“Is Uncle Hal making the moves on Grandma Nancy?” he asks incredulously.
“Duh, where have you been?” I snap.
I do not have the patience for him right now.
He shudders.
I close the door behind us, and for a second, we all just stare at each other. I feel a little bad that Dove has come into all this drama, but if she knows my brother, herhusband, at all, she must know that he comes with a shitload of drama.
“I’m sorry you had to find out like this, man,” Camden tells Jackson. “I was waiting until you got back from your honeymoon to talk to you.”
Jackson scoffs. “Right.”
“Believe it or not, it’s the truth. I couldn’t wait any longer, but I wanted it to be in person. I’ve loved your sister for a long time, but I’ve held it in and pushed it down deep because of my love for you and the promise we made to each other. But I can’t do it anymore. She means too much to me. She deserves to be treated like a queen, and I want to be the one to do just that for the rest of my life.”
“But you never stay in a relationship. Ever,” Jackson argues.
“No, I haven’t,” Camden says. “Because my heart was already taken.”
I get a lump in my throat and blink fast. I’ve wanted this for so long that it doesn’t feel real now that it’s happening.
“I’ve tried to fill that void, sure,” Camden adds. “But you’ve always been more of a player than me, and look at you now, settling down. You said you wanted that for me too, and I have it. Can’t you be happy for us?”
“Maybe it’s the close proximity,” Jackson says. “Windy Harbor is small, and it’s not like there are a ton of other options out there…”
I whirl around to face him, and he flinches.
“How can you say that about her?” Camden asks. “The way we knew you’d react is what has affected our relationship more than anything. I could sense her holding back at times. We both love you so much and want your approval, but if you love either one of us, you’ll get on board with this. You really think I’d ever hurt your sister?”
“You’ve hurt her for years,” Jackson says, his voice low.
That hits me hard, and it looks like it guts Camden.
“You’re right. I have,” he says softly. He takes my hand and runs his fingers over mine. “And I don’t know how to forgive myself for that or for the time I’ve wasted with her.”
“We’ve both hurt each other,” I say, barely able to see through my tears as I look at him. “If we’d just been open about our feelings all along, it would’ve saved us and everyone around us a lot of hurt.”
Jackson sighs. “I can’t believe you’ve loved each other all along. That’s just crazy. I mean, maybe a part of me always knew you’d prefer each other over me any day, but…I didn’t want to go there. Because if it didn’t work out, then what would happen to our friendship? I’d always pick my sister.” He makes a face at me, and my heart softens.
He’s a big lug, but I love him.
“I love you both, and I don’t want to jeopardize my relationship with either one of you over this.” Jackson points at Camden. “Just know that if you hurt her, I will hunt you down and make your life a living hell.”
Camden laughs. “You and Erin will both make sure that I suffer forever if I hurt her.” He squeezes my hand. “We’re in thisfor the long haul, right? At least I am,” he says when I don’t say anything back right away.
“I am too,” I say softly.
“And there are no more secrets between us.” Camden faces me and puts his hands on my face. “I love you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”
I swallow hard and then nod. “I want that too. I love you.”
He leans in, his forehead against mine as we stare at each other.
Jackson shakes his head and laughs softly. “This is fucking nuts. But I can’t really talk, can I? Dove has me by the balls––”
“Is there not a sweeter, more romantic way to put it?” Dove asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
I burst out laughing. “I think I really like you,” I say.
