Page 42 of The Summer I Loved

Cam struggled to keep his smile in place. Adrianna's mother was not smiling.

"Yes, it has. About that, um, I don't know if Adrianna told you. I was not aware—"

"I know," Victoria interrupted, "Nonetheless, we have a conversation pending. That is, when you are not taking care of my granddaughter while nursing a hangover."

Nausea rose in waves until Cam was ready to vomit right then and there. Her voice dripped with disapproval. Only he could have managed to piss off both the mother and daughter at the same time. The last thing he needed was for Victoria to call when Adri was pissed off at him.

He opened his mouth but before he could speak, his angel daughter saved the day.

"I'm hungry. Let's go eat something," Bronwyn said with a smile, flipping the screen back toward her, "Can we call you back,abuela?"

"Of course, you can,Mi Niña." Victoria’s voice did a radical switch, becoming infused with warmth. Her love for Bronwyn was evident in every word. "I'm going to run back to work and we'll talk this afternoon during my coffee break. I love you."

"Love you too." Bronwyn leaned forward and kissed the screen.

Cam smiled and rubbed his temples.

"You don't feel so good, do you?" Bronwyn said coming closer. When he nodded, she smiled and put her arms around him.

Cam picked her up and she took his face in her hands. "Your head hurts?"

Cam nodded again. She kissed each of his temples and then both cheeks, making him smile. His heart ached, thinking of how he just met her and how lost he would be without her now. She was so sweet, so loving. Just like her mother when she wasn't angry, scowling, or giving him the cold shoulder. "That feels a lot better."

"When Mom comes home, I'll get her to do it too. She's the best at kissing boo boos."

Cam cleared his throat and put her down on the floor. "How about you go shower and change and I'll order us some breakfast?"

"Okay," she answered.

"Do you need my help with anything?" he offered.

"Nope. I can do it myself."

She began to walk away when Chase appeared at the door. "Hurry back, Bron. I have head boo boos that need kissing."

Bronwyn giggled. "You're so funny, Uncle."

"Even she knows you're beyond help," Cam said dryly.

"You're ugly," Chase retorted before adding, "And by the way, I think it would be a bad idea to ask Adrianna to kiss any part of you. She may take a chunk off."

"Shut up, Chase," Cam said reaching for his phone. He dialed and ordered the food.

"What are you going to do about Adrianna? Because your plan from last night is not good at all. She would probably break a heel in your face," Chase asked.

Cam frowned. "What was my plan? I can't remember. Damn you for bringing out that third bottle."

Cam went to sit on the couch. Chase sat down in the opposite chair.

"You asked for that third bottle, brother," Chase half-growled. "Last night, you planned to seduce Adrianna into forgiving you. Only a fool would bare his naughty bits around a woman that angry."

"Chase…For God's sake…" Cam ran his fingers through his hair. "I just had to talk to Adri’s mother and she already knows I'm hung over."

"Fuuuuck! That woman scares the bejesus out of me to this day. I hear her name in my nightmares. She once caught me with my face near Lauren’s secret garden." Chase shuddered.

"What?" Cam sputtered. “You got close to Lauren’s…”

Chase shrugged. "You're welcome! We let ourselves get caught so you and Adrianna wouldn't."

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