"So, what are you gonna do?" Cami asked.
"I don't know," I groaned. "God, I've been such an idiot."
"Oh, you have not," Cami said. "I mean, how were you supposed to know that Mason was the real lunk-blaster in all of this?"
Lunk-blaster was right. As I'd just learned first-hand, it was Mason who'd done everything I'd been blaming on Brody.
It was Mason who'd strong-armed my cousin into selling the house. It was Mason who'd handled all of the paperwork. It was even Mason who'd written that callous note on the bottom of Jason's heartfelt letter.
In my mind, I could still see those three irritating words scrawled on the bottom of the first page. "Not my problem."
Boy, he was right about that.
Now it was my problem, because I'd been so awful to Brody.
To Cami, I said, "Well, I could've asked Brody what was going on. But did I? No. Instead, I just hinted around, hoping he'd tell me on his own." With a bitter laugh, I said, "But now, come to find out, there was nothing to tell."
"But you didn't know that," she said.
"Right. Because I never asked." I sighed. "No wonder he's so angry."
"But I don't get it," Cami said. "Why'd Mason tell you any of this at all? I mean, if he hates you so much, he surely would've preferred for you and Brody to stay mad at each other."
"Well, that's the funny thing," I said. "At first, Mason tells me that he's doing it to repay me for helping out with Willow. But then, just before he leaves, he says the strangest thing."
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
"He tells me that he loves his brother more than he ever hated me."
At this, Cami's tone grew thoughtful. "Huh. Well that's something."
"So, any theories?" I asked.
"My guess?" she said. "He feels bad for Brody."
"But why?"
"Isn't it obvious?" she said. "He's broken-hearted over losing you, just like you're broken-hearted over him."
I didn't bother denying this last part. I had been pretty miserable, as Cami had seen firsthand during that so-called vacation.
Oh, God. The vacation.
Brody had gone to a lot of trouble to deliver Cami straight to my doorstep. And what had I done? I'd spent the whole week making both of them miserable.
Thinking of it, I felt like crawling under a blanket and hiding until I didn't feel like the worst person in the universe.
Plus, who was I kidding? I was broken-hearted for a reason. I'd totally fallen for him. Call it love. Call it stupidity. Call it craziness. But even in spite of our history, I did love him, even now.
Cripes, I probably loved him more now when I considered just how much trouble he'd gone to on my behalf, even in spite of my rotten attitude.
I perked up. But that's right. He'd defended me, even after I'd been so awful. What did that mean?
My breath caught. Maybe there was still hope.
Cami and I were still talking when my cell phone buzzed with an incoming call.
When I glanced at the display, my heart nearly leapt out of my chest.
It was Brody. He was calling from his old cell phone number, not the new one. In a rush, I told Cami, "Sorry, but I've gotta go, okay?"
"Wait, why?"
"Brody's calling."
"Right now?"
"Yeah. Right now. I'll call you back later, alright?"
"You'd better," she warned.
I was literally trembling when I answered the new call. "Hello?"
But it wasn't Brody who replied. It wasn't even a guy.
It was a vaguely familiar female voice, who wasted no time in demanding, "Who's this?"
Disappointment coursed through me, even as I said, "It's Arden. Who's this?"
"No one." And with that, the caller disconnected.
I stared at my phone for a long moment before I realized with a start why the voice sounded so familiar.
It was Waverly.
I was almost sure of it.
I dropped my phone and bolted from my bedroom, determined to find out what the heck was going on.
Chapter 68
Arden
Waverly glowered up at me. "I have no idea what you mean."
I'd found her in the living room, perched on the sofa scrolling through her cell phone. Not wanting to waste any time, I'd asked her flat-out if she'd just called me from Brody's old number.
And of course, she'd denied it. Repeatedly.
I didn't believe her.
And it wasn't only because I'd recognized her voice. It was the sly look in her eye, even now, as she feigned innocence.
I told her, "You're lying. I can tell."
"Oh, so that's how it is?" Her voice rose. "You're calling me a liar?"
I crossed my arms. "Yup."
"Well, I don't appreciate it."
"Good," I said, "because I don't appreciate it either. And why were you calling me, anyway?"
"Because I wasn't calling you," she said, "as I've already made clear."
I didn't bother hiding my disbelief. "And where's Brody's phone?"
"I don't know," she said. "You'll have to ask Brody."
At the mere thought of asking him anything, something squeezed at my heart. If only it were so easy.
Sure, I had his new cell phone number, but I could only imagine how delighted he'd be to hear from me now.
Somehow, I vowed, I'd make things right between us. Even if I'd ruined any chances of us being together, at least I could tell him that I was sorry for thinking the worst of him.
But first things first. I looked to Waverly and said, "So tell me. How'd you get the phone? Did you steal it or something?"
She made a sound of annoyance. "Oh, so first I'm a liar, and now I’m a thief? You really are crazy. You know that?"
Maybe I was. But I wasn't so crazy that I'd take Waverly at her word. With sudden inspiration, I said, "Maybe I should check your luggage." And with that, I turned toward the bedrooms.
She was off the couch in an instant. "You wouldn't!"
She was right. I wouldn't. And now, I didn't need to, because resting on the sofa behind where Waverly had been sitting, was Brody's old cell phone, contained in its familiar rugged black case.
"I knew it!" I lunged for the phone just
