Page 41 of Sweet Oblivion

“We missed you at the recording sessions for the rest of the album,” he noted. “You’ll have to give me your opinion now, though I could have used it then.”

“I was hanging out with Aya,” I said with a shrug.

Cam’s gaze slid over my shoulder. His smile turned gentle. “And you’re Aya?”

She squeaked a little as she stepped forward. “Yes, sir.”

Cam chuckled. “None of that sir business, now. I decommissioned a while back and plan to keep it that way.” He winked as he offered his hand.

She took it, and I felt that same weird, intense feeling bubble up in my belly. I didn’t like Cam looking at Aya. I didn’t like him holding her hand… What the hell was wrong with me?

My world seemed to spin off axis a little as Steve’s words from the other day looped through my head, knocking out the melody. “You’re young, so you don’t see the dangers ahead. Just as you can’t see how much you mean to each other—how much you need each other.”

I did need Aya. Besides Cam and Steve, she was the only true person in my life. The one constant I could count on, who’d be there for me. Why was that bad?

Cam let go of Aya’s hand, which eased some of the tension in my chest, but they were now discussing horses.

“Your sister might like the Jumli,” Aya said. “It’s the most prevalent horse in Nepal. It’s a bit small, though, and used for work—not unlike barrel racing, if your sister does that.”

Cam shook his head. “Nah. Katie Rose likes to ride fast, but she never loved the routes. I heard about another breed… Marwari, is it?”

Aya nodded. “Oh, yes, but they’re actually from India.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and frowned. “Sorry, that’s rather a technicality. Those horses are beautiful and fast.”

Cam leaned in a little. “Tell me everything you know. I gotta make sure I have the intel to pass along to my mama and sister.”

Aya smiled up at him—her shy one that blossomed slowly. Cam seemed as charmed as most of the boys at school. My hands fisted. Dammit. Bringing Aya along had been a bad idea. First Beanie was mean, and now…now Cam seemed to like her.

I gritted my teeth, unsure what to do with the emotions tumbling through my middle like I’d hit class-five rapids without warning.

Then Chuck asked Aya a question. She became more animated, using her hands as she spoke, and he leaned in, too.

Good, she wasn’t star-struck. So maybe she wouldn’t crush on Cam like so many of the girls at Holyoke did. According to them, Cam was gorgeous and talented, and they always hoped the young, single singer would look their way.

I settled back against the wall, watching Aya interact with the world’s biggest country star. Part of me was proud of her easy connection with Camden Grace, especially since the man intimidated me. But another part felt left out.

Steve took up position next to me. “Chuck doesn’t talk to anyone.”

I glanced over, eyebrow raised. “Evidently he talks to Aya. Why did you say we can’t see the trouble coming?”

Steve rubbed his hand over his neck, seeming uncomfortable. “I was in love once,” he said.

“All right…” Not what I expected, but I guessed he’d get somewhere interesting soon.

“She was older. Incredibly beautiful. Charming, playful.” He smiled, but it was sad.

My brows pinched. “What happened?”

“She had other priorities, and I still had a few years left in the Army.” His eyes turned distant. “Didn’t matter how much I wanted to be part of her world, how willing I was to rearrange my life to suit hers.”

“Is she a model?” I asked. “From what I’ve seen, they’re the most selfish.”

“You thinking about your mom?” Steve asked.

I shrugged.

“Look, my point was, I met her when I was nineteen—too young to have a good sense of how I was messing up my life by trying to be what she wanted. I got…caught up in the romance, in the highs of spending time with her.” He hesitated. “Is that how you feel about Aya?”

I placed my heel against the wall and stared at Aya, considering. “Not really. I met her for the first time when we were five. She was in trouble in the water.”

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