Page 61 of Flawless

I called her and she picked up on the first ring. Before I could get a word in, she said, “I’m so sorry for telling Cam about the baby. I know I promised I wouldn’t, but I didn’t want you to feel scared and alone. And I knew you were stressing about what he’d think. But I know my brother and there was no doubt in my mind he’d be happy about this. And⁠—”

“Honey, take a breath. It’s okay. I’m actually glad you told him. Knowing that he knows actually puts my mind at ease. It’s one less thing to worry about. And you’re right. He was great about it.”

“I’m so glad,” she whispered. “I mean, I knew he would be. But I’m glad you’re relieved that he knows.”

She was cute when she was nervous. “I get why you told him, Auntie Eden. He’s your brother. You didn’t want to risk your relationship with him. Keeping a secret like that was a pretty huge ask and I’m sorry I put you in that position.”

She squealed. “I’m so excited to be an auntie. Ohmigosh, I can’t even imagine how Cam feels! He’s wanted this forever. So, you guys had a good talk?”

“Yeah, we did.”

I was surprised how calm and reasonable he’d been. A lot of guys would have gone on a tangent when they found out their ex was pregnant with a baby they didn’t plan and had kept him in the dark. But Cam took it all in stride, never making me feel guilty.

Maybe Easton was right about him.

“We’re meeting for lunch later.” And I may be counting down the hours. No doubt, he still had my heart, but trust didn’t come easily for me, and his faithlessness still dug deep.

“Ohhh, does that mean⁠—”

“It doesn’t mean we’re getting back together.” Though I couldn’t deny it had been hard to watch him leave last night. I wrestled with the urge to invite him back into my bed, forget about our break-up, and celebrate the fact he was going to be my baby-daddy.

“Oh.”

Eden sounded so dejected I had to laugh. “But we are going to spend time together, figure out how to do this co-parenting thing, and I’m not going to lie… I’m still kind of obsessed with him. So, would I be mad at myself if we gave into temptation? Probably not.”

She laughed. “You know you still want him, Ry. Why fight it? Especially now.”

I’d been asking myself that same question since he left. “Trust is huge for me. The fact that Cam hadn’t been able to trust me hurt. A lot.”

“He reacted without thinking. Only because of what that Kelly-bitch did to him. It wasn’t even about you. It was about his unresolved trust issues.”

I chuckled. “Thanks for your professional opinion, Doc.”

She laughed. “I’m definitely not a professional, but I’ve known my brother all my life. And he wasn’t like that before. He had an open heart and gave people the benefit of the doubt, which wasn’t always easy or smart, in his line of work.”

“I hate that she ruined him for me.”

Yes, I was being a little selfish. I wish I’d met the Cam who’d never had his heart broken. But that would be like him wishing to meet the version of me who’d never been wounded as a little girl. Impossible.

“I hate that she did too,” Eden admitted. “You’re exactly what I’ve always wanted for him. Someone fun and spontaneous and a little crazy to offset his serious, responsible, disciplined nature. I get why he is that way, but—” My phone beeped and I saw an incoming call from Cam. “That’s your brother calling me. We’re going to make plans for lunch.”

“Go, go. Give him my love. And let me know how it goes.”

“Will do.”

I took a deep breath before accepting the call.

Trying to sound casual, though my heart was racing like a pre-teen getting a call from a boy she was crushing on, I said, “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.”

His deep, rich voice gave me chill bumps. “Sleep well?”

He chuckled. “You’re kidding, right? My mind was racing, thinking about… becoming a dad. Ry, my mind is blown. In the best possible way.”

He would be easier to resist if he didn’t say things that made me all gushy. Damn him.

“It is pretty exciting, isn’t it?”