If anything, Cameron didn''t want to sit next to you."


    Cameron replied calmly, "Xander, you''re overthinking it. Amelia and I are just ssmates now-nothing more."


    "I don''t buy it," Xander muttered.


    Amelia nced at Cameron.


    It was clear-painfully clear-that he hadpletely let go of whatever feelings he might have once had for her.


    It just happened so fast.


    93%1


    (+20)


    Before the silence could stretch, Austin jumped in with a grin, steering the conversation away. "Hey, Xander, didn''t you say you went looking for Skylerst night? Come on, tell us how you got revenge for Cam-"


    He broke off, coughing dramatically. Xander let out a matching cough. "My aunt caught me in the parking garage. Didn''t make it out."


    Austin raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh.”


    Tyrellughed. "Well, I''m sure in his mind, Xander already punched Skyler in the face-twice. Still can''t believe she went that far. Could''vepletely destroyed Cam''s reputation."


    Xander red at Austin. "What about you? What did you do for Cameron?"


    Austin smiled. "Cam told us to stay out of it. Said he had his own n."


    Xander narrowed his eyes and turned to Cameron.


    "And you didn''t think to tell me?"


    Cameron said tly, "Would you have believed me if I did?"


    Xander narrowed his eyes and turned to Cameron.


    Across the table, Bradley was quietly skimming the menu. He handed it to Amelia. "Here."


    "Thanks," she said, her fingers brushing over the spot where his had been. It was still faintly warm.


    She pressed her lips together and then circled a few items.


    After ordering, she passed the menu to Cameron, who handed it off to Austin.


    With everyone''s orders in, conversation flowed easily around the table.


    Tyrell leaned in. "Cam, have you figured out what college you want to apply to?"


    Cameron replied casually, "Not really."


    had no specific goal.


    In herst life, she didn''t even live to finish high school.


    College wasn''t something she had ever gotten the chance to consider.


    What mattered to her now was one thing-acing the SATS.


    13.07 Thu, 22 May MC


    That perfect score would earn her three million in cash and a house worth just as much.


    Amelia said, "With your grades, getting into a good school shouldn''t be a problem."


    Cameron smiled faintly. "I want to aim even higher."


    Amelia looked at her with surprise. "The SATs are right around the corner. You''d better lock in soon."


    Amelia had always been top of the ss, second only to Elijah.


    With grades like hers, she had her pick of elite schools.


    Cameron nodded. "I will. I''m working on it."


    Elijah, knowing the real story, couldn''t help but chuckle.


    K939


    Cameron yed the role of an underachiever so well. All that just to dodge the


    engagement with Amelia. He reallymitted.


    自


    Xander, unlike Elijah, didn''t hold back. He raised a brow. "Amelia, do you want to


    guess why Mr. Drake made such a big deal about getting Cameron back into school?"


    Amelia blinked. "Why?"


    Xander grinned. "Take a guess."


    She stared at him, speechless.


    Bradley chimed in, "Cameron''s grades are solid."


    "Wait, what?" Amelia turned to him in disbelief.


    ''Solid grades? Isn''t Cameron only starting to improve recently? He used to be at


    the bottom of the ss. Sure, he tested well during admissions, which ced him


    in the top section-but his performance went downhill after that."


    Still, Amelia kept those thoughts to herself.


    Beneath the fondue, a single me burned quietly, steady and unobtrusive.


    Cameron raised her ss of juice. “Thanks for being here, everyone. And especially to Amelia-for what you did. I really appreciate it."


    AD


    Comment


    Send gift