Page 114 of Fault Lines
He faltered before answering. “I regret how it happened. But no, I can’t say I’d wish him away.”
Something heavy pressed on my chest. “Him?”
Cam shrugged, almost shy. “We don’t know yet, but I have a feeling it’s a little boy.”
I stared, stunned. There was a far-off hopefulness in his eyes that hurt to look at.
“We?”
Cam’s face crumpled. “God, I’m sorry, Livi. I don’t mean ‘we’ like Lacey and I, I just…,”
“You mean ‘we’ as in you and the mother of your child.”
He dropped his head, unable to meet my eyes. There wasn’t a way to spin it, even if he tried. It was the truth.
“It’s not what you think,” he insisted. “I’m going to have her sign over the rights.”
“Can you even guarantee that?” My fists curled tight in my lap. “Has she even hinted that she would?”
He stayed silent.
“She’s not going to give up her baby, Cam. Not for you. Not for anyone. And she shouldn’t have to be bullied into it. Being a mother is beautiful, and you can’t take that away from her just for your own needs.”
He looked desperate. “But if she won’t, will you help me raise him as his stepmother? I know it won’t be traditional, but maybe we could make it work if we have to share time with her-”
I cut him off with a raised hand. “I’m not going to do that, Cameron.”
He glared at me, like he couldn’t believe I was saying no.
“You’d ask me to give up my own child because you’re too sensitive to move past one screw-up?”
“It’s not just one mistake, Cam. You’ve been lying for weeks. You broke our rules, more than once, and you got another woman pregnant. That’s too much.”
My hands shook as I drained half my glass of water, trying to steady myself.
“You’re really going to walk away over this? Are you serious, Livi?”
“I have a question for you, Cam. Before I decide. Just answer honestly. Can you do that?”
He nodded, not breaking eye contact. “Anything, baby.”
“Remember when we met April and Jake at the lake?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“I saw her give you something before she hugged you goodbye. What was it?”
He swallowed, and I knew what was coming.
“Her number.”
“That’s what I thought,” I said, keeping my tone flat. “Did you use it?”
He nodded again. “But it was just Thursdays. I never broke any rules with her.”
I stood up, pulling cash from my wallet and putting it on the table, careful not to look at him. I didn’t want anything from Cam now, not even lunch. I’d made up my mind.
“Why are you leaving?” Cam demanded, his voice rough. “You can’t be mad that I met up with her—we had an understanding.”
