Page 11 of The Way You Hurt Me

There are two people missing in this picture: Adrian's elusive girlfriend—we all pretend we don't know about her, as he doesn't seem to want to speak about it yet—and Willow.

Something will have to be done about Willow. She can't keep missing moments like these. It saddens her sister, worries Cam, and drives me fucking insane.

The baby monitor comes to life on the table, and Morgan sighs.

"Do you mind getting him, Cam?" she asks, standing. "I should clear the table for dessert."

I get to my feet. "No way. You cooked, you sit. We'll clear the table."

Adrian joins me, in full agreement, while Camden goes to check on their toddler.

When they were trying to conceive back in Boston, I fucked around with them a couple of times, but I stuck to Morgan's mouth and ass.

I used to joke the kid looked a little like me, but now that he's a year old, it's pretty clear that he's all Cam, down to the attitude, the messy golden-brown hair and the amber eyes.

And a good thing too; I can't afford illegitimate children.Or legitimate ones, for that matter.

"How's attending Stanford with a toddler in tow?" I ask Cam.

Their college careers have been all over the place; Thorn Falls for a couple of years, then Boston to finish their undergrad—followed by a year off when Cameron was born, and now, Stanford. I think they’re trying to get a stamp from as many expensive institutions as possible.

It fits Cam; not unlike me, he’s a spider, knitting webs around influential spots, collecting contacts.

He shrugs. "We manage. Valentina and Adrian often take him, and he has a nanny, too."

"Is she hot?"

He rolls his eyes. "She's fifty-seven and built like a linebacker."

"I’ll take that as a yes," I quip, amused.

"I never quite understood why you rushed to have a kid, though,”Adrian says.

I can only nod. It would have been one thing if Cameron had been an oopsie baby, but I know Cam and Morgan actively tried to procreate.

"I have too much money to not have an heir," Camden retorts. "Now I can offset some profits in his trusts every year. It's a good tax break."

That does catch my attention. "Really?"

"What, you're gonna impregnate Irina to save a few million now?" Adrian says.

I snort, the idea so ludicrous I can't possibly take it seriously.

I'llneverhave a child with Irina.

"One day, you'll have to tell us what's the deal with you and your wife," Morgan says. "We never see her."

Adrian and I exchange a look. We've never discussed Irina, but we don't need to. He perfectly understands why I had to marry someone like her.

"I'd tell you, but I'd have to kill you," I retort with a wink.

I'm only sort of joking. I wouldn't put a hit on Morgan for knowing too much about the business. Irina is another story, though.

"Cameron, it's late. You can kiss everyone and go to bed, as agreed."

"No!" the little boy retorts. "I stay."

We all grin at the toddler in his father's arms, both pairs of golden eyes glaring at each other with an identical steel resolve.

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