When we both finally stopped crying, I pulled back, drying my tears, and laughed. “Fuck, it feels good to have that off my chest.”
26
HARPER
Reed and I walked back inside, the quiet between us lighter now. We’d finally said the things we needed to say.
Wren looked up from the kitchen island the second we stepped in. She smiled at me, but her eyes flicked to Reed, reading his expression like only she could. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead without a word, and something warm curled in my chest.
“We’re gonna sit in the living room,” Wren stood quickly, nudging Reed across the hall. “Give you two a second.”
It wasn’t subtle, but I appreciated the gesture.
Cam glanced at her, then at me, and his brows lifted a little. “You got a minute?”
Tilting my head, I replied, “I don’t know. I might be very busy right now. I have some reason to choose romance books that need reading.”
He smirked, not buying it for a second, and reached for my hand. “C’mere.”
He pulled me gently down the hallway, and my pulse kicked up as we stopped outside his bedroom door.He pushed it open and led me in like it were the most natural thing in the world. I walked through it last night to get to his bathroom, but I was so tired I didn’t take notice of anything.
I don’t know what I expected, but… his room was clean. Like, neat. Bed made. Art on the walls that Wren probably painted. Not a sock in sight. It smelled like cedar and something faintly citrusy, and now my stomach was doing flips.
Cam gestured to the bed. “Sit?”
I raised a brow. “Are you about to fuck me with our siblings waiting in the living room? Scandalous. I love it.”
He laughed under his breath. “Not unless you ask nicely.”
I rolled my eyes and sat down. The comforter was cool against my skin, my fingers curling into the gray fabric as he sat across from me in his desk chair, knees nearly touching mine.
He exhaled slowly, then met my gaze, serious now. “I told Wren about us. I told her that I am bi and interested in being in a polyamorous relationship. Also, that Tuck and I kissed.”
My eyes went wide with surprise. I figured they talked, but hearing him come to terms with everythingandtelling Wrennie made it real. I blinked. “You what?”
He nodded. “I told her how I’ve felt for a long time. About how fast things have shifted since you moved in. I didn’t plan to—it just all kind of came out.” His fingers flexed on his knee, nervous.
“I don’t want to keep pretending like this is nothing,” he said, voice rougher now, quieter. “Whatever seed was planted between us—me, you, and Tuck—it’s already growing. I feel it, even if we don’t fully understand what it is yet. And I don’t want to ignore it or let it wither away. I want to be there to care for it, to see what it becomes. I want this to grow into something honest, something lasting. Somethingreal.”
My heart was pounding so hard I was pretty sure he could hear it.
He ran a hand through his hair and gave me a soft, crookedsmile. “And before you ask, I kind of told her I am in love with you.”
I laughed, suddenly feeling light and breathless. It slipped out before I could stop it. And given the look on Cam’s face, the reaction was completely inappropriate. His expression faltered instantly, shoulders tensing. That soft, vulnerable openness he’d given me just a second ago started closing up.
“Shit—no,” I rushed, reaching out to him. “It’s not funny. I’m not laughing at you. It’s just… crazy. Because I told my brother the same thing. About you. Minus you being bi.”
His brows lifted, and his blue eyes met my brown ones. “You did?”
I nodded, heart racing. “I told him I could see myself falling in love with you. Like right before we came back inside.”
Cam blinked, and then a slow, beautiful smile broke across his face. It was one I hadn’t seen before the other night, and now I never want to go without. I leaned in, cupping his cheek gently before pressing my lips to his. It was soft, sweet, and gentle.
When I pulled back, he followed slightly, not quite ready to let go. And neither was I.
“Wanna go for a walk?” I asked, keeping my voice light. “Down by the beach?”
Cam blinked. “Now?”
