Page 85 of Not That Into You

“Maybe.” I mean, probably. If I needed back surgery, I’d be freaking out. But I did some research, and it’s a pretty standard procedure with relatively low risks. And the surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis, so she wouldn’t have to spend the night at the hospital.

I sigh. I know it’s not just the surgery. “She’ll also have to take time off work. The recovery takes a few weeks.”

“Does she not have enough sick days or vacations days?”

“She owns her own business. So she’s the boss.”

“Ah, I see. It’s hard to take time off when you’re running the show.”

“Yup. And she’d probably have to hire a temp to cover for her, which is just more money on top of the surgery costs. Money my parents don’t really have, but she needs the surgery. She’s in constant pain.”

Cameron gives me a thoughtful look. “Is that why you agreed to this weekend? To help pay for your mom’s surgery?”

I shrug. “Yeah.” I brush a fuzzy off my jeans. “My parents can’t afford the surgery, but my mom can’t afford not to have it.”

“Huh.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” He glances at me. “It just makes a lot more sense now.”

“Yeah, well.” I shift in my seat, uncomfortable with his scrutiny. “It was the money and your large, impressive...”

“Ego?”

“Exactly.”

We grin at each other, but when his eyes warm, I quickly look away.

I clear my throat. “Does your dad work all the time, too?”

“Pretty much.”

I nod. Although both my parents work a lot, I’ve never felt like an afterthought.

Biting my bottom lip, I glance over at Cameron. I don’t think he can say the same.

“Can I ask you something?”

He lifts his brows. “Sure.”

“Why did you decide to work for The Stanhope Group?”

He smirks. “Because my last name is Stanhope?”

“I’m serious, Cameron. I’m sure you had other options. You don’t seem to like your family very much, so why work with them?”

He sighs. “Fair question.” He presses his lips together but doesn’t say more.

“And after this weekend, I would’ve expected you to be working at a competitor, just to piss them off.”

He grunts. “I tried that, actually.”

“Really? When?”

He taps his thumb on the steering wheel. “Growing up, it was expected I’d join The Stanhope Group. I didn’t really question it, and neither did anyone else.” He shakes his head. “I barely saw my parents, and my siblings weren’t really around. But I knew one day I’d join their ranks at the company, and... I don’t know. I think part of me thought that once I joined the family business...” He shrugs.

“They’d notice you? You’d finally fit in?”

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