AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Pausing the video, I hand the cell back to Cam, emotions swirling through me.
Cool relief, but also anger. At Jamie, for being a conniving bitch.
But also at Cam.
“Maybe this didn’t happen in Fort Lauderdale?—”
“It didn’t, Sloane. I’d never do that to you.”
“But you still lied to me, Cam. You told me you got cut for your attitude, for not making plays. You failed to mention a sex video.”
His face crumples, shoulders slumping, and I feel terrible. But not terrible enough to stop going.
“I thought you trusted me, Cam. I thought we were a team. Why didn’t you tell me?” My voice breaks and I kick at the gravel on the ground, my throat thick.
“I was ashamed.” His voice is a whisper, so quiet I barely catch it over the breeze. “I fucked up.”
“Cam—” I fumble for the right words, unsure what to say. “I love you. But you betrayed me. I gave you my whole heart, my body. My trust and my confidence. And now I’m not sure I even know you. Was everything between us a lie?”
Cam grabs for my hands and I let him take them, enfolding my fingers in his large, calloused palms.
“No. Of course not. Everything I said—everything between us—was real. Is real.”
The correction gives me pause and I pull away, scrunching my eyes shut tight. After a long minute, I finally face him.
“I’m sorry, I really am. I still love you, but I can’t do this. I can’t take the risk.”
I shove away from the picnic table and dash to my car before I give into the sadness wrapping around and engulfing me.
The last thing I want is Cam to see me cry.
CHAPTER 42
CAM
The wine picnic was a fail.
Telling Sloane the truth was a fail.
You failed.
And now I have to live with the consequences of my actions. Take the knocks and start getting comfortable with the fact that I’m going down to Florida alone.
Back at the house, I lurch up the stairs, my legs heavier than two lead posts and about as useful. The sun’s sinking down into the lake, but the bright streaks of orange and pink do nothing to boost my mood.
Walking into the closet, I open the top dresser drawer and pull out the black velvet box I squirreled away underneath the neat stack of boxers and T-shirts. I cradle the square box in my palm, sink down onto the edge of the bed and pop the lid.
All four carats of the princess-cut diamond twinkle up at me and my chest squeezes. So hard and tight I can’t breathe.
My sister’s intel was right.
I was going to ask Sloane to marry me, to be my wife.
She’s my everything and I wanted to be with her forever.
And now I’ve lost her.
For good this time.
