“Why would he say that? And I don’t understand why he gets any say.” I wince at how sharp my tone is.
Camden’s eyes search mine, conflicted. “I don’t want him trying to shut this down before we’ve even had a chance to get started. And knowing your brother…he would.”
I bristle, because I hate sneaking around, hate the idea that we’re letting Jackson have that much power. But the part of me that’s still buzzing from Camden’s kiss understands what he’s saying.
“So what, we’re keeping this a secret?” I ask.
His thumb traces my cheek, gentle despite the tension in his shoulders. “For now?”
The way he says it, vulnerable in a way Camden Whitman never allows himself to be, knocks the wind out of me. But I can’t help but let some of my walls back up. It feels necessary.
“Okay.” I nod before I can talk myself out of it.
I guess I can hold this secret for now, but it won’t feel real to me until everyone knows and until my brother accepts it.
Relief flashes across his face. He gives me one more kiss.
“Should we go get some hot chocolate and pie?” he asks.
“Absolutely.”
He lets me leave first. When I walk into the great room beyond the kitchen, I paste on a smile, my cheeks still warm, and slide into the crowd like nothing happened.
Grayson, Noah’s little boy, comes running over. Kevin’s right behind him.
“Juju! Hi!” he says, wrapping his arms around my legs.
Kevin nudges his nose between us until I pet him too, which makes both of us laugh.
“It’s been too long since I’ve seen you, buddy. How have you been?”
“I’m good. I made cookies at preschool last week.”
“I wish I’d tasted those.”
“They weren’t as good as yours.” He wrinkles his nose.
“Well, the next time your dad comes into the shop, I’ll send some home with him. How ’bout that?”
“Yeah!” he says, his smile wide.
“Where the hell is Dylan?” Tully gripes. “Every time I turn around, he’s disappeared.”
“He has been scarce this visit,” his dad agrees.
“Maybe he ran to the store…” Goldie says.
“What could he possibly need that we don’t have?” Grandma Nancy sniffs.
“Maybe condoms?” Noah says under his breath.
Goldie and Tully nod in unison, wide-eyed, looking more like twins than ever.
Camden walks in. Our eyes meet for just a second, and then we look away, like it never happened at all.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
RESILIENT
