“You won me over today. Thisoneday.”
He saws his teeth over his bottom lip, pressing hard enough that it briefly turns white, and heat pools in my belly, between my legs.
“Take it day by day then, hm? See if I can’t win you over tomorrow?”
He inclines his head, setting down the fork to place his hand on my waist, smoothing it to my back, curling around the hem of the jersey, almost like he wants to rip it off.
I think I would let him if not for the buzzing.
Camden’s eyes close, an audible exhale rushing from his mouth at the interruption that might as well be a bus crashing through here.
I step away, realizing it’s his cell phone when he slides it from his pocket. “It’s Valerie.”
I catch my breath, pressing my hand to my temple, reining in my racing imagination.
He has a girlfriend. One who is currently on the other end of his FaceTime call.
The one I’m obviously on-screen for because instead of a greeting, Valerie snaps, “Why isshethere with you again?”
CHAPTER 17
CAMDEN
I flickmy eyes to Nadine to find her face flushed. I don’t know if it’s because of the kiss we almost shared or Valerie. Either way, I’d much rather find more ways to make Nadine blush than be on the phone with a woman I don’t care very much about.
She’s been on my ass lately, calling and texting every day, but I’ve been avoiding her, knowing we’d have to have this conversation. Because I’m notthatmuch of an asshole to call it quits over a text, I wanted to do it in person. After more than two years together in this semblance of a relationship, I owe her that.
But I can’t keep pushing it off.
Clearly.
“I’m sorry,” I mouth to Nadine then turn away from her, taking this call outside on the terrace. It’s cool, and I pull the hood of my sweatshirt up over my head before lounging on one of the chairs. When I’m finally settled, I ask, “What’s up, Val?”
“What’s up?” she parrots, scowling at me. “I’ve been trying to plan this trip, and you won’t even give me an answer.”
“Because I don’t want to go.”
She screeches. “What?”
She’s been asking to go to the Caribbean for a while, and in amoment of delirium and grief after having just brought Paisley back here, I agreed when Valerie said we should get away. I told her we would go during my bye week. But now it’s bye week, and I don’t want to go.
“You promised,” she whines, and I rub my hand over the back of my head.
“I know, but I want to stay here. I want to be with Paisley.”
“You want to be with Paisley or with Nancy?”
I sniff out a derisive laugh. I didn’t date Valerie for her personality, but this is so childish. “You know that’s not her name.”
“Like I give a shit.”
“Clearly, you do. You’re jealous. Is that why you’ve been up my ass lately?”
“I’m up your ass because you won’t answer me. Because you’re too busy with her!”
I lift my gaze up from Valerie’s frown on the screen to peek in through the windows of my home. I don’t see Nadine, so I assume she went to bed. I’m glad of it. I don’t want her to hear any of this.
“You know she’s been helping me out. Nothing is going on between us,” I say, although it rings false.Somethingis going on, but nothing I can name.
