The guy he was with stopped talking and fixed his gaze to me. He was good-looking, heavily muscled. Definitely a gym rat. Another time I might have given him a second glance, but my brothers were always around, giving guys the death glare if they got too chatty with me at the gym. Today didn’t seem to be any different. Beyond that, I wasn’t interested.
Cameron seemed to notice the man’s attention on me. The corded muscles in his neck stiffened. “Let me know if you have any more questions. All right?”
The man tore his gaze from me and nodded to Cameron quickly. “Cool, thanks.”
“Sorry for interrupting,” I said. “Do you have a minute to talk?”
He hesitated a moment. “Sure. Let’s head back to the office.”
I followed him to the back where a much newer and larger office was situated. Unlike the pokey office at our other location, this one allowed desks for Cameron, Darren, and me. Prior to the ribbon-cutting, we’d moved most of our files and set this place up to be our future headquarters.
“Looks good in here,” I said.
“Thanks to you. Maya’s been helping me get things organized, but the layout and everything you set us up with is working well so far.”
I knew I could decorate a room like a boss, but I warmed at the compliment because it came from Cameron. I wanted him to be happy with the contributions I made to the business.
He leaned against the edge of his desk, powerful arms folded across his chest and legs crossed at the ankle. He wore his signature black mesh gym shorts and an athletic T-shirt with the Bridge Fitness logo on it. Unexpected pride swelled inside me again. While he cleaned up great in a suit, this is where he was supposed to be. Not at a desk job. Nothing could persuade me to think he’d chosen the wrong path for his life.
He stared down at the floor, his countenance impassive. Slowly, sadness began to permeate the pride I had for my brother. I’d come here to make amends. I could only pray he was capable of seeing past his disappointment.
“Cam, I don’t want you to be angry with me,” I said, my voice brittle and small. Already fresh emotion was welling up, tightening my throat. Damnit.
He didn’t meet my eyes. “I’m not angry,” he said, but the words were flat and lifeless.
“I can tell that you are.” I fidgeted with my bracelet, pressing the cool metal pendant between my thumb and forefinger. The little diamonds abraded my thumb, but the memento felt like a lifeline right now.
“What do you expect me to say?” He finally met my gaze and lifted the dark wing of his eyebrow.
“Darren’s already said most everything I expected either of you to say if you ever found out. But right now, I’d love it if you said that you just want me to be happy. That I have your support.”
“To date two men at once?”
I canted my head with a sigh. “To love whom I want to love.”
He exhaled through his clenched teeth. “You’re asking too much, Liv.”
“I’m not asking you to agree with my choices, but you’re my family, Cam. You can’t get rid of me. Even if you wanted me to, I’m not going anywhere. So just stop this. Give up the fight because you’re going to drive a wedge between us that doesn’t belong there. I made that mistake once. I’ll always regret coming between you and Maya. I should have had more faith in both of you. I mean, look at you now. It breaks my heart to imagine what your life would be like without Maya in it.”
I spoke quickly, my heart racing with growing anxiety that Cameron and I might never see eye to eye.
He pressed at the frown forming between his brows. “Goddamnit, Liv. You’re a real pain in the ass, you know that?”
A small smile lifted my lips. “But you love me.”
He shook his head. “Can’t quite help it, can I?”
“Come on. Lighten up. You’re about to be a daddy. Nothing’s worth ruining these precious moments. Not even my totally strange love life.”
He exhaled with a groan. “Fine. Whatever. Just don’t expect me to smile about it.”
I smiled broadly at his small attempt at acceptance and the heavy weight that had been lifted from me with it.
He stood, the tension on his body only marginally eased. It might have deterred someone else, but I didn’t have his resolve. I went to him and threw my arms around him. After a second, he returned the embrace with a sigh. Relief flooded me, washing in over the unconditional love I felt for my big brother.
“Thank you,” I said in a whisper.
He rested his chin atop my head. “Just be careful. Please, Liv.”
I nodded, and we separated. He mussed my hair, and a ghost of a smile passed over his lips.
I pushed him away with a laugh. “Stop.”
“Get out of here. We’ve got things under control.”
“Are you saying you don’t need me?” My tone was teasing, but a little part of me regretted that without an enormous design project in front of me, my usefulness had expired.
“You worked hard on this. You deserve a break. When’s the last time you took a vacation?”
“You’ve worked hard too. And nice try getting rid of me, but I’m not leaving the city until my nephew arrives.”
He widened his eyes a fraction and nodded. “Any day now. Maya’s ready. I’m not sure what ready feels like, but she assures me I’m ready too.”