“I don’t think you’re giving her enough credit. She’s come a hell of a long way since then.”
“She still jumps every time one of you comes near her.” All but one, he added to himself. And that fact burned.
“But she doesn’t flinch when you touch her. I agree that it’s a situation you gotta handle as carefully as a live IED, but man, I think you’re fucking up by not going for it.”
The door swung open, and exactly the person Cam didn’t want to see stepped inside.
Fuck. The man was as close as a brother. He shouldn’t feel that way.
“What’s happening? Any excitement tonight?”
“Not a fucking thing,” Zach replied. “Unless you count Cam having his panties in a bunch over—”
Cam’s death stare shut Zach up mid-sentence.
Travis’s gaze swung to Cam, the challenge and interest easy to read. His attention slid back to Zach. “Cam’s got his panties in a bunch a whole hell of a lot lately.”
“Don’t fucking talk about me like I’m not here.”
“Then stop being a bitch where Lia’s concerned. You haven’t made a move. Staked your claim and did nothing to follow through. You either want her or you don’t, and I’m sick of fucking waiting for you to make up your mind.”
“So you’ve decided to poach? That’s a real standup move of you, man.”
“It’s not poaching if you’re never gonna make a move.”
Anger burned hot and fast through Cam.
“She’s not the kind of woman you can just make a move on. And if you weren’t so fucking self-absorbed, you’d see that.”
Travis lifted his chin. “You got anything else you want to say to me? Because I’ve had about enough of your shit.” His fists flexed, and his stance turned defensive. “In fact, I think it’s about time we settled this once and for all. We take this shit outside, and the last man standing gets to make his move.”
Zach grinned, and Cam wanted to punch the look off his face. “This may be a whole new barbaric fucking world, but we’re not at the point where you fight for a woman.”
“Doesn’t mean she has to pick me,” Travis said. “Just means that you back off and let me take my shot.”
“She won’t—”
“I think you need to stop making judgments for Lia and let her make her own. She’s a grown woman, and she’s stronger than you think.”
The words hit Cam in the chest, and the truth of them curled around him. Apparently it was time—time to nut up or shut up. But first he had to end this bullshit with Travis. They were brothers in arms, and the wedge that was being driven between them over Lia was poisoning that brotherhood.
“Fine. But you gotta know there’s no way in fuck I’m giving her up.”
Travis’s smile was wily and knowing. “Then you better be prepared for a hell of a fight. Because there’s no way I’m losing my chance with her.”
“When?”
“Now works for me.”
“Whoa, boys. I think we need to take a step back and evaluate what the hell you’re talking about here,” Zack interrupted. “And we also need to make sure we maximize the entertainment value of what I’m sure is going to be a kick ass spectacle. So, let’s do it up tomorrow.” He nodded at Cam. “Give you a day to think about what you’ve got to lose.”
Cam shoved out of the chair and headed for the door, stopping six inches in front of Travis. “Fine, but once this is done—however it ends—you and I are burying the hatchet and getting back to normal. I’m sick of this shit.”
Travis nodded. “I’d expect nothing less. No sore losers.”
Cam held his hand out, and Travis grasped his arm and thumped him on the back. “We’ll be good, brother. No matter what.”
In the mess hall, Ro was glowing, and Lia once again inwardly sighed with envy. She’d always wanted her own kids, but it seemed like that was never going to happen.
Ro started to stand, but Zach laid a hand on her shoulder and kept her in her seat. “I got your plate, babe. You stay. You want blueberry pie? Allison’s getting low on filling, so if you want it … now’s the time.”
Her smile was brilliant. “Do you even need to ask?”
Zach dropped a kiss on her lips and grabbed her plate. Then he turned to Lia. “You want some, too?”
Lia fought the urge to drop her eyes from Zach’s. Today was a new day, and today she was reclaiming a piece of herself that she’d lost when she’d been dragged off to hell.
Instead of giving him a jerky nod or shake of her head, she stared him straight in the eye. “I’d love a piece, thank you.”
Zach’s eyebrows rose, and a smile curved his mouth. “You got it.”
When he turned to head for the kitchen, Ro’s attention landed on Lia.
“So … you know why there’s no one here for dinner, right?”
Lia had noticed the mess hall was strangely empty. Only Allison and her daughter were there along with Zach and Ro. “Are the guys having a meeting or something?”
Ro’s eyes lit with something that Lia couldn’t quite identify.
“Not exactly…”