Chapter 27
Sophia
S ophia headed out of the grocery store with one bag in hand and nearly collided with Sam. She gasped and stumbled back a step. He was quick, grasping her wrist before she knocked into someone else.
A wry smile played on his lips. The bruising on his face from his brother was still present, but it was fading into that brownish-green color.
She grimaced, reaching up as if she were going to touch the injuries, but then thought better of herself.
Samuel released her hand and shoved both of his into his pockets. “I was hoping I’d bump into you today,” he said.
She glanced around warily. Cameron must have done a number on her if she was concerned he’d be coming out of the woodwork to do more damage. When she didn’t immediately sense any impending danger, she brought her eyes back to Sam. “You could have called.”
He lifted a shoulder. “And would you have answered?”
Biting back a chagrined smile, she shook her head. “Probably not.”
“And seeing as he’s working for your brother… I thought it best not to just show up at your property.”
Heat filled her face. Sam didn’t have to say Cameron’s name for her to know who he was talking about. Cameron was the topic of most of her conversations lately despite how much she wanted to avoid them.
She cleared her throat and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I’m really sorry… about what happened. I should have told you I was seeing him.”
“I didn’t exactly give you a chance to get a word in about it.”
“But I could have said I was dating. I don’t know what I was thinking, not telling you.”
Sam chuckled. If he was upset with her, he wasn’t showing it. “It’s my fault, too.”
She scoffed. “How is getting beaten up your fault? Your brother should have known better. He should have?—”
He placed a warm, firm hand on her forearm. “I don’t know if he told you anything about our past, but I wasn’t exactly the best big brother to him.”
Sophia attempted to hide that she knew exactly what he was talking about. The truth was, she only knew one side of the story, and while she sympathized with Cameron, those sympathies were waning when she saw the way Cameron went after his brother.
Sam chuckled again, but this time it sounded strained—embarrassed, even.
“Cam fell hard and fast for this girl in high school. I swear, my brother thought the moon rose and fell on Kristy. I could tell that she wasn’t completely into him.
It was obvious that she would have willingly gone off to the next guy if the opportunity presented itself.
I told Cameron as much, but he got upset. ”
Sophia’s brows rose. This wasn’t part of the story she knew.
Blowing out a breath, Samuel continued. “So, I decided to save him the heartache and intervene. I flirted with her one time. One time, Sophia. And that was all it took for her to kiss me. I don’t know if it was the fact that I was older.
Or that I was her boyfriend’s brother. Whatever the reason, she threw herself at me and Cameron found out.
Rumors got out of control, and Cameron believed them all.
They said I was the aggressor in that relationship.
” Sam’s eyes were almost pleading as he lowered his voice.
“He was heartbroken, and I knew if I corrected the rumors and told him the truth, it would destroy him. I didn’t think he’d overcome the betrayal, and I didn’t want him to become jaded in the relationship department. ”
She stared at him blankly. So much pain had been locked between them and all because Sam had wanted to protect Cameron from a girl who didn’t deserve him.
He shrugged again. “I probably should have just told him. Clearly, trying to shelter him was just as bad as the other outcome could have been. Eventually, he forgave me—on the surface, at least. But the damage had been done.”
Her head was reeling. “Why can’t you tell him now?”
“I doubt he’d listen. Especially after what happened between the two of us.” He gave her a sad smile. “I’m so sorry, Sophia.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” she insisted.
“What happened between Cameron and me is… for the best.” At least she hoped so.
She was starting to question herself more and more the longer they were apart.
Samuel didn’t know her as well as some, and it was likely even he could hear that she didn’t believe what she was saying.
“For the record, I think you should come clean to Cameron. He has spent this whole time believing you were the bad guy.”
“But I was.”
She gave him a pointed look—one she hoped conveyed just how much she didn’t believe that. Had he gone about it the wrong way? Sure. But he hadn’t been trying to hurt his brother. He’d been trying to help.
