Page 13 of The Summer I Loved

Cam stopped midway to the peephole, smiled, and flung the door open to the man in the three-piece suit and brown bag in hand. “You dressed up for me. You shouldn’t have.”

“Shut up and move aside.” Elias moved past him and waved the brown bag in his direction.

“How did you find me?”

“It’s not hard when you know where to look. How many times did I have to come have dinner with you in seclusion? I can’t believe you’re still hiding out when you come to the area.”

It jabbed at Cam’s side. For the last ten years he’d come to the Maryland/D.C. area multiple times, only to confine himself to this hotel room and Camden Yards. Had he gone out or stayed with the team, he may have found out about Adri and Bron. It all seemed so stupid now.

“Hey, snap out of it.” Elias pulled a six pack of beer from the bag and placed it on the table. The familiar white label with black letters brought back memories he didn’t care to indulge.

Cameron ignored his question in favor of another. “Washington’s top shark attorney, Elias Sanders, slumming like a high school senior? Did you really bring a six pack of Shiner?”

Elias laughed and cross the distance between them. He slapped a hand on Cam’s shoulder. “It’s really good to see you. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the exhibit. Grayson had me chained to his side. I’ve never seen anyone more married to his work than my boss.”

Spencer Grayson had a hand in everything, and his ventures were topped only by the Amazon empire. Elias often bragged about the important work he did for Grayson.

He gave Cam plenty to tease his friend about. “Hmmm. Sounds like you found your soulmate.”

Elias popped the top of one of the beers and handed it to Cam. “Shut up. Why didn’t you bring Sophia?”

Cam scoffed. “I haven’t been dating Sophia in years.”

“Who said anything about dating? Didn’t I see somewhere she got caught by the paparazzi leaving your house recently?”

No, she’d tried to come see him, but Cam hadn’t been home so Luciana had put her out on the street. “We’re into gossip now?”

Elias tipped the beer into his mouth and then shrugged. “I just happened to open theNew York Dailywebsite and there was my college buddy’s ex-girlfriend.”

Sophia was the last thing he wanted to talk about. This day was too big, everything weighing too heavy, and the only female on his mind was a nine-year-old with a huge smile. Well, that wasn’t true, there was also her mother looming in the background like Jupiter.

“What the hell is wrong with you tonight?” Elias waved a hand in front of his face.

“Sorry. Um…I got a lot on my mind right now.”

“Like what?”

The painful bubble in his chest wouldn’t let up and he would have to share it with someone. He and Elias went way back. Cam let the words fly out of his mouth. “I have a daughter.”

Elias’ gaze dropped to the floor for a brief second and when he looked back at Cam, he burst into laughter. “A kid? You?”

“I just found out today.”

“You hate children, Cam. Even the ones that revere you and always ask for autographs. You never hit anything bareback and swore you would never have one. Remember that time I had to talk you out of a vasectomy? You were twenty-two.”

Cam winced. It was true. Up until a few hours ago, he’d still been planning the vasectomy. It wasn’t that he hated kids. He just never wanted to get trapped by some opportunistic woman trying to get an eighteen-year stipend.

You didn’t hate Bron, though. Total opposite, since the moment he’d laid eyes on her, his reaction had been adverse to the usual. He’d engaged her even before he’d known who her mother was.

“I know I said all of that, but it’s different. She’s…different. She’s smart, knows about art and baseball and…she’s Adrianna’s too.”

“What? And she just showed up out of nowhere, saying she’s your baby mama? Cam? Are you crazy? Don’t tell me you’re falling for this. This is the most common trap ever. Athlete makes it big and every gold-digging mama in the world sets on pursuit.”

Cam pressed a hand to his chest. “No, the skeptic in me would have kicked in but she didn’t know anything. Bron, that’s her name, came looking for me. Adrianna was shocked to see me. She also told me of the times she tried to contact Walter.”

“Anyway, women like that teach the kids all kinds of trick too.”

Cam’s jaw went so tight it hurt. Adrianna was not like that. Even if he hadn’t seen her in ten years, he knew that about her. “Watch your mouth.”

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