Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires, #3)(58)

Cami’s face lights up as she unfolds the piece of paper. “Ta-da!”

I flinch at the stabbing pain in my skull.

“Do you not like it?” Cami’s smile falters, threatening to drop altogether.

“My head just hurts.”

“Oh, sorry.” Her bottom lip trembles.

A quick scan of the paper makes my heart catapult in my chest. It’s the simplest of drawings, with a big, wonky heart taking up a majority of the page. Within the red shape, she drew two blond stick figures. One has large squiggles on their arms while the shorter one has a triangle-shaped body to represent a dress. Below the heart, Cami wrote me a message.

Feel better, Cow-L.

Laughter explodes out of me at I trace over my name. Can’t say I’ve seen someone spell it like that before. “I love it.”

Cami’s entire face lights up like a firework, bright and impossible to ignore. “Really?”

“Best card ever.” My lips pull into a sincere grin.

Someone sucks in a breath. I look up from Cami’s face to find Lana staring at us with wide eyes.

“Hey.” I offer her a small smile.

“What’s going on?” She takes a step inside the room.

“I made Cow-l a card so he feels better.” Cami turns to show her mother the sheet of paper.

“Did you?” The tightness in Lana’s voice matches her rigid posture. “What’s wrong with him?”

Cami’s cheeks turn pink. “He’s gots a hangover.”

Lana glares at me like I’m the one at fault for teaching her daughter the word.

I raise my hands in submission. “She overheard you talking on the phone first about a hang-ovary, so don’t go pointing fingers at me.”

Lana turns to Cami. “That’s sweet of you.” She pats her daughter’s head, ruffling the tangled strands even more.

“Do you feel better?” Cami’s big blue eyes look up at me.

“Absolutely. I’m starting to feel better already.” Although the headache and nausea might take some time to wear off, the heaviness pressing against my chest since I woke up feels less intense.

Cami squeals as she clutches the card to her chest, crinkling the paper in the process. “I knew it would work!”

My eye twitches from the high-pitched tone. I discreetly rub my temple, trying to make the pressure go away.

“Why don’t we go swimming and leave Cal alone?”

Cami runs out of my room, squealing with excitement.

“Thanks.” I stand.

“I didn’t do it for you,” Lana spits out before following Cami, leaving me to stew in the silence. I try to busy myself with organizing the rest of the stuff in the attic. It’s a failed attempt, with me easily becoming distracted by all the noise happening outside the window.

The tightness in my chest intensifies at Cami and Lana hanging out by the lake. I’m hit with a hundred memories of Lana and me doing the same thing, although Lana actually spent time inside the water rather than out of it.

The sun beats down on her, casting a warm glow over her tan skin from where she sits on the dock. She shields her eyes as she looks over at Cami with a big, beaming smile I haven’t seen in years.

The feeling of longing from yesterday returns, this time much more intense than the last. I want to be down there with them.

Look what happened the last time you wanted something you shouldn’t have.

The thought sobers me, and I escape, choosing to return to the guesthouse. Except as soon as I walk outside, I find Lana’s car still in the driveway, the tire flatter than a pancake. Before I decide against it, I swipe Lana’s keys off the counter and get to changing her flat tire. It’s a bold idea, especially given that my experience with tires is limited to spending Sundays watching Formula 1 with Declan and Iris.

It only takes me five minutes in the baking sun to realize the mechanics on TV have it easy with their power drills and quick lift jacks. Unlike the guys on the live camera, the real deal is far less sexy and fast.

My start was shaky, but thanks to YouTube, Adderall, and my inability to be bested by a shitty tire, I replace the flat with the dummy tire I found in Lana’s trunk.

Although my head pounds and my stomach is feeling extra queasy after spending the last hour in the sun, I decide to take Lana’s car to the mechanic. Since I don’t want to leave her without a working vehicle for safety reasons, I take a rideshare back into town to grab my DBS before returning to the lake house. I leave her a note, my keys, and Cami’s booster seat just in case she needs a car before driving off into town.

I walk into the car shop. “Hi. I’m looking to get a tire changed.”

The mechanic takes one look at me before returning to the episode of a Korean drama playing on the TV in the corner.

“Do you think you can help me?” I stop in front of the counter.

“Sure. We’re all booked today but if you want, come in tomorrow morning. Early.” His eyes don’t stray from the TV this time.

One glance at the store hours printed on a paper behind him makes my eyes narrow. “Are you even open tomorrow?”

“Yup.”

I point to the sign behind him. He has the audacity to rip it down and crumple it in a ball before chucking it in the trash.

My molars grind together. “I’m willing to pay whatever you want to get it done today.”