Page 33 of Below the Surface
"What about Cam?" Kelsey asks.
"I don't think Cameron wants that," I reply. "If you ask her, she’ll tell you how she feels. And if you're her best friend, you'll respect her answer."
"We could use your presence," Caleb says.
"What the hell are you talking about?" I bite.
“Kelsey and I are buying the club—the building, too. That’s what the party is about—to announce the rebranding of Union.”
I sigh. “I see.”
“We want to take it back, Piper,” Caleb says. “To the way it was years ago.Iwant to take it back to a member-only club.”
I massage my eyes. Caleb is only a few years younger than me. He remembers the days when Union was exclusive and discreet. I’m curious how this acquisition came to be, but I don’t need to ask why they wanted me here.
“Piper,” Caleb says.
I shake my head and look first at Kelsey. “You owe Cam an apology,” I tell her. “A heartfelt one, Kelsey.” I can see Caleb is ready to speak and hold up my hand. “Don’t say a thing—either of you. Listen to me carefully because I won’t repeat this. I’m in love with Cameron.” My gaze falls on Kelsey. “Youput my relationship with Cam in motion. I don’t know where youthoughtit would lead. Let me make this abundantly clear to you both. Cameron is the most important thing in my life. If you wanted my help—in any way—you should have asked me privately.”
Caleb nods. “Kelsey,” he says. “Go talk to Cam.”
“I didn’t mean to upset anyone,” Kelsey says. “It’s just you and Cam seemed in sync.”
My mood lightens slightly at Kelsey’s observation. “That may be. You’re Cam’s best friend, Kelsey. If you’ve ever wondered why she doesn’t always open up fully with you—this is the answer. She isn’tyou. You like the show. Don’t say anything. You do. You both do.”
“You used to like to be on display, too,” Kelsey says.
“That was years ago,” I tell her.
“What if Cam wants that? To become part of Union?” Kelsey asks.
“Then we’ll discuss it.” I hold up a finger. “Don’t press that with Cam,” I advise her. “I’m not sure Cameron will ever want to set foot in the club, even if it’s yours. You need to let Cam be who she is—not who you want her to be.”
Kelsey flinches. “I don’t want her to be anyone else.”
“Maybe not. Constantly pressing her to enteryourworld will only drive her further away—and not only from Union.”
Kelsey nods and looks at her feet.
“Cam loves you, Kelsey,” I tell her. Her head snaps up, and she meets my gaze. “She loves you for who you are—the parts she understands and the pieces she doesn’t. She was nervous about tonight. Now, I can see why.”
“I want her to be happy,” Kelsey says.
“Mm. Her happiness might not mirror yours.”
“Piper?” Kelsey asks.
“Yes?”
“You really love her.”
“More than anything.”
Kelsey offers me a smile. “I guess I’d better find Cam.”
I breathe a sigh of relief when Kelsey walks away.
“Piper,” Caleb says. “I’m sorry if Kelsey was a little over the top. She’s excited about the club, and you know how it is. She wants to share it with her best friend.”