Page 107 of I Loved You First

“When you wait, you have to be patient,” Brady piped up. “Right, Dad?”

“That’s right.”

“We flew on a plane all the way to Seattle,” Brady told the woman. “I chewed gum so my ears wouldn’t pop, and I got to go pee in the plane toilet. The water was blue.”

Cam cringed as the woman laughed. “Let’s not talk about bathroom business right now.”

Brady looked at Cam. “Because it’s not polite?”

He nodded. “Exactly. Bathroom business is supposed to be private.”

The woman grinned at Brady. “You’re a cutie.”

Brady nodded. “Yeah.”

The woman chuckled.

“He struggles with confidence,” Cam said as he scratched his jaw, aware that Brady’s charm would get them through the door.

The woman beamed. “You two can take a seat right over there. I doubt Fiona will be much longer.”

Cam smiled again. “Thanks.”

Brady looked toward the posh modern couch barely big enough for both of them and the two equally small and swanky chairs. “We can sit on the couch?”

“You can,” the woman said.

Brady hurried over to plunk himself in the center cushion. “This is comfy.”

The woman chuckled again.

Cam sat next to him, hoping Brady wouldn’t fall asleep while they waited. They’d been up since the early morning to make their Boston-based flight. He hadn’t dared to stop at the hotel before they saw Fiona because it was only a matter of time before his little boy crashed and burned.

He let his leg bounce up and down as he stared out at the insane number of buildings surrounding them in the West Coast sunshine, acknowledging the nerves currently wreaking havoc in his stomach. Just because he and Brady were here didn’t mean much of anything. Mostly, he needed Fi to talk to him instead of shutting him out.

Exhaling a long breath, he glanced at his watch as a door opened down the hall. He rushed to his feet when Fiona stepped out, looking gorgeous but different in a pair of fitted black slacks, a white V-neck blouse, and a pair of black heels as she spoke to the blond man in the fancy duds whom he knew to be Leo.

“Fiona,” Brady yelled as he scrambled off the couch and ran down the hall.

Fiona whirled as her big brown eyes grew wide with unmistakable shock. “Brady,” she said, crouching down to receive his enthusiastic hug. “You’re here.” She clung to him just as tightly as he did to her.

Cam swallowed, holding her watery gaze as he moved their way, relieved that she didn’t appear unhappy to see them.

“You’re here,” she repeated.

Brady eased back, beaming as he touched Fi’s long hair. “You smell like you, and you look beautiful.”

“Aw,” she said as she grinned, making those irresistible dimples pop. “Thank you, buddy.”

“Are you surprised that we flew on a plane?”

She nodded. “I am.”

“I got to pee into the blue water in the plane toilet, but I’m not supposed to tell you that because bathroom business is private.”

Fiona huffed out a laugh as she hugged him again. “I missed you.”

Brady returned her embrace. “I missed you, too.” Then he eased back, touching Fi’s diamond earring. “I made a picture with sad faces on it when I was at day camp, so we got to come here to see you. Dad’s sad, too. Right, Dad?”