Never Say Never

Chapter 26

Another busy week flies by, with both Lauren and Camila too busy to carve much time together save for one quick dinner in Lauren's office, but Camila is invited to spend the weekend with Lauren and Leo in Lauren sure-to-be-amazing beach house, and there's a bounce in her step as she arrives outside of Lauren's apartment building on Friday night.

Lauren herself is running late, had texted Camila to tell her so, but said that she was welcome to go up and spend some time with Leo, so she knocks on the door and smiles when it's opened by a kindly-looking older woman that she can only assume is Ella.

"You must be the famous Camila I've heard so much about." Her smile is warm, and Camila likes her already, is glad that her replacement is working out, that she hadn't left Lauren with a problem to solve, knowing how much trouble she'd had before she'd hired Camila.

"And you must be Ella. It's so nice to finally meet you. I know Lauren isn't here, but she told me to come up anyway, I hope that's okay."

"Of course, of course, come on in." Ella waves her inside, and Camila's barely out of her coat before Leo bounds over to her.

"Camila!" She scoops him up, peppers kisses all over his face until he's giggling, only stops when he shrieks for her to. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, buddy." She knows it's hard for him, to have gone from seeing her every weekday to only at the weekends, and it's been hard for her, too, but she's glad he's spending his days with someone that he gets along with. "Have you had a good day?"

"Yeah! I drew you a picture." He wriggles until she sets him down, and darts off into the apartment to retrieve it.

She and Ella follow in his wake, and Camila grins when he presents her with his drawing, of her and Lauren and Leo, she and Lauren holding hands and a giant red heart scrawled above their heads.

"Do you like it?" He asks, chewing on his bottom lip, and Camila takes it from him gently and presses a kiss to the top of his head.

"I love it, Leo. I'll add it to the collection." She has a stack of them at home, slides the latest into her overnight bag.

"I hear you're to thank for his artistic tendencies?" Ella asks, smiling down at the two of them.

"I take full responsibility," Camila laughs, letting Leo tug her over to his action figures. "I'll have to get a new sketchbook soon, you've nearly filled the last one." She ruffles his hair, flooded with affection for him, more than she ever knew it was possible to feel. "You can get going, if you like." Camila directs that at Ella. "Have yourself an early Friday night."

"Well, I'm not much of a partier," Ella replies with an easy smile, "but I might take you up on that offer. My daughter is in town with my grandchildren."

"Oh, then you should definitely get going! We'll be alright until your Mom gets here, won't we, bud?"

"Yeah!" Leo's response is enthusiastic.

"Okay, then. I'll see you on Monday, Leo." He clambers up to hug her goodbye, and Camila's heart melts. "I hope you all have a good weekend."

"You too, have fun with your family." Camila waves her goodbye, and before the door has even closed Leo pounces on Camila's back with a giggle. She lifts him up and piggybacks him around the apartment, much to his delight.

They end in his room, and Camila sets him down and packs him a bag for the weekend with him watching her closely. As she's zipping it shut Lauren texts that she's on her way, and Camila makes her way to the kitchen, hunts through the refrigerator to find something to heat up for them to eat before they head out on the road.