He Took Her to Europe With My Money Chapter 03

He Took Her to Europe With My Money Chapter 03

I did not ask anyone to help me move.

I carried the three bags downstairs one at a time, then dragged them to the shipping center outside the campus gates.

Deep purple marks covered my palms where the straps had dug into my skin.

After filling out the shipping form for Crestwood, I shook out my aching arms and headed to the private room our class had booked at a karaoke bar.

Darien sat in the center of the curved booth.

Leona was pressed against his side, holding a peeled orange segment to his lips.

He tilted his head, took it into his mouth, and smiled with lazy satisfaction.

I sat in the far corner.

The bruises on my palms still throbbed, and cramps tightened through my lower abdomen in steady waves.

“Camille, you’re late, so you have to drink.”

One of the guys from our class spotted me immediately and shoved an ice-cold beer across the table.

“You know the rule. Finish it.”

I waved my hands, flustered.

“I can’t drink.”

The room went quiet for a moment.

Darien frowned and reached for the bottle.

“She can’t handle alcohol. I’ll drink it for her.”

A small, pathetic warmth flickered in my chest.

He had done the same thing at freshman orientation.

Back then, he said his Camille never had to please anyone.

Then Leona caught his wrist.

“Darien, that’s definitely playing favorites.”

She turned to me with a bright smile.

“Camille, this is our graduation party. Everyone else is following the rules. You don’t want to be the one who ruins the mood, do you?”

Marcus Vance immediately joined in.

“Yeah, man. Why are you babysitting her? People might start thinking something’s going on between you two.”

Darien looked at Leona, then at the rest of the room.

To protect our secret, he slowly pulled his hand back.

“Fine. If you’re here, you follow the same rules as everyone else.”

“Camille, one beer isn’t going to kill you. Don’t be a buzzkill.”

My stomach churned.

I took an antihistamine from my bag, then forced down the beer one painful sip at a time.

By the time the bottle was empty, nausea was burning through me.

Darien’s brow tightened.

His lips parted as if he wanted to say something.

Leona held out a piece of watermelon.

“Eat something. It’ll help with the alcohol.”

His attention shifted immediately.

He took the fruit from her.

Then we started playing Truth or Dare.

When it was Leona’s turn, she chose Truth.

A girl from her circle called out, “What’s your biggest regret from college?”

Leona bit her lip and let her gaze drift toward Darien.

“My biggest regret…”

She paused.

“Probably not meeting the right person at the right time.”

The room erupted.

“What do you mean? Darien treats you like a queen!”

“You two are perfect together. Total power couple.”

Someone muttered, “Then what does that make Camille?”

Whispers spread through the room.

“The third wheel.”

“Look at her face. She’s obviously jealous.”

“Leona’s always been so nice to her, and Camille still keeps throwing herself at Darien.”

Leona covered her mouth as she laughed, but her eyes slid toward me.

“Stop it. Camille’s turning pale.”

Every word pierced my ears.

I looked at Darien.

We had been secretly dating for three years.

He had always said he kept us private to protect me.

Now, everyone was humiliating me right in front of him.

I waited for him to speak.

One sentence.

One simple clarification.

Darien looked away.

“They’re just joking.”

I slowly released the fabric of my jeans from my clenched fingers.

Leona suddenly stood.

“No, Truth is boring. I changed my mind. I want Dare.”

Marcus whistled.

“Then choose someone here and date them for two months.”

Leona walked over to Darien and leaned toward him.

“Darien, are you up for it?”

He held her gaze.

“Why not?”

The room exploded with cheers.

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

Leona leaned closer, her cheeks flushed.

Darien did not move away.

Instead, he stood and wrapped an arm around her waist.

Under the shifting neon lights, their lips met.

I watched them.

Somehow, the cramps in my stomach faded until I could no longer feel them.

I stood and pushed open the door.

Behind me, my classmates lowered their voices.

“Why is she leaving? Is she jealous?”

“Camille? Please. Darien wouldn’t look twice at her.”