ADOPTING BEAUTY

Chapter 43 + The Breakup

I did not confront my brother about the photo with Camille. My father took him to the airport early the next morning and all I ended up saying to him was goodbye. He did not have a clue about Camille's blunder. I'm sure the photo was meant to be a going away present for Brad. A photo he could take with him to Virginia and worship her body from afar. I didn't speak to Camille for three days. She stopped calling after that first night and decided to let things cool down. We did not speak until the night before my family was set to fly to Greece for our summer vacation. I think my mom sensed something was up between us. Larissa knew something was up and decided to ask me head on when I was in our bathroom packing up my stuff.

"Did you and Camille get into a fight?" asked Larissa.

"Sort of," I said.

"What happened?"

I didn't want to lie to my sister but I didn't want her to know the whole truth. I needed her to trust Brad as a big brother. Whatever went down between him and Camille had nothing to do with being Larissa's older brother. That's not to say I did not have a serious problem with my brother. I had no idea how to forgive him. If I had married Camille someday, would he still have continued to sleep with her?

"She fucked up with someone else."

"She cheated on you??"

"It's really complicated. It involves a prior relationship. We may take another break."

"That really sucks. She's been really cool to me."

"She'll always have your back. It doesn't matter whether she's my girlfriend or not."

"Do you still love her?"

"Of course, I love her to death. We've grown up together."

"Then can't you make it work?"

"I don't know if I know how to. That's the problem."

"Can you just try?"

"I don't know."

"For me?"

+++++

My hope was to get on the plane to Greece without having to talk it out with Camille. No such luck. Camille parked her car in front of my house that night and texted me persistently until I finally relented. I walked out front without telling my folks Camille was there. I did not want to get inside her car and risk being seduced. I stood leaning up against her trunk until she got out and joined me. I could tell she'd been crying. Her eyes were already bloodshot and puffy.

"I'm so sorry," she said. "I love you so much. I really screwed up. How can I fix this?"

I gave her the silent treatment for about a minute. I didn't even look at her. Multiple thoughts danced in my brain. I was not fixated on the fact that she cheated on me. I'd always had a fear that maybe she'd fooled around on the side given we'd been together so long. Guys hit on her constantly. It was not beyond common sense to think that she'd slipped up before. She was a very sexual being. She liked the male attention she received and had plenty of options. On top of that, I'd slipped up with Sofia. I was no Saint. It came down to the simple fact that it was with Brad. Of all people, it was my own brother. Plus it was not a one-off.

"I don't know if this can be fixed," I said. "How the hell long has this been going on?"

"Since the summer before freshman year."

"What?? Are you shitting me? How did it happen?"

"Remember when I told you we saw your brother and his friends up at Bass Lake that summer?"

"Yes."

"Remember when I told you I went skinny dipping with my friends?"

"Yes."

"Well, Brad and his friends went skinny dipping with us. He swam up to me and it just happened in the water."

"So he started it?"

"Yes, but I wanted it too. I'm sure I gave him signals. I was flirting with him."

"And after that?"

"I never really pursued him but every once and awhile, we'd hook up when he wanted to. I had no willpower around him."

"Are you in love with him?"

"No, it's just sex. It's only ever been about the excitement of sneaking around."

"That doesn't make me feel any better."

"I love you, not Brad."

"Does Brad love you?"

"He says he does but I think he just wants me to think that."

"I don't know, you may be the one for him."

"You're the one for me."

"Brad's my brother. How am I supposed to be with you now?"

"I'll break it off with him. I swear. No more. Give me a chance to show you."

"I need time to think about this. Did you tell Brad anything?"

"No, did you?"

"No."

"Look, I have a week of cheer camp. Go to Greece. Then come back to me."

All of a sudden my frustration came out.

"This is so fucked up. I don't know if I can go back to us. Have you messed around with any other guys?"

"No, I guess I'm only obsessed with you Stone boys."

"How can we possibly stay together?"

"I'm a shitty person, you know that," said Camille. "I'm never gonna be the perfect girlfriend."

"I don't need you to be perfect, I just don't want you fucking my brother."

"No more Brad, I swear."

"I wanna kick his ass. That fucking guy. He gets everything he wants. I'm sick of it."

"It didn't mean anything to me. You're the one I love. Can't that be enough?"

"It's not enough. Brad can have you. I'm done!"

At that, I stormed inside my house and left Camille on the street in tears. I was devastated. I felt like a fool. The crazy thing was that I loved Camille more than ever at that moment. I wanted to make it work but now Brad was in the equation. How could I dedicate myself to a girl who'd had sex with my brother over and over? It hurt like hell. I had to end it. We'd be off to college in a year and she'd forget all about me. We'd breakup eventually. Senior year would be rough. Our friend group would be fractured once again. It was an impossible situation.