Cam’s face slackens and we share a real look of understanding. The kind of empathy that comes when you’ve lived through the horror of losing a loved one. He slides the phone back towards me.
‘I’m sorry,’ he says. ‘Sounds like you’ve had it tough. She did well raising twins on her own.’
I nod.
‘So, you’re identical, huh?’ he says, trying to lighten the mood.
‘I’m sorry,’ is all I can manage. ‘I should have been honest with you last week on the phone. Lois is engaged to a great guy, Tyrone, so she couldn’t come on the show. I’d just got out of that… erm, situationship, and I thought maybe it would be a good idea to come here.’
I wonder if he is going to be angry at the deception, but he surprises me by not seeming that blown away.
‘So now you’ve come clean about your sister, do you want to tell me about this relationship you just got out of?’ Cam asks.
‘Honestly, not much to tell. I thought I was in love with him but really, we never did anything together to create any sparks. I was boring. I worked all the time. I suppose in a way I’m not surprised he dumped me. I’m just upset that he did it by text.’
‘Ouch. That’s harsh. What a dick.’
‘Yeah, right?’ And before I know what I’m saying I admit the truth as to why I’m here. ‘I wanted to take Lois’s place on the show to get back at him. To make him see I’m not just a frumpy old maid. To make him regret dumping me.’
It sounds very childish.
‘That’s a lot of effort and a long way to come just to make him jealous. You must really want him back.’
I shake my head. ‘No. I thought I did, but I guess I just felt rejected and insecure.’
‘I get it. But listen, Libby, you’ve put me in an awkward spot here. I’m going to have to tell the executive director that you’re not the original hire. You and your sister have two completely different personalities. She will have passed the psychometric tests and you… probably wouldn’t have. What if we put you onthe show and you crack under the pressure? It wouldn’t be fair to you.’
‘I won’t crack, I promise. I’m sorry to put you in this situation. I was desperate at the time, and then you rang, and we spoke and…’
… and I fancied you from the moment I saw you and decided to throw caution to the wind and kill two birds with one stone.
Cam looks at me thoughtfully. ‘We all do stupid things for love.’
I’m taken by surprise. ‘Now look at who’s rolling out the clichés.’
He smiles and leans back in his chair.
‘Do you want to tell me how your ex ended up with your best friend? I’m quite the expert on trust issues.’
Cam hesitates. ‘You know what? Women never ask me about it. They just want to know if I’m single.’
Who can blame them?
‘Well then, I’d like to apologise for all women. We can be occasionally thoughtless and self-centred and very determined when faced with men as handsome as you.’
Cam grins. ‘Really? So, it’s almost my fault women behave that way around me?’
‘Oh, yes. Definitely. Now, this crazy cheating ex, tell me what’s wrong with her.’
I almost instantly regret asking when I find out Megan is a former model turned fashion editor and runs her own very successful ethical clothing website and charity for abandoned horses. A real triple threat; brains, beauty, kind-hearted. She sounds too good to be true. I listen as he talks very briefly about his past relationship and his regrets at how he handled it. I get a warm glow of satisfaction over how comfortable we are with each other.
‘God, I must be drunk to be telling you any of this,’ he says, before calling it a night.
‘I’m relieved to hear she has fidelity issues. She sounds too perfect otherwise.’
Cam chuckles. ‘She definitely wasn’t perfect. She couldn’t be spontaneous. She needed at least six hours’ notice to get ready. She’d never be seen without her face on, and hair done. It meant we missed out on things that would have been fun.’
I look down at my raggedy outfit. My hair is in a wild bun, and I have no make-up on. My career is down the toilet and the last time I raised money for charity was nine years ago. I am the exact opposite of his former girlfriend. In other words, the opposite of his type.
