Chapter 47 Jude rattles on about something from my side, but I barely hear a word he's saying. I'm too busy missing Camille. It's only been a couple of hours since she left with her dad, and I already miss her more than I could've imagined. Pembroke isn't the same without her here. It's a thought I never expected to have. At the start of the summer, I hated the thought of her coming to the Hamptons with me. Every time she insisted on tagging along to the club, I hated it. Now I barely want to be here without her. After our talk, Dad asked if I wanted to spend the day at Pembroke with him. It sounded like a good idea. I thought it'd get my mind off Camille as I waited for a text or call from her. But now that I'm here, I just miss her. "Davenport." I jump, looking over at Jude as he waits for my attention with raised eyebrows. "Yes?" "Should I repeat everything I just said? You weren't listening to me, were you?" I give him an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. My mind is elsewhere." "Does it have to do with a certain brunette that happens to be missing today?" he asks. I sigh. When I first got to Pembroke today, I stuck to chatting with my dad and his friends. Eventually, I made it over to my friends, but I still haven't told anyone that I secured the board's approval or that Camille left. I didn't know how to bring up either topic. "Yes. We got the board's approval. Both our dads came to the house to tell us of our success and they found us...together." My cheeks heat and my neck tingles at having to tell Jude these details. He doesn't seem bothered by it in the slightest. Instead, his face breaks out into a giant grin. "I knew it," he calls, his voice a little loud. My eyes go wide as I look around the gentlemen's lounge. Luckily, it doesn't catch anyone's attention. Everyone's too locked into their own conversations to really pay attention to us. "Yes, you knew it," I mutter. "So I'm a matchmaker then?" Jude questions, his smile somehow getting even wider. I roll my eyes at him. "Maybe. I don't know. Things with Camille happened fast...but also not fast, if that makes sense." Jude lifts a shoulder. "Doesn't have to make sense to anyone but the two of you." I let out a long breath before I sit back in my chair. "Well, let's just say...her dad was beyond pissed." I shake my head as I think back on Troy's anger. It took everything in me to even let Camille leave with her father after hearing the horrible things he said to his daughter, but I had to let her go. I know she needed to handle that situation on her own. Jude lets out a whistle. "Really? Because she worked for you?" "I think? It seemed like more than that. But anyway, it didn't go well. He demanded Camille leave with him now that the job is technically done. So, that's what she did." Jude doesn't say anything for a minute. He stays quiet, thinking about what I've told him before responding. "And how do you feel about her dad?" "I hate her dad. I wish I could just punch the asshole in his face. You should've heard the way he talked to Camille. It was bad." "And how do you feel about her leaving?" His question takes me by surprise because I'm not used to Jude being so thoughtful. I didn't think he'd care about my feelings. I always thought Jude only cared about himself, but if I've learned anything this summer, it's that I was wrong about Jude. I miss Camille. I really do, but there's also a sort of peace when I think about her. I was scared to watch her leave, but she made sure to calm every fear I had about us. Now, even though she's gone and I don't know when she'll be back or what happens next, I believe we'll get it figured out. Because of that, I feel better than I thought I would. I let out a long breath. "Honestly? Okay. She had to go to figure things out with her dad. It had to happen. We'll figure out the rest." Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FɪndNøvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes, you will. You and Camille," he says, shaking his head with a smile. "I knew it." "You were right." I laugh, remembering the talk at Cal's pool not too long ago. "So, are we going to gloss over the fact you got your board approval?" He holds his hand out for me to shake. "Congratulations, man." I smile. I don't know if it's really hit me that we pulled it off. I won't be losing my claim to Davenport Media. It feels fucking good. "Thank you. I still can't believe it. I didn't think it'd happen so soon." I don't tell him this, but I feel good again. Really good. I like myself and who I've become, and it's such a freeing feeling to finally feel that way again. Jude looks at something behind me at the same moment we hear a staff member call out, "You're not allowed in here. This is for men only." I turn around, wondering what's going on, when my eyes meet hers. Camille. I blink a few times, wondering if she's actually here or if I'm seeing things. She left with her dad only hours ago. I didn't expect to see her again for days, and even that was unknown. But when my vision comes into focus, she still stands there with a smile on her face. "This space is men only," a staff member repeats, walking up to Camille. She just glares at the man for a moment before looking back at me. I immediately push to my feet and close the distance to her. She's back. She's here. Before I can even get words out, I'm pulling her off the ground and into my arms. She immediately wraps her arms around me and buries her face into the crook of my neck. "What are you doing here?" I ask, my hands running over her back to check if this is real. "I came to see you," she responds, keeping her tone matter-of-fact. She squeezes me tight and presses a kiss to my neck before lifting her head so her gaze meets mine. "To see me?" I repeat, the words coming out as a question. She nods. "Yes. I went to the house first, but you weren't there. So I came here. I've been all over the club looking for you." "What about your dad?" I ask, well aware that people are staring at us, but I don't care. They can look. She isn't my publicist anymore. She's just mine. Camille smiles. I place her back on the ground, but we still stay in an embrace. "I quit," she answers, her answer so nonchalant that I wonder if I'm even hearing her correctly. "You...quit?" She nods. "I quit. He was never going to give me a promotion. I'm tired of giving my all to someone who doesn't care about me or believe in me." I smile because I'm so fucking proud of her. I know that had to have been hard, but Camille's strong. Of course she realized she deserves better. She deserves the world. "So then you came right here?" I ask, pointing out the obvious, but I can't help it. I'm in disbelief that she's here. Camille nods. "When you realize you're falling in love with someone, you want to get back to them as soon as possible." Time slows as I'm not sure I heard her right. It takes me a moment to really process what she's told me. I feel like I'm floating. It feels like my heart might leap right out of my chest in an attempt to get to hers. I can't believe what I'm hearing. "Cami..." Her name comes out hoarse and I feel bad that I can't bring myself to say anything else. I'm just so fucking happy that I can't form a coherent thought. She's falling for me. She's here. She came back. It's like she can read my mind. She smiles and nods before lifting to her toes and pressing a kiss to my lips. We're on full display, but neither of us cares. We're too lost in the moment, in each other, to pay attention to anyone else. "I'm falling for you, Ryker Davenport. It's terrifying and exhilarating and so many other things I've never felt before. But this is me trusting you to catch me." I grab both sides of her face and pull our heads together. "I'm falling right there with you, princess. I'll always catch you." She smiles and I swear her eyes shine with unshed tears. The smile on her face is the most beautiful sight in the world. "Good. Now, kiss me." I lean in to kiss her and I swear Jude cheers in the background.