Page 57 of The Summer Arrangement
“So, why did she come to you?” I ask softly.
“She couldn’t go through with the adoption without at least letting me know I have a child in the world.”
“Well… that’s… commendable,” I mutter.
Fuck, is that the right word?
Cameron ignores my comment. “I later found out that she’d been accepted into med school that fall. She had an eight-year plan in place… And one night with a stranger wouldn’t ruin it for her. Since she truly didn’t want anything from me other than to let me know of the baby’s existence, I had no choice but to believe her.”
He glances my way and answers the question on the tip of my tongue before I can even ask. “Of course, a prenatal paternity test was done. But long story short, I knew within a week the baby was mine. Before she could travel home, she went into labor. The next thing I knew, my daughter was born.
“Every doubt I had disappeared the second I saw Emilia. Not only were her eyes identical to mine, but instantly, I felt a connection I still can’t describe, and I couldn’t let her go.”
He looks at the ceiling and shakes his head at a memory.
My heart aches for this man.
“What happened next?” I prompt.
“Immediately, I filed for sole custody. Thank God, I’d already consulted a lawyer and had everything in place. Heather wanted to have a sealed record of her birth. In that, she signed all legal and parental rights away. From the day Emilia was born, she’s been mine.”
Whoa, I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this. My head spins as I process everything. His words from before play through my mind, and it finally makes sense.
Why did he think I would think less of him?
I don’t get it. If anything, hearing their story makes me fall harder for him.
I can’t imagine my life changing on a dime and running with it as well as he’s done. In less than a week, he went from single and carefree to a dad, doing it on his own. Most have nine months to prepare. Cameron had days.
“You’re freaking incredible,” I mutter as I think of all he went through for the sake of Emilia.
“I… Uh… Wouldn’t say that. I’ve been faking it until I make it from the start… Trust me.” A low chortle escapes as he admits, “Thank God for my mom. Without her, I’m not sure where we’d be.”
“What I don’t get is why would you worry I’d think less of you for any of this? Is there more you haven’t told me?”
“You got the condensed version, but I’m not keeping anything from you, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Cameron, you’re one of the most incredible humans I’ve ever met. What part of this could possibly make me not like you?”
Running a finger along his nose, his chin drops. “The part where I was a player… Hell, I didn’t even know Heather’s last name.”
“Uh, last I checked,” I draw out for emphasis. “Most guys in their early twenties are. Scratch that… We’reallsupposed to have fun in our twenties, not just the guys. Now, if you’re in a committed relationship, that’s different. Why would I judge you for living the single life to its fullest? Trust me… I’ve heard stories from Finn and Ryker about being on tour. Jax is an anomaly because he wasn’t on tour until after he was dating Sloane.”
His brows knit together, and his lower lip rolls under his teeth. Irritation rolls off him when he snidely asks, “Does this carefree single life apply toyou?”
Of all things, he chooses to focus onthat?
I quickly remind him, “I wasn’t a virgin or anything when we met. You know that, right? But I…”
“Wait!” he cuts me off, then grumbles, “I don’t wanna hear about you sleeping with other men.”
A smile plays at my lips. “Good to know. But the truth of the matter is until I met you, I’d never slept with anyone I wasn’t committed to.”
Squinting his eyes, he barely looks at me when he asks, “Was there a lot of… commitments?”
“No, you jealous fool.” I push at his shoulder and laugh. “There haven’t been many.”
Relief washes over his features, and he takes my hand in his. “For the record, Elizabeth,you’rethe first person I’ve pursued since Emilia came into my life…And if I have anything to say about it, you’ll be in a committed relationship soon enough, and there will beall the sex… Trust me.”
