Page 78 of Camden

“I do. It’s tucked away in the barn.” Cam tossed his thumb over his shoulder toward the building. I hadn’t gone in there. Honestly, I never even thought to ask about it.

“That sounds like a blast.” In the most unladylike and awkward motion ever, I rolled to my stomach, attempting to balance on my hands and knees on the tube, which of course was a terrible idea. I ended up rolling into the water, one hand still connected to the floating device. When my head popped back out of the water, everyone cracked up.

“Shut up.” I joked and swam toward the dock, where Cam grabbed my wrists and pulled me up with ease. “I love how strong you are.” I bit my lip as my wet body landed against his.

He lowered his mouth toward my ear. “I fucking love this bikini.” He nudged his hips forward slightly so I could feel his hardening erection. A moan escaped as he teased the skin right below my ear.

“I’m going to have to get used to this, aren’t I?” my brother mumbled, but I ignored him.

Using my body as a shield, Cam adjusted himself. He tossed an arm around my shoulder, leading me off the dock.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CAMDEN

I grabbedanother pair of shorts and shoved them in the duffle bag sitting on the bed, but focused my attention on the closed bathroom door where Stephanie had been posted up for twenty minutes. When I heard her throwing up, I tried to get in, but she locked the door. I knocked and threatened to get a screwdriver and take the handle off, which led to a furious and disheveled Stephanie opening the door, growling at me.

Like an angry kitten.

It was adorable, but I didn’t dare say that to her. She opened her mouth to say something, but instead of talking, she threw a hand over her mouth and sprinted back into the bathroom.

I rubbed her back and held her hair as she emptied her stomach. Eventually, she stopped long enough to kick me out again. Against my better judgment, I followed her direction.

Even though it practically killed me to do so.

I rolled a pair of socks together and tossed them in the bag. The door finally opened and Stephanie walked into our room, rubbing the back of her neck. She rolled her head from side to side as she climbed into bed. My hands pressed into the mattress by her thighs, watching her snuggle deeper into the blankets. One hand rested on her stomach, the other under her cheek. Her tired blue eyes met mine.

“Maybe I shouldn’t go.”

“No way, mister. You are going. This is your annual trip. You can’t cancel it on my account.”

“Like hell, I can’t.” I shook my head at her stubbornness. “Sweetness, you’re sick. Let me stay and take care of you.”

“No. I can handle this. It’s just a stomach bug. Maybe food poisoning from dinner last night.”

“What if you need to go to the hospital?” I argued.

She rolled her eyes. “I won’t.”

“But what if you do?” Sitting down on the bed beside her, I moved some of her sweaty hair out of her face.Even sick, she’s gorgeous.

“Then I’ll call Rylie and Haley.”

“Stephanie.” I clenched my jaw in warning.

“I’m a big girl. I’ve been doing this by myself for years now.”

I tilted my head toward the ceiling, nostrils flared. I hated any reminder of the life she used to live. The one without me, but more importantly, the one filled with pain. “But you’re not alone anymore. Let me take care of you.”

“Any other weekend, yes. But Cam, you guys plan this every year.” She wasn’t wrong. I looked forward to this trip every year. It was a weekend to get away from real life. From work.

But that was before Stephanie.

Before I had someone more important than spending a weekend with the guys.

“I don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to.” She smiled, thinking she had won.

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