Page 76 of Caught in the Middle

Lauren didn’t even bother with a response, but Cam said, “Emma,” her name sounding like a plea.

“Well guess what, Lauren?” Oh no, he couldn’t do this. He couldn’t sit here while she dragged him down with her. But he couldn’t move. “Cam and I aren’t dating.” Everyone seemed to stop everything at that. Breathing. Thinking. All of it. Or maybe that was just Cam who felt that way as she dropped a bomb that affected him as much as her.

“What?” Lauren looked disbelieving.

Emma laughed, a hysterical and obscene sound. Cam felt like she’d lost it, was losing herself to the pain this fight was causing her. “That’s right.” She shrugged. “I’d only met Cam the night before. I was actually kicking out a failed attempt at a one-night stand when he came down the hall and witnessed the pathetic sight.”

He cringed, his touch leaving her leg as he clasped his hands together, trying to hold onto any self-respect he had left. Yeah, he brought this on himself for joining the lie, but damn if he didn’t feel blindsided to be thrown under the bus by Emma of all people.

“You’re kidding,” Lauren said.

“Nope, just ask Lulu.” Emma smirked.

Lauren’s face fell into a stunned expression as she went from one woman to the other. “You knew?” she practically shouted. “You knew this entire time and left us looking like idiots?” Before she let her sister respond she looked back at Emma. “Who does that?” she spat. “What kind of psycho invites a guy she just met to stay with her for a week?”

“What kind of desperation does it take to sleep with your friend’s ex?” Emma shot back.

Lauren was shaking her head, words seeming to have escaped her. Henry was staring down into his lap at this point, Asher looking to be in pain, and Lulu’s face turning more and more red from what could only be anger and exasperation. Yet none of that topped the festering resentment growing inside Cam, especially when no one would meet his eyes.

“You know what?” Lauren finally said. “I think you should go. I don’t want you at my wedding. Besides, this is a family trip.”

Emma’s nostrils flared, and Cam knew the comment hit its mark, but he was having a hard time caring at the moment. She drug him down with her. In her moment of wrath, she decided to ditch him and not consider what her actions would mean for him.

Before anyone else could reply, Emma stood up, not even waiting for Cam. “Yeah, that much is clear. Enjoy your vacation,” she hissed, then she left, not bothering a glance behind.

Cam swallowed, then swallowed again, hating himself for going along with this, for allowing himself in this position, and mostly for allowing his heart to let her in. He knew she was capable of destroying him. He just hadn’t thought it would be like this.

He took a deep breath, then spoke. “I’m really sorry for how all of this unfolded and for my part in it.” He looked at Henry, whose face was unreadable. “I will reimburse you for my trip. I’m headed home today as well.” He sat his napkin on the table and rose, unable to keep the strained expression from his face. He didn’t know what else to say, so he restated, “I’m sorry.”

As he went to leave, Lulu reached out, giving his forearm a tight squeeze and a sympathetic look before letting go so he could continue. The gesture only twisted his insides further.

As he headed for the room to grab his already packed bag, Cam felt the heaviness in his heart echo his footsteps. He wasn’t ready to face her. Not now, not ever.

Chapter 28

Cam opened the door to their room to the sounds of Emma’s sobs. Whatever anger he’d been feeling took the backseat to the heartache he felt for her. He was still mad, but his initial instinct was to check on her. He entered the room to find her sitting cross-legged on the bed, her head in her hands.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he tried gently.

She looked at him with red-rimmed eyes. “Don’t pretend like you care. I saw the way you reacted. I know you’re as pissed at me as the rest of them.”

He clenched his jaw and tried telling himself she was mad and taking it out on the closest person to her. However, she wasn’t wrong. He was pissed. “I do care, Emma, but I was also caught off guard that you didn’t think twice before blowing the cap off our secret. A heads up would’ve been nice.”

“It doesn’t matter now. It’s all out there. You can hate me along with the rest of them.” She didn’t even bother to get up from the bed, just lowered her head back into her hands.

He sighed. “I don’t hate you, but I am mad,” Cam said. “You completely threw me under the bus and didn’t stop to think what it’d mean for me.”

She shot him a glare. “What? You thought just because we slept together that we would walk off into the merry little sunset and live happily ever after? You didn’t plan to tell them all the truth at some point?”

“That’s not what I’m saying, but a healthy relationship would’ve consisted of talking about the approach first and then doing it together.”

Now she rose, her face as angry as it was downstairs. “Well sorry I couldn’t give you a healthy relationship, Cam. I knew this was all too soon and I knew taking this job would ruin everything.”

He frowned at her. “That’s not what I was saying. I’m allowed to be mad that you took it upon yourself to tell them we were fake dating in order to make your argument against Lauren.”

“Oh yes, because poor Lauren. Everyone feels so bad for little Lauren.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.” He heaved out a frustrated breath.

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