Page 97 of Brides and Brothers
Camille’s tired face went red. “I did not mean we should force a relationship on them.” She turned to the others. “I’m so sorry, ladies. We’ll get you home tomorrow. We’ve got pillows and blankets upstairs in the loft, and the guys can sleep downstairs. Preferably, on the hard floor. I hope you men are up to hiking back to the van for whatever supplies you brought, because these blankets are for the women.”
Camille turned and marched out of the room, and Aiden chased after her. He grabbed her arm when she reached the kitchen.
“Don’t be so hard on the guys. They’re trying to patch things up with their girlfriends.”
Camille put her hands on her hips, her whole body seething with anger. “You think that because I married you so easily, that’s all there is to it for everyone? The normal world doesn’t work like that. People actually date each other, for months or even years. I thought I married a sensitive guy who cared about my needs. I never would’ve guessed that shortly after I married you, you’d move out, pawn your brothers off onto me, then use my best friends in some perverse way to fix everything. You can’t ruin people’s Thanksgiving and family plans. What were you thinking?”
She didn’t give him a chance to answer. “You ruined my Thanksgiving plans too. Marriage is about more than financial support. Sometimes I wonder if you just wanted a cook and a maid while you’re in town and a babysitter for your brothers while you’re not.”
Spinning on her heels, she marched into their bedroom and slammed the door behind her. She didn’t know what she was supposed to do next. She’d sufficiently lost her temper, and she wasn’t ready to let go of the storm inside of her. She grabbed a pair of jeans on the bed and began folding them with aggressive precision.
Aiden chose that moment to come in. Camille sighed, wishing she’d locked the door. She avoided his gaze and turned her body so he couldn’t see the emotion on her face. He said nothing at first, but Camille knew he was building up to something, and she was a little afraid. She’d never seen Aiden mad.
“I don’t know what just happened,” Aiden said. “I know I’ve hurt you, but you can’t throw out all these accusations without an explanation.”
Camille grabbed a pair of Aiden’s socks off the floor, rolled them together, and set them back inside his duffel bag. “You didn’t bother to explain to me that you were inviting your brothers up a day earlier than planned and that you had told them to kidnap their girlfriends. You also didn’t explain why, after close to a two-month absence, you can’t give me one night with just the two of us. Arewenot a priority to you?”
Aiden ran his hands through his hair and blew out a long breath. “I had no idea you felt this strongly. You know I love you. I’m trying to do the right thing and please everyone instead of focusing on myself. I’m trying my best.”
“Ha!” Camille said. “That’s a cop-out. You have to take responsibility for what you’ve done.” She walked over to the spoon collection hanging on a plaque on the wall and started reorganizing the utensils. Aiden came over too, and every time Camille moved a spoon, he quickly put it back in its original place.
His voice escalated. “I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Maybe we should agree to disagree,” Camille said hotly.
Aiden moved another spoon back to its original spot. “Like that will solve anything. I’m responsible for my younger brothers—and you either like it or you don’t.”
“Do I look like I like it?” Camille growled.
“I can’t talk to you when you’re like this. You’re irrational.”
She spun on him. “Maybe you could try pleasingmefor a change and leave me alone.”
Aiden’s face drained of its color. Camille swallowed, wondering if she’d gone too far. She needed her space, though, and Aiden could go back to California for all she cared.
Slowly, he nodded. “Okay, you’ve got your wish.” He reached past Camille and grabbed his duffel bag.
She had a black heart. She didn’t even want to call Aiden back into the room after he shut the door behind him. He would likely be embarrassed sleeping on the couch or the floor with his brothers, and she didn’t care. She flipped the light switch off and pulled the bedspread down. The blankets were cold, but she was so tired that the temperature didn’t keep sleep from overcoming her.
