“I know you’re both worried…” My voice stays neutral despite the anxiety growing by the second.
“Only because we love you and don’t want to see you suffer because of Cal. Again,” Violet adds.
I shake off the nerves. “This time is different.” With him cutting back on drinking and his commitment to trying to secure a place in my life, it would be stupid to ignore his efforts, even if we still have a long way to go.
“How? You don’t even trust him,” Violet says with a soft voice.
“Violet…” Delilah warns.
I cross my arms. “I trust him enough to live with him.”
“But you don’t trust him enough to take care of Cami on his own,” Violet counters.
“Trust takes time.” Delilah gives my hand a squeeze.
My head hangs. Deep down, I know Violet and Delilah are right. Cal and I can play house for as long as we want, but that won’t change the fact that I still don’t fully trust him.
Trust takes time. Delilah’s words replay in my head.
I hope so.
I return from girls’ night to find Wyatt and Cal caught in a death stare match. They both sit on opposite sides of the living room, the tension bleeding from both of their hiked shoulders.
“Glad you’re back. Can you call off your guard dog now?” Cal doesn’t look in my direction.
Wyatt’s muscles strain beneath his T-shirt. “I’m a babysitter, not a guard dog.”
Cal’s eyes narrow. “You wouldn’t even let me read Cami a bedtime story.”
“Because I’m the one who usually does it when I watch her.” Wyatt pokes his chest.
“Well, she didn’t ask you, did she?”
Wyatt’s jaw ticks.
Good God. Watching the two of them get jealous over who Cami wants to read a bedtime story with is too much, even for me.
My ovaries, on the other hand, are living their best life.
“Thanks for watching Cami. I appreciate it.” I pat Wyatt on the back.
Merlin comes out from under the couch to rub his body against my leg. I reach down and run my hand across his silky coat. It only took Merlin a week to warm up to Cami and me, thanks to the fancy cans of tuna I bought him.
“Hey there,” I coo.
“You have a cat?” Wyatt’s head swings in Cal’s direction.
“Yup.”
I carry the cat into my arms and wave his paw in the air. “Say hi to Merlin.”
And you were worried about Cami getting attached…
Wyatt’s eyes right. “Merlin? Wasn’t he King Arthur’s mentor or something?”
“Yup.” Cal’s jaw clenches.
“That’s cute, Percival. Who knew you had a King Arthur kink?”
“I called him that because the name reminded me of my mom, asshole.”
Wyatt’s smile falls. “Sorry.”
Cal doesn’t bother sticking around. The door to his bedroom clicks shut behind him, leaving me to deal with Wyatt.
“What’s gotten into him?” I ask.
Wyatt shrugs. “I’m not sure. He‘s been pissed since the moment I showed up.”
Cal was in a good mood when I left, so I’m not sure what happened within the few seconds it took Wyatt to walk inside the house.
I give him a shove. “Could you at least try to be civil with him?”
“I am trying, even if it doesn’t seem like it. Most of the town is trying, after seeing him make a damn fool of himself in that strawberry costume.”
“Then why did he look like you kicked his cat?”
“Probably because he feels threatened by my relationship with Cami or something.”
“Threatened? Why?”
“Most likely because the rich prick didn’t have to share a single thing his whole life.”
I roll my eyes. “You are both ridiculous.”
“Me? The guy made it a point to ice me out the whole time. When I tried to play with them at Cami’s request, Cal killed my Barbie before I ever had a chance to join.”
My mouth drops open. “How?”
“My doll didn’t listen to my mom and got in a stranger’s car.”
“At least he made it an educational experience.” I cover my mouth to muffle my chuckle.
Wyatt glares, and I end up laughing harder.
“Don’t call me next time you need someone to babysit.”
I wrap my arms around him. “I love you!”
He returns the gesture. “Whatever. Next time I’ll be smarter and send his Barbie to jail. Maybe incorporate something about breaking laws.”
I laugh and pull away. “You do that.”
Wyatt sees himself out, leaving me to pick up the toys left out after Cami went to bed.
“He’s gone?” Cal’s voice has me jumping in place.
I turn to face him. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. I was wondering how long it would take him to leave. I’ve been at it all night with no success.”
“He wasn’t going to leave until I got home.”
“Seriously? Why? I could have taken care of Cami if you had asked me.”
He sounds…hurt?
No. That can’t be.
Can it?
I tuck the bin of toys back in its shelf. “I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you ask me?” He steps closer until I can smell his aftershave.
Something in my chest tugs hard.
“Lana.”
I look away from his face. “The guy I was with before…”
Cal takes a deep breath as he tucks his hands into his pockets.
“I asked him a few times to watch Cami while I went out with Violet and Delilah. Wyatt didn’t mind taking care of Cami, but I thought it would be a good bonding opportunity for Victor and her, so I let him.” I release a laugh that borders on hysterical.
Cal abandons his spot and swoops me into his arms.
“I really want a full name for this asshole.”
I clutch the fabric of his shirt, holding on to him like a lifeline. “It’s not like anything physically happened to her, but she would ask him a few too many questions and he would lose his cool. Ended up yelling at her and making her cry multiple times. Even sent her to her room once, like he had any right to punish her.”
“I know you don’t condone physical violence, but for him, I hope you made an exception.”
I shake my head against his chest. “I didn’t find out what happened until a few months later, once we broke up over something else. Cami kept it a secret the whole time because she was worried I would choose Victor over her. How freaking sad is it that my kid couldn’t tell me someone hurt her because she didn’t want to lose me? Like I would ever choose a man over her.” Tears begin to fall, soaking the material of his shirt.
He runs a hand up and down my back, soothing me through my sobs. I didn’t mean to cry, but the tears won’t stop flowing now that they have started.
“I’m sorry you and Cami had to go through that together. But I can assure you, I wouldn’t dare raise my voice at your kid. That’s the last thing I would want after going through something similar myself.”
I sniffle, trying to fight back the tears. “I know that—deep down I know you wouldn’t—but I made myself a promise after I learned about what Victor did.”
“What promise?”