"I don't know," I groaned. "God, I've been such an idiot."
"Oh, you have not," Cami said. "I mean, how were you supposed to know that Mason was thereallunk-blaster in all of this?"
Lunk-blaster was right.As I'd just learned first-hand, it was Mason who'd done everything I'd been blaming on Brody.
It was Mason who'd strong-armed my cousin into selling the house. It was Mason who'd handled all of the paperwork. It was even Mason who'd written that callous note on the bottom of Jason's heartfelt letter.
In my mind, I could still see those three irritating words scrawled on the bottom of the first page."Not my problem."
Boy, he was right aboutthat.
Now it wasmyproblem, because I'd been so awful to Brody.
To Cami, I said, "Well, I could've asked Brody what was going on. But did I?No.Instead, I just hinted around, hoping he'd tell me on his own." With a bitter laugh, I said, "But now, come to find out, there was nothing to tell."
"Butyoudidn't know that," she said.
"Right. Because I never asked." I sighed. "No wonder he's so angry."
"But I don't get it," Cami said. "Why'd Mason tell you any of this at all? I mean, if he hates you so much, he surely would've preferred for you and Brody to stay mad at each other."
"Well, that's the funny thing," I said. "At first, Mason tells me that he's doing it to repay me for helping out with Willow. But then, just before he leaves, he says the strangest thing."
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
"He tells me that he loves his brother more than he ever hatedme."
At this, Cami's tone grew thoughtful. "Huh. Well that's something."
"So, any theories?" I asked.
"My guess?" she said. "He feels bad for Brody."
"But why?"
"Isn't it obvious?" she said. "He's broken-hearted over losing you, just likeyou'rebroken-hearted over him."
I didn't bother denying this last part. Ihadbeen pretty miserable, as Cami had seen firsthand during that so-called vacation.
Oh, God. The vacation.
Brody had gone to a lot of trouble to deliver Cami straight to my doorstep. And what had I done? I'd spent the whole week making both of them miserable.
Thinking of it, I felt like crawling under a blanket and hiding until Ididn'tfeel like the worst person in the universe.
Plus, who was I kidding? I was broken-hearted for a reason. I'd totally fallen for him. Call it love. Call it stupidity. Call it craziness. But even in spite of our history, I did love him, even now.
Cripes, I probably loved him morenowwhen I considered just how much trouble he'd gone to on my behalf, even in spite of my rotten attitude.
I perked up. But that's right. He'd defended me, evenafterI'd been so awful.What did that mean?
My breath caught.Maybe there was still hope.
Cami and I were still talking when my cell phone buzzed with an incoming call.
When I glanced at the display, my heart nearly leapt out of my chest.
It was Brody.He was calling from his old cell phone number, not the new one. In a rush, I told Cami, "Sorry, but I've gotta go, okay?"
