I heard almost all of their conversation. Camden didn’t do anything wrong. He was perfect, actually. He rebuffed her advances politely and made it clear he wasn’t interested in her.
Then how come I feel like my chest is collapsing into itself?
Because you like Camden. More than a friend. More than a fake husband.
And you don’t want your relationship to end.
And it kills you to think of him with anyone else.
His face is twisted in worry as he walks up to me.
“That wasn’t what it looked like,” he says.
I swallow through the tightness in my chest. “It’s okay, Camden.”
He frowns like he’s confused. “What?”
“It’s okay,” I say again. “I, um, heard what you two talked about. You’re free to go out with her again if you want, once we’re divorced.”
He blinks, and his entire expression changes. His face goes pale. He looks like he’s about to be sick.
He grabs my hand and leads me away from the reception, toward the portable restroom trailer sitting at the far end of the property.
He walks me behind the trailer, then pins me with a stare so intense, it gives me goosebumps.
“Why would you say that?” His tone edges on hard. Like he’s upset.
“Because it’s the truth,” I say. “When this is all over, you can go back to dating whoever you want. And Kendra seemed interested in you. And you two have a history…”
I trail off as he turns his head to the side, glaring at the tree line.
His jaw works as he pins me with his fiery blue gaze. “I don’t want anyone but you, Ellie.”
I look at him. “You don’t?”
He shakes his head and lets out a laugh, like he’s in disbelief. “Of course I don’t. Ellie, I thought it was obvious. I’m crazy about you.”
A warm feeling courses through me, wrapping around my heart and holding it tight.
Camden steps forward, closing the space between us. “Look, I know it must freak you out to hear me say that. It wasn’t supposed to go this way. We were just supposed to be married for a year so you could get health insurance for your chronic illness, and then go our separate ways, but…”
A hard swallow moves along the length of his throat as he stares at me, heat blazing in his eyes.
“But I can’t keep this inside me any longer.” He takes a breath. “Every time I think about this ending, I get this pain in my chest that won’t go away. It feels like my heart is shattering. I don’t want this to end. I want to stay married to you.”
Everything around me stills. My heart races in my chest. He feels the same way I do.
“I’m nuts about you, Ellie. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I want you. Only you.”
He tugs a hand through his hair and looks down. “I know you probably don’t feel the same way, but?—”
“I feel the same way.”
He jerks his head up and gawks at me.
“I feel the same way about everything,” I say. “I don’t want this to end either. I like you, Camden. So much. I want to be with you.”
He grabs my face and kisses me.
