Page 74 of Caught in the Middle

Cam tensed this time for reasons he didn’t understand, except that some internal instinct told him whatever came next wasn’t going to be the breezy interaction he expected for this breakfast before they left.

“What?” Henry asked, prompting her to continue.

Lauren gave a quick glance at Emma before turning to her dad. She swallowed. “Asher and I are engaged.”

Everyone was taken aback at that, though Henry quickly recovered from his reaction. “Okay,” he said. “That’s a bit surprising.” Then as if making a quick decision, he added, “I suppose congratulations are in order.”

Lauren opened her mouth. “There’s more.”

“You’re the pregnant one,” Lulu said decisively.

Lauren gave her an incredulous look. “No. I’m not pregnant either, and I don’t appreciate what that implies.”

Cam watched as Asher scratched the back of his neck looking very uncomfortable at this table right now. Lulu threw her hands up. “Fine, then I guess no one is pregnant.”

Emma huffed a laugh, the first sound she made since the latest announcement.

Lauren sighed. “As you all know, my job entails a certain sort of relationship with my audience,” she began explaining. “And since Asher and I want to get married, that means the world will be expecting me to share every second of it with them.”

“Tell the world no,” Lulu suggested, only to receive a glare in return.

“I don’t mind that. It’s part of the job,” Lauren responded. “However, when I learned everyone would be here for the trip, we decided to rearrange our schedules so that we could make it, too.” She looked toward Asher and then back. “We’ve set it up with the hotel to have a small and intimate ceremony here on the beach tonight.”

“What about your audience?” Lulu asked.

Lauren shrugged. “We’re doing this for us with just our family, and then we’ll have a public wedding and ceremony where I’ll share all of the photos and events leading up to it online. But this one is just for us.” Then she looked at Emma. “Can’t you wait one more day?”

Henry cut in before Emma could answer. “I don’t think it’s fair to ask her to do that,” he said gently.

Lauren ignored him. “You’re always traveling and on the go. Do you know how hard it was to find a time to do this whenever we would all be together?” Cam felt Emma grab for his hand under the table. He gave it a tight squeeze letting her know he was here. “I mean, come on,” Lauren continued. “It’s my wedding. Just one day. Can at least one day just be about me?”

He felt her hand tighten in his, knowing that bit of fury that lay inside her had been ignited. “What do you mean one day about you?” Emma bit out. “Your entire life is about you.”

Cam tensed at how quickly this was escalating.

“Emma, that’s not fair,” Lulu interjected. “You don’t mean that.”

To her credit, Emma removed her hand from Cam’s and squeezed her temples as she shook her head. “You’re right.” She looked at Lauren. “I’m sorry, that was rude and I didn’t mean it. I know your job requires you to share everything.” She took a deep breath. “But this decision was really hard to come to, and if I wait until tomorrow, then I won’t have much time at home to get my apartment squared away, or pack, or see my aunt.”

But Lauren was shaking her head, not interested in the excuses. “If you wanted to be here and support us, you would be,” she accused. “Is it because you’re still mad?”

Emma’s face twisted in repugnance at the question. “I’m not mad,” she replied. “I told you yesterday, I’m happy for you.”

Cam could feel the atmosphere change. He, Lulu, and Henry unsure of what to do or say. Asher looked anywhere but at Emma. Cam wished he could save her from this, shield her from whatever hurtful things were bound to be thrown out between close friends in a fight. He’d seen his own go through it. Hell, he’d even had ridiculous fights with his friends who were more like brothers.

“I saw the way you looked at me when I told you how Asher and I started talking.” Lauren’s tone had become laced with anger.

“You didn’t tell me,” Emma corrected with just as much venom. “You accidentally told on yourself and then panicked when you realized your mistake.” Then as if a thought hit her, she added, “And how ironic you should make this all about you not getting one day of the spotlight whenever the trip you insisted on spending time with me turned into you dating my ex.”

Cam clenched his jaw, unsure what was happening. Emma hadn’t told him anything about yesterday or what they might be referring to. But he couldn’t deny the confusion and hit to his pride he was feeling that Emma might be conflicted over Lauren and Asher, or how they met. It sounded like it was right under her nose after the breakup, so sure anyone might be upset about that, but she’d assured him that she was over Asher.

“So much for not caring, huh?” Lauren asked spitefully. “It’s not my fault that I figured Lulu had told you by then.”

He saw the way Emma reacted as if she’d been slapped, immediately looking toward Lulu. “You knew?” Her voice was a hurt whisper.

Lulu’s face scrunched in response. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she started.

Cam could read the confusion and hurt on Emma’s face, and he again placed his hand on her knee for reassurance, though he was beginning to question his footing in all of this. What was happening? Was Emma mad because Lulu knew about Lauren and Asher and didn’t tell her? Or was there more to it? Was it simply that she felt left out of everything? He tried to block out the pressing questions and the tightness gripping at his chest.

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