Page 28 of I Loved You First

He jogged to catch up, falling into step beside her. “It’s getting late. It’s not safe to be out by yourself.”

She huffed out a small laugh. “It’s barely nine, and I live in Seattle. I’ve been out by myself far later than this in an actual city.”

“Okay. Then I’ll walk with you.”

“I really am good.”

Her walls were up—the cool politeness she dished out when Brady wasn’t around to help thaw her out. “I’m pretty much not taking no for an answer.”

“Suit yourself,” she said, turning left instead of right.

He frowned. “You’re heading in the wrong direction.”

“Not when I was planning to head to the park.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Oh.”

A few minutes later, they walked through the stone entrance, moving down the cement path to the playground equipment they had stood next to a few days ago. “This is one of Brady’s favorite places.”

“He has good taste.” She headed to one of the swings, sitting down as the fireflies danced and the crickets sang. “Where is he tonight?”

Cam sat opposite her in the next swing over so they faced each other. “He’s having a sleepover with Grammy and Grampy. They’re really good about trying to give me breaks.”

She started to kick her long legs, making the swing pick up speed. “He’s really sweet, Cam. I’m more than a little in love with your son.”

He breathed in her shampoo and perfume as she swung higher. “I think the feeling’s mutual. The fact that he hasn’t replaced you as his best friend for two days running is a big deal.”

She chuckled before she closed her eyes, leaning back in the swing. “I haven’t done this since the last time I was here.”

“It’s nice seeing you around town again. It’s been a long time.”

She slowed her pace as their eyes locked. “I never planned to come back.”

He nodded. “That’s my fault.”

She stopped now, still holding the chains as their gazes held.

“I never got a chance to explain—to tell you how sorry I am for the way things turned out.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Yes, it does. I tried to call you so many times—to text you⁠—”

“I blocked you. Eventually, I changed my number altogether.”

He huffed out a humorless laugh at her frankness. “Yeah, I figured that out.”

“I had to, Cam. You were such a huge part of my life for such a long time. I needed to put that away. I needed to pick up the pieces and make something new for myself.”

He swallowed, hating that she’d moved on—that she’d gotten over him. “I’ve never forgotten the way you looked at me, Fi. That day when you came home… I hurt your heart, and I’ll never be okay with that.”

Tears pooled in her eyes as she stood. “It’s in the past. It all worked out how it was meant to.”

He watched as she walked away. “You were supposed to have said no.”

She stopped, wiping at her cheeks as she turned to look at him. “What?”

“When we were arguing on the phone that day. I said maybe we should take a break. When you agreed with me, it destroyed me.”