My hands were cramping by the time we moved on to the springs. Hook, stretch, clip. Hook, stretch, clip. The repetitive motion should have been meditative, but I was too aware of him across from me. The flex of his muscles, the sweat dampening his collar.
By the time I clipped the last spring on my side, my fingers were screaming and sweat was trickling down my back. I sat back on my heels and flexed my hands, watching as Cam secured his final spring and stood.
The trampoline sat between the two oak trees exactly where Audrey had apparently planned it.
“Well.” I brushed dirt off my jeans. “That looks pretty good. The girls are going to lose their minds.”
“Yeah.” There was something soft in his expression that made my heart twist.
Okay, time to get out of here. “I should let you get cleaned up before they get home.”
“Right. Yeah.” He turned to look at me, and for a second our eyes locked. “Thanks for the help. I wouldn’t have gotten it done in time without you.”
“Don’t mention it.” I was already moving toward the gate. “You helped me with my tire, I helped you with your trampoline. We’re even now.”
“Fair enough.”
I stepped through the gate back into my yard, and he followed to close it behind me. The bolt scraped as he slid it back into place, and just like that, we were on opposite sides of the fence again.
“Enjoy the squealing,” I called over my shoulder.
“I’m sure the whole neighborhood will hear it.”
I laughed and climbed my porch steps, feeling the weight of his gaze on my back until I reached the door. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to turn around.
CAM
Natascha, my ex, didn’t just arrive; she made an entrance, usually announced by the expensive purr of an engine and the slam of car doors. I dragged the front door open, bracing myself.
“Daddy!”
Alice hit my legs like a tiny linebacker, wrapping her arms around my knees and squeezing until, I swear, I lost feeling in my legs. I chuckled, prying her off so I could hoist her into my arms.
“Hey, monster.”
Then there was Audrey.
My seven-year-old wasn’t launching herself at anyone. She stood on the doormat, looking like a thirty-year-old executive assistant.
“Hey, Aud.” I reached out, resting a hand on her shoulder. “Did you have fun with Mommy?”
“We went to a photo shoot.” Audrey’s tone was carefully neutral, the way it always was when she was trying not to complain about something she knew would start a fight.
My jaw tightened, but I kept my expression easy. “Yeah? That sounds fun.”
Audrey’s look told me exactly how much fun it had been.
“They were absolute angels.”
I looked up. Natascha hovered on the bottom step, looking like she’d just walked out from behind a ring light. Perfect blonde waves, oversized sunglasses pushed up on her head, and lips that I was pretty sure had grown a size since last Friday.
Her smile was tight. “Thoughsomeonerefused to wear the matching outfit I brought.”
Audrey’s chin went up. “I don’t like pink.”
“It would have looked adorable for the spring collection photos.”
I set Alice down and straightened, meeting Natascha’s eyes. “They’re not models, Nat.”
