Chapter 23: Crazy Maniac
Ric placed a finger gently on her lips, stopping her. "I don’t want to hear it until I can say it to you properly."
He handed her a different cocktail. "Cammy, I think I know what you’re about to say, but there’s no need. I know you’re not a dense person—you understand how I feel. You wouldn’t have distanced yourself from me if you didn’t know.
I get that—you were married, but now, you’re not, or at least about to. I’ll wait for you to heal. I’ll be patient, and when the time is right, I’ll tell you everything the way it should be said. But for now, let me enjoy your company, let’s get to know each other better, and I’ll do my best, alright?" He lifted his glass, offering a toast to Cammy.
She smiled and nodded, but already tipsy, she accidentally knocked her cup against his with more force than intended, spilling her drink onto her shirt and legs.
Ric quickly grabbed the tissue paper he had prepared earlier and helped her wipe off the cocktail.
"Sorry, I’m so clumsy. It’s okay, I’ll clean it up myself," Cammy said.
"Hold on, some splashed onto your hair." Ric grabbed more tissue and carefully wiped the yogurt cocktail from her hair. As he pushed the untouched strands back, he noticed something red on her neck.
He quickly moved her hair aside to get a clearer view and saw the red marks more clearly.
Ric frowned as anger began to simmer within him. He knew exactly what those marks were, and Cammy hadn’t been with Duncan for more than a month now. There was only one person who could have given her those.
As he continued cleaning her hair, he tried to steady his breathing and calm his racing heart. When he finished, he finally mustered the courage to ask, watching her reaction closely. "Cammy, there’s something on your neck. When did you get that?"
As Ric expected, Cammy quickly covered her neck with her hair and stood up. "L-Last night. I stayed out too long in the resort’s garden, and the bugs bit me. Excuse me, I should wash off the cocktail—it’s a bit sticky."