Page 123 of Dissolving Prejudice

I pressed my palm to her grave, telling her in my heart how sorry I was before I pulled my hand back and completely turned to face him.

“I didn’t tell you all of this so you could validate what I already know.” I forced a smile because deep down, I knew she wasn’t dead because of me but because of him. “Just now, I told you all of my secrets, Camilo, because I don’t want anything to stand between us.” I stroked his jaw while slowly tracing my fingers down to his neck. “There was so much that kept us apart for so long, and I’m sick of it. We’re finally able to move forward, but only if you can be honest. First with yourself and then with me.” I brushed my fingers over his necklace before lowering them down to his chest. “Speak with Blaire. And if not her, someone else. Allow people to help you for once. Allow yourself to be happy.” I closed my hand into a fist and pushed hard against him, right at his heart. “Allow us to be happy.”

Camilo bit his lip before he covered my hand with his and held it closer to his body. So close I could count every beat of his heart. Feeling his pulse gave me a sliver of relief, that was until he tore his eyes away from me and took a deep breath.

“I killed a man,” he confessed, and those four little words were so heavy one could almost crush under their weight. “And it haunts me. It haunts me while I’m awake and in my sleep… and I don’t know what to do.”

Not sure of what to do myself, I did what felt right: cupping his face, I pulled him close at the same time I fell backward until my ass hit the grass with him crushing on top of me. And with his head shoved in my chest, I held him tight.

“Talking about it will help,” I said, and he let out a sad snort.

“I don’t think it’s something I can speak about.”

I hugged him tighter. “With Blaire, you can. You can tell her everything.” She’d never betray us. “Trust me. She could help you.”

Finally, Camilo moved his hands to hug me, and my heart broke when I felt his fingers trembling.

“Aren’t you curious who it was?”

“No.” I kissed the top of his head like he always did to me. “Whoever it was, I put all the blame on Dion, who forced you into that life.” I loathed that man. “But what’s important is that it’s over now, and it’s our time to move forward. Together.”

Camilo stayed quiet while hugging me tight, his fingers clenching my clothes like some lost child who’d found solace in an embrace. And despite his dark confession, I felt joy that finally, after weeks of suffering, he was starting to unwind. Who cares if he killed a man? We all did things we regretted, right? I did many wrongs in my past, so who was I to judge Camilo for something like that. Besides, I was sure whoever he’d killed deserved it.

“Do you really think that we could move forward?”

Smiling to myself, I pressed my cheek to his head and closed my eyes.

“I do. I really do.”

Shay-Lee

I parked my car in front of Blaire’s house, as her clinic was finally done with the renovations, then took off my sunglasses and turned to face a nervous-looking Camilo, who was chewing on his gum like he had a personal vendetta against it.

“Spit it out.” I held my palm open in front of him.

Camilo glanced at my hand and then at me, clear hesitation on his face.

“Come on.” I nudged my hand closer when he finally did.

“Is this really necessary?” he asked while I threw the gum into my empty coffee cup that had been in the cup holder for two days now. “Maybe I don’t actually need to speak to anyone.” He rubbed the back of his neck while looking out the window.

He’s so damn cute.

I placed my hand on his thigh, and his eyes jumped to me.

“Yes, it’s necessary that you talk with a professional.” I smiled at him before moving my hand to stroke his cheek. “I can go in there with you if you want.”

Biting the inner side of his cheek, he shook his head. “Nah.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m just nervous, but I’ll be fine.” He tried smiling, but it fell short.

Ugh. He really is adorable sometimes.

“I swear to God, therapy is fun.” I chuckled. “You just go in there and talk about yourself for an hour.”

That made him snort. “Not everyone is as self-centered as you, Llorón.”