61

The faint sound of the door shutting behind Cameron and dad was the only noise that lingered in the air before silence wrapped around us again. For a moment, we just stood there, bathed in the faint glow of the porch light, surrounded by the darkened street.

The distant sound of crickets were back at it again, like they were congratulating us.

I looked at Daniela.

Her eyes softened in the dim light, searching mine as if looking for the right words. I opened my mouth to speak but felt the lump in my throat tighten. What do you say after all that? After laying your heart bare in front of everyone?

I mean hell, I win.

I fucking win.

"You're shaking." She said softly, holding onto the sides of my arms.

"Guess the adrenaline hasn't worn off yet," I muttered, attempting a laugh, but it sounded more like a shaky exhale.

Daniela's lips quirked into a small smile, though concern lingered in her eyes. "I should've listened to you." She said quietly, a tiny frown forming on her face.

I shook my head, taking a deep breath in and turning my body entirely to face her. "How could you?" I whispered. "I mean, I hurt and kept everything away from you. But... just know, I would never cheat on you."

She took a deep breath in before wrapping her arms around my waist and pulled my body flushed against hers. My own arms wrapped around her neck, her head tilting down to my shoulder where she placed a soft kiss on my bare skin.

"You didn't tell me because Adeline threatened you, right?" She mumbled against me.

I nodded slightly. "She would've told everyone about us, and then you'd lose your job. She would've told my dad... and now look, huh? I mean, I thought he was going to lash out on me... but he's oddly calm about it. Maybe he's still coming down from shock."

Her grip tightened around me as we just stood there in the dark, holding each other.

"You have a great, dad, Victoria. He's lucky to have you." She whispered lovingly, and then pulled away slightly, still holding me, and look me in the eyes. "But you have to tell me everything. From the beginning."

"It literally started a few days after we came back from Greece." Daniela's eyebrows furrowed down, giving me her full attention. "She started making snarky comments about us, like she knew all the long-- that there was something going on between us. Then she used Cameron to make you jealous, and tried hooking me up with him-- which never worked. Cameron knows we're just friends, we talked about it."

"She started blackmailing and threatening me. If I told anyone about her and her threats, she would've taken us down with her. Our reputations would've been ruined forever." I added, the tears starting to slip past again. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner."

Daniela shook her head, bringing her one hand up to brush my tear away while she held onto me with her other. "Don't apologize. I just wish you didn't have to go through this alone." She whispered.

We stood there for a moment in each other's arms, feeling warm against her in this cold breeze outside. My eyes closed as I lean my head against her chest, letting go of a long, relieved sigh. It felt so good just being with her like this.

I really didn't deserve her.

Then Daniela spoke again, her voice quieter this time. "She's not going to get away with this. I'm going to make her pay."

I snuggled closer against her, huddling up in the cold. "I'm going to talk to my dad, see what he can do."

I knew she wanted to protest-- argue that she wanted to do something worse to Adeline. But only to make me happy, she nodded and played along. "Should I go talk to your dad?"

"I think I should go do it on my own." I mumble. "This is going to be a long, long, night. Cameron also needs an explanation. I mean, it's his aunt. He also should feel so betrayed and hurt." I frowned and then pulled away to look into her eyes. "A-And you too... she's... she's your..."

Daniela knew where I was going with it. "She's nothing to me." Daniela spoke softly and then sighed. "But yeah, it really... just pisses me off. I should've known she'd try something like this... I should've been more careful with you."

"I'm really sorry you had to deal with her." I said softly, thinking about their past life together.

Daniela shrugged. "Guess we both had our own experiences with Adeline. Both not the greatest."

I puffed my cheeks up, not really knowing how to respond to that, so all I did was shook my head and let her carry on talking. "But are you sure I shouldn't come with you?" She asked. "I feel like it's only fair from my side that I should be there. I don't want you to do this alone. Not again."

"I can handle my dad." I reassured.

"Even when he knows you're dating your professor?" I couldn't tell if she was trying to lighten the mood up or if she was actually being serious. "Shouldn't I just make sure and... ask for his blessing?"

"Blessing?" I blinked. "Please, don't. You'll give the man a heart attack. Let me first explain to him, okay? I don't know how bad it is in there."

I gesture to the house.

She whispered a soft "okay" and took it as a sign to let go of me to win my dad's acceptance over. But her fingers still touched my body as if they were clinging on, not wanting to let go. So, I decided to not let go and pull her back in for a tight hug. I stood on my tippy toes, leaning my body into hers. Without even hesitating, she hugged me back.

"Victoria... if you need me..." She began, her voice soft.

I nodded. "Then I'll call you."

She took a deep breath in, feeling her leaning in even more. "I'm going to make up each and every night I was a dick to you, I swear."

"Daniela, it's fine."

"No." Her voice trembled. "I don't know why I would think you'd ever cheat on me."

My bottom lip quiver, but made sure no new tears escaped. "Because Adeline tried getting me to."

Daniela hugged me tighter. "You're nothing like her." She said softly, and my stomach made a weird turn. "I was just so... angry, I guess. I spoke before even thinking. And I'm so, so sorry for saying that."

It did hurt, but again, I understand.

"I get it." I whisper.

Daniela gritted her teeth. "I hope she burns in hell."

I watched her walk back down the dark street, her figure gradually fading into the shadows until she got to her car.

For a moment, I hesitated at the door, taking a deep breath to steady my racing heartbeat.

This was going to be hard.

I stepped back inside the house, immediately smelling coffee.

Cameron stood by the counter, pouring coffee into two mugs, like he was forcing himself to focus on something other than what just happened.

