Old Money || Shawmila [Completed]

10. Spicy drinks and cheesy bites

Camila's working day was wrapping up when her phone dinged. She was sure it was just Connor reprimanding her for being a "workaholic" - that's how he had started to call her - and for spending most of her day inside her office. She didn't know what else she was supposed to do, after all she was a lawyer! Instead, she was delightfully surprised when her phone screen showed Shawn's name.

S: Meet up for a drink?

Maybe it was a curt invite, but she figured this new version of Shawn wasn't a big fan of pleasantries. She ignored the dryness of his text and appreciated the fact that he was asking her out.

C: Sure! Heading out of work in half an hour

S: Great. I'll meet you out there

Camila tried to steady her heartbeat and quickly got ready to exit her office. Before stepping out of the building she checked her appearance on the bathroom mirror: she looked good enough, she just needed to touch up her makeup.

Outside, Shawn was waiting wrapped in his black coat, the chilly November air coloring his cheeks and nose with a pale red. He would have looked cute if it wasn't for his hard features and his imposing stature. The smart clothes he was wearing only added to his distinguished, serious look but Camila couldn't complain about them... he looked insanely handsome in a suit.

She was basically in front of him when he looked up and rewarded her with one of his devilish yet unimpressed smirk. «Hey»

«Hi» she responded timidly, moving a strand of her hair behind her ear.

«I know a place not far from here». His words came out in white puff of condensed air that only spurred Camila to focus on his perfect and kissable lips.

«Lead the way».

Ten minutes later they were sitting at a table with drinks in their hands. Shawn arched a brow at her choice. «Hot punch? I didn't peg you for that type of girl»

Camila laughed, a little embarrassed but mostly confused. «What type of girl?»

«You know, the winter-obsessed and cozy kind of girl. The one that needs to be wrapped in a hundred layers of fluffy wool and drinks spicy hot drinks».

«I'm sorry to let you down, but I'm exactly like that. There's nothing better than warming up by drinking rum-based, burning beverages. No, scratch that. Have you ever tried spiked hot cocoa while surrounded by Christmas lights? That's the best feeling ever».

Shawn shook his head, jokingly judging her. «Ugh no, you're also a Christmas freak! And that's even more surprising. I thought you were more like the Grinch»

Camila gasped and pretended to be offended. «How dare you?!» she laughed out.

Shawn shrugged, but his face displayed a big smile and a cute pair of dimples. «That's pretty obvious that we don't really know each other. Last time we were in California and we had just a couple of months».

Camila didn't want to think about the past, she was actually trying to ignore their previous history and trying to build a brand-new relationship. So, she chose to ignore his comment and tried to cover the creeping uneasiness creating in the pit of her stomach with a fake laid-back laugh. «Yeah, well... luckily now we're here. Let's take this chance and fix that».

Just for a moment, Shawn's gaze was unbearably intense. It was like he was trying to look through her and inside her soul. His face, however, morphed quickly into a softer one, and he raised his glass. «To new beginnings then».

Camila clinked her drink against his. «To new beginnings».

*

She was feeling a little tipsy, the drink's orange flavor helped masking the burning of the rum, so it was easy to forget she needed to slow down. Not to mention she had barely nibbled her lunch and she was now drinking with an empty stomach. She really needed to eat something. It seemed like Shawn had read her mind. «Are you up for dinner? I'm kind of hungry».

«That would be very nice».

They ended up in a pizza place, both eager to fill their rumbling stomachs. Camila liked when Shawn let go of his usual stiffness and settled for simpler places like that one. Not that she didn't like his posh allure, but sometimes it was way too obvious how spoiled he had always been. In this regard they stood at opposite sides: Shawn had been raised as a little prince, in a big house, wearing nice clothes and attending the nicest schools. Camila, on the other hand, was an immigrants' daughter who lived in the suburbs of New York City. Her life wasn't the worse she could have thought of, but it certainly wasn't as glamorous as Shawn's.

As the cheesy bites quelled their hunger pangs, conversation flowed easily between them. «So, what have you been up to lately? How do you like NYC?» asked Camila.

«It's obviously a very different place from California, but I guess it'll do for now. Not that I've got to do much sightseeing since I got here».

Camila frowned. «That's a pity! New York has its own charm, you have to explore the city!»

«Easier said than done. I have some obligations that I can't ignore, and work is taking most of my time. I'm sure you can understand»

Camila sneered. «That's an understatement. At this rate, I should probably move and start living in my office».

Shawn nodded in agreement. «There are some cases that just can't leave my mind. They're almost like an obsession. The Caplan and Gold's case is the perfect example».

Honestly, that was the last thing she wanted to talk about, but there weren't many ways to politely ask him to change topic, so she casually agreed. «Yeah, I totally get it».

«By the way, how is it going for you? I'm sure you have all figured out, as usual». His inquisitor stare gave her a weird feeling.

«I don't think we should talk about it, Shawn» she said quietly.

For a fraction of a second, his stare hardened as if a flick of rage had passed through his eyes. Camila wondered if she had just imagined it, because as quickly as it had appeared, it also vanished. «No, you're right. I overstepped» she heard him say, but he didn't sound very convinced.

«I'm sorry, but it's better if we don't mix work and friendship. It's not a good combination for us». She had nothing to apologize for, but she feared she had somehow upset him.

Shawn smiled tightly. «Don't worry. Mine was a dumb question, there are boundaries that we shouldn't cross».

They dropped that topic, but after that conversation there was a weird tension between them. Soon they decided to end their night. «I should probably go» Camila stated.

«Yeah, me too. I'll take you home»

«You don't have to -»

Shawn sighed. «Camila, we've already talked about this. I'm giving you a ride home. End of discussion».

Recently she felt so small in his presence, especially when he was that authoritarian. «All right. Thank you» she murmured. The ride to her apartment was mostly silent, and she hoped that tension was just in her head. What if she had screwed everything up?

When Shawn parked outside her building, she almost got scared of the sudden sound of his voice. «I had a good time tonight»

Camila widened her eyes. «You did?»

«Yes, it was nice catching up. Believe me, it much easier to have you as a friend than spend my time resenting you. And I've missed you».

«I've missed you too» she admitted, almost choking up. What if she kissed him now? What if she asked him to come upstairs with her? She took a quick look at him and analyzed his demeanor. There was a time when his eyes burned with lust and desire for her, when every nerve of his body tensed in order to keep calm in her presence. But now he was relaxed, and his eyes were light and cleared from every passionate feeling. She didn't have a chance with him. Gulping down her disappointment, she put on a friendly smile. «We could do it again sometime»

«Sure, I'll wait to hear from you». When he winked, she almost fainted. Why did he have to be so charming and fascinating?

She got out of the car and waved at him. «Bye, Shawn».

«Bye Camila». She watched him as he speeded off, mingling with the city's night traffic.