14. Chapter 14 #2
He exhaled as he slipped my shirt up just enough to expose my stomach. Before I got pregnant, my stomach was so flat that you could see the bottom of my ribs. But, obviously, that wasn’t the case anymore. I knew why I had to look this way for now, but that didn’t help me feel any better in my skin.
Cameron ran a finger down one of the many red stretch marks that just kept appearing out of nowhere.
“I like these,” he mumbled. “Not in the same way Luce does. It’s a sex thing to him… I just think they’re a good reminder that our baby girl is growin’, and you’re doing a good job helpin’ her do that.”
His breath warmed my skin as he continued his exploration. I wasn’t entirely fond of the red lines that marred my skin, but Cameron’s description made me feel a little better.
“For years… this was all I wanted.” His admission caused my heart to stop beating in the best way.
I’m pretty sure Cameron realized he didn’t give me nearly enough information because, after a beat of silence, he continued.
“From the time I was old enough to understand the concept of having kids, I wanted some. I wanted two boys and two girls and a pretty wife who loved all of us unconditionally. And I’ve seen how you love the twins, and even if you don’t say it, I feel how you love everyone in this house…
not to say that I think of you as my wife. ”
I should have probably taken offense to that, but I didn’t think of Cameron as husband material, either. Something like that took time, and honestly, the only one who I thought of like that now was Lucian. But I didn’t think he felt the same way.
“God, that’s the start of just how great you are, Mason. And I’m not good enough for you, and I never will be.” Tears caused Cameron’s voice to crack, and alarm bells rang in my mind.
My lips parted, but no words came. Should I text someone? Or would Lucian and Sophia be home soon enough to fix this?
“And even with me knowin’ that, all I want is to keep you beside me.” He choked on the next part of his sentence. “I’m such a shitty person, and you don’t even know half of it.”
Tears collected in his eyes as they bore into mine. His chest shuttered, and under normal circumstances, what he said next would have been grounds for me to leave and call the cops.
“You don’t even know my real name, and here I am, expecting you to love me.”
His anguish was palpable, causing my heart to ache. Fortunately for him, I knew more than he thought.
I reached up and let my fingers blindly explore the comforter. Eventually, I felt the wrapping paper. I carefully pulled the box closer. It was heavier than I remembered, so instead of gently picking it up, I knocked it directly onto Cameron’s stomach.
The tears in his eyes dried as he sat up just enough to look at the box.
Confusion colored his strong features as he looked back at me. After a moment, he wiped his eyes and sat up.
“Can it wait?” He pleaded. “I ain’t in the right place to enjoy what you got me. ”
I knew by how he didn’t linger on the bombshell he dropped he wouldn’t remember any of this in the morning. And it was probably better that way. I shook my head with a smile. It was for the best that he opened it now.
His shoulders sunk in defeat. I’d never seen someone dread a present as much as Cameron.
I planted my hand on his shoulder. His warmth seeped through his shirt and into my palm.
Hesitantly, he removed the pink and red paper just enough to see what was inside.
It was a model tractor kit that I’d found in a hobby shop. Sophia told me that it probably wasn’t a good gift, but with everything going on, I knew it’d give me more answers than Sebastian ever would without me needing to make Cam uncomfortable.
The article I found said Calvin Waters had restored a 1940 Ford 8n. There were no pictures of the actual tractor or Calvin, but I remembered the name.
As his hands started to shake, Cameron looked like he had forgotten how to breathe. He slid off what remained of the paper and lifted the box higher, staring at it in disbelief as he swallowed.
After what felt like forever, he lowered the box to his lap and looked at me.
“Mason, what do you know?” His voice shook with an emotion I couldn’t place.
I gave him a soft smile as I thought about the best way to tell him everything with as few words as possible.
I put one finger on his chest, and his pulse vibrated into my skin.
“Calvin.” My voice was even but soft.
The tractor remained in Cameron’s lap as he covered his mouth and heaved out a breath. I’d heard him tell Seb not to call him that last night, and that’s what fully confirmed my suspicion… even if part of me thought I dreamed it.
“I—Mason, I need you to know. I’d never ever in a million years hurt you.” He stopped to run a shaky hand through his hair. “I don’t know what Seb’s told you. But, if you’re scared or worried—you can leave, and I won’t let anything— ”
I placed a hand on his cheek before pressing my lips to his, mostly to tell him to shut up. Maybe it was me being stupid or the fact that I genuinely knew nothing about the case that didn’t involve Calvin. But I had complete faith that Cameron would protect me at all costs.
At first, Cam was stiff. But after a moment, he relaxed and kissed me back—but they weren’t his usual kisses.
They were longing, desperate even. Like they were his first kisses in years although I knew what wasn’t the case.
“I love you, please don’t go,” he mumbled into my lips.
That was funny, considering he just told me I could leave. Again, I chalked that up to him being drunk.
I wanted to tell him that leaving was never an option for me. But, before I could even prepare the words, a knock came at the door.
Once again, Cameron stiffened. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. I expected him to collect himself and answer the door. But that wasn’t the case.
“Go away. We’re busy.” Cameron called.
There was a moment of silence, and that’s when I remembered the shadows I’d seen outside. Realistically, it was probably Lucian or Sophia knocking to tell us they were home. Even so, I wondered who was actually at our door.