But this moment feels real. The way he’s looking at me, the way he touches me, how hard he kisses me…it all feels so real.
In this moment, I let myself ride the high of that feeling. I let myself believe that this is real.
“You have no idea how much it turns me on to spend money on you,” he says. His voice is a low growl, soft enough that only I can hear him.
My stomach flips. He’s not saying this to put on a show for his friends and teammates. He’s saying this only for me.
Maybe just maybe, he wants this to be real too.
My chest flutters with hope as I gaze up at him. “You really mean that?”
“Hell yes I do,” he rasps.
He kisses me again, and I leave with the rest of the ladies, high on the feeling that in this moment, my marriage to Camden feels real.
Chapter 37
Ellie
“There’s my Ellie belly!”
I chuckle at hearing her call me her favorite nickname from when I was a kid. My mom hugs me tight and sways back and forth. This is how she always hugs me when I haven’t seen her in a while.
When she finally lets me go, she cups my face in her hands. Her bright eyes scan my face. “You look so good, sweetheart. So happy and vibrant.”
“Thanks, Mom. So do you. I love your tan.”
She beams and runs a hand through her shoulder-length, sandy blonde hair. “Really? I’ve been trying to be really good about using enough sunscreen.”
“A little sun is good for you,” I say. “You and Dad have been doing a lot of hiking on your road trip, then?”
“So much hiking,” Dad says as he hops out of their RV and steps over to me. He pulls me into a bear hug and kisses the top of my head. “It’s so good to see you, honey.”
“You too, Dad.”
I turn around and see Camden standing a couple of feet away, watching with a shy smile on his face.
“You guys remember Camden, right?” I say.
“How could I forget?” Mom walks over and hugs him. He lets out an “oof!”
“Take it easy on him, Mom. Your hugs have been known to cut off circulation.”
She finally lets him go and waves a hand at me. “I can’t help it. I’m just so excited to see you again, Camden. It’s been more than a decade. Look at you! Such a handsome young man you’ve grown up to be.”
His cheeks flush. “You’re sweet, Mrs. Michaelson. Thanks.”
She gently pats his arm. “Oh, don’t you dare call me Mrs. Michaelson,” Mom says good-naturedly. “You call me Marilyn. Or Mom.”
Camden nods once, smiling at her. “You got it, Marilyn.”
He goes to shake Dad’s hand. “Mr. Michaelson. It’s good to see you again, sir.”
Dad shakes his hand, chuckling. “Please, call me John. Or Dad.”
Mom grabs Camden’s hand and leads him to the picnic table next to their RV. We’re meeting them at a park on the north side of Shawnigan Lake, near a bunch of forest trails.
“I hope you kids are hungry. John grilled up his specialty: chili burgers.”
