"But it could take a while," I continued. "Maybe even a few months. Or a year. Or two."
His body tensed again. "A year or two?" he asked.
"You fucked up big time, Brody. Not because you put Jacks first. I would never be mad at you for that. Not even because you decided the best thing to do would be to break up with me. Your mistake was not talking to me about it. What happens the next time Monica starts her shit? Or something else happens? If we go the distance, you know that I'm going to expect you to be open with me."
Brody didn't let go of my hand, even though my words made him look even more beaten down. "I'm almost afraid to tell you why I did it?"
I frowned at him but didn't say anything else.
"You're already mad at me and I'm a little worried that this will push you over the edge," he admitted. "I'm too young to die and I have a daughter to think about."
I rolled my eyes. "I wouldn't kill you. That would be letting you off too easily."
Brody's eyes flared with mirth but the expression disappeared quickly. "I've been a single dad for a while now, even before Monica and I separated. She never really had much to do with Jacks. She always hired nannies to take care of the day-to-day stuff. Then, when we separated, I promised to keep supporting her as long as Jacks came with me. She has a trust fund, but she blows her monthly stipend within a week of its release. I knew having a daughter would make it hard for us. And there's Monica. Just when I think I know her, she mutates. Like a virus. I was worried that if I told you what was really happening, you would leave me."
"You thought that I'd decide you were too much work?" I asked. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I'd loved this man since he was just a boy. How could he believe that about me?
"It's a little more complicated than that."
"Seriously?" I asked him. I jerked my hand loose and jumped to my feet, pacing back and forth in front of his desk. "Do I really strike you as that flaky?"
"No, of course not," Brody answered. "But I know it's a lot. I'm not a good bet. I have a daughter who will always come first. An ex who likes to make my life hell. And parents you despise. Three strikes, I'm out."
I threw my hands up in the air and made a loud sound of frustration. Why were men so dense?
I whirled toward him. "Think for a second. If our situations were reversed, would all of those things be enough to make you walk away from me?" I asked.
Brody stared at me as though he was finally seeing me for the first time. "No."
"Then, why would you think that about me?" I asked. God, I wanted to be mad, but really I was hurt. It hurt so badly. I wanted to be his rock. He could depend on me.
"Because I'm a dumbass," he answered with a sigh. Brody got to his feet and came toward me. "I'm so sorry, Cam. I fucked up. Bad."
I shied back from him as he reached for me. "Give me a minute. I need space right now."
His face fell and he dropped his hands to his sides. "I ruined it, didn't I?"
I sighed, a short, harsh sound. "No, you didn't ruin it. I still love you, even if you're not the brightest bulb. But I'm so mad at you right now that I'll brain you with something if you get too close to me." I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I needed to calm down and think. As far as first fights went, this was one hell of a doozy. "How much longer do you think it will take you to get your ducks in a row and implement your sly plan?"
"A couple of weeks maybe."
"Come see me in a couple of weeks, then. I'll probably be less angry by then."
"Probably?" he asked.
I shrugged. "I'm not precognizant. I can't tell you what the future holds."
A smile quirked Brody's mouth. "And if I tried to convince you to stop being angry at me?"
"Then I'd say you have your work cut out for you."
The smile widened. "I'm widely known to be an exceptionally hard worker."
"Hmmm. We'll see."
I rose up on my toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek, stepping back before he could grab me. His hands brushed my arms and he frowned at me.
"Now, I have an appointment with Sierra at the bank. We can continue this conversation in two weeks. Or when your ex issues are resolved. Whichever comes first."
