SINFUL ATTRACTION

CHAPTER 15

JAKE

Hearing Camila's name sends a jolt through me, like ice down my spine. I press the phone harder to my ear, trying to focus, but the sound of her sobbing cracks something deep inside me.

"Camila? What’s wrong? Where are you?"

“I… I couldn’t stay," she gasps between sobs. "I tried, but they—my parents—they’re pushing me about the baby. I can’t... I just can’t.”

Her words swirl in my head, a whirlwind of confusion and pain. I hadn’t thought about her much since everything went down, but now hearing her like this makes it clear how far she’s spiraled. It’s like everything she's been bottling up since that horrible night is finally spilling out.

“Camila, where are you now? Are you safe?” My voice comes out harsher than I intend, but I can’t help it.

“I don’t know where to go," she whispers. "It’s raining, and I—" Her breath hitches, and I can barely make out what she’s saying. "I need help, Jake."

My gut twists. "Stay where you are. I’m coming to get you." I don’t wait for her to answer. Ending the call, I spin around to face Alicia, who’s still standing there, wide-eyed. For a split second, I remember everything—how she betrayed me, how she’s part of the reason everything between my brother and me is a mess—but none of that matters right now.

“I have to go,” I mutter, pushing past her.

“Jake, wait,” she calls, grabbing my arm again. “Let me help. I can—"

"No," I snap, yanking my arm free. “This isn’t about you, Alicia.”

Before she can say anything else, I’m already moving, heading back to the parking lot.

As I run through the rain towards the car, my mind races. I had no idea that Camila's situation has always been a ticking time bomb. Her giving up the baby, the trauma she’s carried—it was bound to catch up to her eventually. But the fact that she called me of all people? That hits different.

It now dawn's on me that I don't even know where she is. I try calling her again and again but her phones off. Starting the car, I grip the steering wheel tight, my mind buzzing.

CAMILA

I stand under the awning of an old convenience store, soaked to the bone, clutching my phone like it’s the only thing keeping me tethered to the ground. The rain pelts down, drumming a relentless beat around me, and all I can do is shiver. Every part of me feels hollow, like I’ve been emptied out, scraped clean of everything that used to make sense.

The thought of my parents’ words still stings. They had no right to bring it up again—the baby, the way I handled things. They weren’t there. They don’t know what it was like. How could they possibly understand?

I just wanted it all to go away.

But it won’t. Nothing ever really goes away.

Jake’s coming. I told myself I’d never involve anyone in this mess again, but when I left my parents’ house, drenched and alone, Jake's name was the second one that came to mind. Maybe because I opened up to him about when things fell apart. Or Maybe because he’s the only one who might understand.

This was after calling Alex but to no avail.
I glance up, squinting through the rain, and then I see headlights cutting through the downpour.

The rain pelted down in sheets as I pulled my hood tighter over my head, the fabric already soaked through. I hadn’t planned to leave like this—not in the middle of the night, not with my clothes clinging to my skin, and certainly not under such circumstances. But the argument with my parents had been too much. Words had spiraled out of control, each sharper than the last until I couldn’t take it anymore.