Dad sat on the couch, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He didn't even look up when I entered, but the small rise and fall of his shoulders told me he was deep in thought.

"Coffee?" Cameron offered quietly, holding up one of the mugs as I walked toward the kitchen.

I shook my head. "No, thanks." I whisper awkwardly.

Cameron gave a small nod, setting the second mug down beside the first before leaning back against the counter. He lets out a long sigh.

I glanced at Dad, hesitating. "Is he okay?" I whispered.

Cameron shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "Processing, I guess. He hasn't really said much."

"Great," I muttered, wrapping my arms around myself, and turned to him. "And you?"

Cameron looked at me, his eyebrows furrowing slightly like he wasn't expecting the question. He gave a short, dry laugh, shaking his head. "Me?" He repeated, then shrugged, his voice quieter. "I don't even know."

He stared down at the mug in his hands, his thumb tracing the rim absently. "I mean, Adeline's my aunt, you know? I thought she stopped with her bullshit. And now... this? It's like I don't even know who she is anymore." His jaw tightened as he spoke, and for a moment, I thought he might break the mug with how hard he was gripping it. I was heartbroken by his words, truly. None of this is fair to him.

He turned to me slightly. "You and professor really have a thing going on?"

I swallowed hard, my arms tightening around myself as I met his gaze. "Yeah," I said quietly, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me. "We do."

Cameron nodded slowly, letting the answer settle in. He didn't look angry or judgmental, just... thoughtful. "And it's real? Like... it's not just some...?"

"It's real," I said. "I know how it might look to other people, but it's not like that. She... she means everything to me."

Cameron's lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes searching mine. After a long pause, he let out a small sigh. "Okay."

"Okay?" I repeated, surprised by his lack of resistance.

"Yeah, okay," he said, his tone softer. "Look, I don't get it--not completely, anyway. But... if she makes you happy, and you're sure about this, then who am I to judge?"

I paused, a bit shocked at how calm he was before hugging him. "Thank you." I whisper against him.

He wrapped his one arm back around me, his other holding is coffee still. He let out another sigh. "I'll always have your back, Vic." He whispered. "I'll go talk to Adeline, see what I can do. But she has to be punished, I can't let her go on with her sick games anymore. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I should've protected you. I should've warned you about her earlier."

"You couldn't have known that she'd done this stuff," I said softly. "Adeline is... she's good at what she does. She made sure I couldn't tell anyone. She threatened me not too."

Finally, we pulled back and his eyes were filled with anger and guilt. There's even a hint of sadness in his eyes. Probably that I chose my professor over him. I placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a light squeeze, causing him to flash a weak, tiny smile on his lips.

"I hope Garcia treats you well." He said softly and I nodded. "But you so have to tell me everything between you two. Like, how? How did it come from student and professors to... I mean, something more?"

I was amused by how quickly he switched up to actually being slightly interested, and it made me feel a bit better knowing he doesn't only find it a bit odd, but also intriguing. A tiny chuckle escaped my lips, and I wanted to talk about it right away now that I actually got the chance to. But, rather not.

I look over to my dad and sighed.

He was still in the same position.

I looked back at Cameron, squeezing his shoulder again then let go. "I'll tell you all about it, I promise." I said. "I just have to get this over with." I nod to my dad.

Like always, he understood and wished me good luck before walking off to my dad.

I sat down beside him slowly, careful not to startle him.

"Dad," I said softly, my voice trembling.

He didn't move at first, but after a beat, he sighed deeply and finally looked up. "Not now, Victoria." He sounds tired.

I knew not to push it, but he needed to know. "I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you... but I didn't know how."

He stared at me for a while before speaking. "You're into girls?"

"Well, boys and girls." I whisper.

Dad shook his head slightly in disbelief, a sad, guilty disbelief. "Sweetheart, why didn't you tell me?" He said softly. "Why didn't you tell me about all of this?"

"I just-- I didn't want to ruin what you and Adeline had." I look down to my hands. "I thought if I stayed silent, there would be less trouble."

"You should've told me the second Adeline started being rude to you." He frowned. "Sweetheart, you're my top priority, okay? You're my everything, not her. And if I just knew what was happening, I would've sent her away a long time ago."

I nodded, feeling slightly guilty.

Dad then turned to me and hooked his arm around my shoulder, bringing me into his side.

Being held like this made me want to cry over and over again in his arms.

"I love you." He whispered.

"Love you too."

We stayed like this for a few minutes, and it made me calm down. He was stuck in his thoughts, and I was stuck in mine. The sound of his heart beating soothed me, listening to it as I close my eyes. And as my eyes shut, a tear rolled down. Dad obviously noticed and then also wrapped his other arm around me, pulling me closer.

Cameron walked past us, but without saying anything. He offered my dad the coffee that I declined and settled it on the coffee table in front of us.

Then, Cameron left our house without saying anything further.

Another two minutes past before dad spoke up. "You and your professor." He whispered, almost like he was saying it to himself.

"Victoria, that's very... very dangerous." He said, his chin moving on top of my head.

"Love is dangerous." I whisper.

He let out a chuckle. "Mom always used to say that, you know?" I listened closely. "We were young and dumb teenagers, madly in love. And now, when you and Daniela were outside there, I saw your mother and I."

"You know your mother would've just laughed at this if she knew you and your professor...?" A tiny smile spread on his lips.

I let out a chuckle. "And, what about you, dad? What do you think about me and Daniela?"

"Honestly, I'm trying to get past what Adeline has done first." He said. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around the other stuff."

Strangely, I understood. "Okay."

He pulled back and quickly patted my knee then stood up. His lips formed a flat line as he walked to the dining room and started putting the food away.