Page 22 of Camden

It was the first time I had initiated contact between us and it felt better than I thought it would.

Spinning on my heel, I dashed toward the door. As I reached for the handle, his deep voice stopped me. I glanced over my shoulder at him, standing in the same place. Legs spread. Thumbs hooked on the side of his vest. He looked strong.Gorgeous.Too good-looking for me. My stomach flipped at the sexy grin he shot at me. “Hey, Stephanie?”

“Yeah?”

“Go on a date with me?” Hope flitted across his face, and I hated having to crush some of it.

“I can’t.” I didn’t wait for a response. I just left him standing there, rubbing my chest as I walked to my car.

I wished I didn’t question his intentions.Or him. I wished I didn’t question my own decisions. I hated my instinct to flinch when he reached for me. I didn’t want to do that, and I didn’t want to keep turning him down.

I wanted to go on a date with him.

I wanted to hold his hand. I wanted to have his arms wrapped tightly around me while he pressed his lips to mine. But I wasn’t that girl anymore. Camden deserved someone who wouldn’t question everything. Someone who wouldn’t questionhim.He deserved a girl who didn’t have a voice in the back of her head reminding her of all of her shortcomings.

I wasn’t good enough, and he deserved more.

My breathing tightened as I fought to shake off the thought. It wasn’t one I’d had in a while. I knew my past was unwelcomely creeping into my mind. I had worked hard over the last year to overcome those types of thoughts.

I drove to the hospital with country music blaring, trying to put myself into the right mindset. I refused to let Jax steal any more time from me. Unbuckling myself as soon as I pulled into the parking garage, I hurried inside to an insanely busy ER. I dropped my bag off in my locker and rushed to the nurses’ station, wrapping my stethoscope around my neck as I went. “What’s going on?” I asked the charge nurse, surveying the madness.

“A car hit a deer just outside of town and caused a multi-car pile-up. The fog was crazy this morning. People didn’t see it coming. All hands on deck.” She handed me a chart. I read it over and headed to the first room, all thoughts from the morning gone.

CHAPTER SEVEN

CAMDEN

The bottleof wine I picked up for Rylie slipped from my grip and shattered all over the front porch as she pulled the door open. “Shit,” I cursed, bending down to pick up the slivers of glass. The red wine splattered across the light-colored wooden porch.

Rylie snickered, and I looked up at her. She stood in the doorway, shoulder propped against the doorframe. “Having a bad day, Cam?” she asked before calling for Mason to grab the broom.

“It didn’t start out that way,” I grumbled. “Sorry for the mess.” I stood and pulled her in for a hug.

“Ah, not a big deal. It’ll wash. Besides, I’m not drinking tonight, anyway.” She shrugged. Mason slid past her, placing a kiss on her cheek.

“The fuck happened out here?”

I rolled my eyes. Mason handed the broom to me, and I swept up the glass. “Had too much in my hands when I tried to knock.” I turned to Rylie. “So, what’s this you say about not drinking? Did the unlimited drinks during the honeymoon get the best of you?”

They had just gotten back into town after a week-long trip to Mexico. Both looked a little more tan and much more relaxed.

Mason picked up the case of bud light I had brought over for dinner.

“Not even a little.” She opened the door wider allowing us to both pass back through.

“You knocked up?” I asked because Ry always enjoyed a glass of wine or Michelob Ultra when we all got together for dinner. Mason pulled her into his arms, her back against his chest, and rested one hand on her lower stomach. Rylie looked up at him with pure happiness and love. “No shit?” I grinned.

“No shit,” Mason said, pressing a kiss to the top of Rylie’s head. My gut turned with jealousy. Not because of Rylie. God knew she was meant for my best friend, but because I wantedthat. I wanted what they had. The thought sobered me and I reached for a beer from the six-pack Mason held.

It’s not like I didn’t know that I liked Stephanie and wanted to date her, but babies? That particular thought hadn’t crossed my mind until this very moment. But what scared me most was the fact that it didn’t scare me.

Not even a little.

In fact, Stephanie’s the only one I could see a future like that with. One day. Hopefully.

I pulled Rylie into a hug and slapped Mason on the back. “Congrats. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks. We haven’t told anyone else yet.” Rylie said.

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