Samuel only shrugged. “I don’t know that talking to him would do much good. And after what happened? I’m already worried about seeing him today.”
Her brows shot upward. “You’re seeing him today?”
The nervous look he gave her made her stomach twist in knots. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen Cameron recently. She didn’t know why his statement put her on edge. Cameron had caught Sam off guard when he’d started throwing punches. This time, he wouldn’t be so lucky. “Do you know why?”
It was none of her business, of course. Sam didn’t have to tell her anything. She held her breath as she waited for him to respond, then exhaled when he did.
He rubbed the back of his neck—a nervous habit he’d had when they’d spent time together a couple years ago.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I had no plans for coming back to Copper Creek any time soon—especially since Cameron is staying here for the next little while.
” He blew out a breath and chuckled. “Cameron asked me to come, and I guess my morbid curiosity got the better of me. Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment or something. ”
That brought a smile to Sophia’s face even though it probably shouldn’t have. She could relate to that. After everything that Cameron did that rubbed her the wrong way, Sophia was still drawn to him.
Sam offered her another smile. “Anyway, I’m gonna head out. Don’t want to be late to that coffee, right?”
She nodded. Samuel looked like he was about to lean in for a hug, but then he held himself back.
It wasn’t hard to figure out what he was thinking in that moment.
The last time they’d touched, he’d been knocked to the ground.
It was fine. A hug now would have been more than awkward. “See you around, Sam.”
“Yeah, see ya around.”
Sophia watched him as he moved past her and headed across the street to the coffee shop. Her curiosity got the better of her, and as much as she knew she shouldn’t, she followed after him.
She slipped into the building, first taking stock to find that Cameron wasn’t present.
Sam was already in a booth, staring at his phone.
Without thinking about it too long, Sophia moved in that direction.
She ducked down into the seat of a booth behind him.
Based on the height of the booth chairs, no one would know she was there unless they moved to the bathroom at the back of the shop.
Thankfully, Sam was distracted enough that he hadn’t even seen Sophia move past him.
Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she waited for Cameron to arrive. When she heard the sound of his voice, she went stock-still. Though he spoke quietly, she could hear everything he said.
“Thanks for meeting with me.”
“What can I say? I was curious.”
A chuckle. Then strained silence.
“So, what is it? You want to tell me I’m the cause of all your problems? Blame me for the mess you found yourself in?” Samuel shifted in his seat, and the leather beneath him creaked with the movement.
Sophia waited with bated breath. She closed her eyes, expecting Cameron to do just that. But then he shocked her.
“I’m sorry.”
She squirmed in her seat, turning her head so she could hear him better.
Cameron sighed. “I was wrong. I let my temper get the better of me. I overreacted and I… Let’s just say there’s room for improvement.”
Sam let out a low whistle. “I can’t say I expected that .”
“Yeah, well… I’m trying to be… better.”
“For her?”
There was more silence, and then Cameron sighed.
Sophia could imagine him running a hand through his mussed hair or dragging it down his face.
Then Cameron said, “No. Not for her. I mean, sure—if she’d take me back, I want to be someone she deserves.
But right now? I’m just trying to fix my mistakes. For me.”
Sophia’s heart practically trembled in her chest. She closed her eyes and didn’t realize the tears were falling until one dropped from her chin and landed on her hand. There was no way he knew she was seated here, but that could change at any given moment.
She didn’t want to be caught. Suddenly, listening to their conversation felt like an invasion of privacy. So, she scrunched down as low onto the bench as she could and prayed that he wouldn’t need to use the restroom before she could slip out unnoticed.
Thankfully, in less than ten minutes, it happened. The brothers left on better terms than they’d arrived. Samuel didn’t tell Cameron what he’d confessed to Sophia, and he might never do so. But Sophia couldn’t think about that right now.
Her thoughts were consumed with the fact that Cameron had taken a step in the right direction without being told to do so.
“You’ve been quiet.”
Sophia glanced up at Emma. “Have I?”
She laughed. “We’ve literally gone into three stores, and you haven’t said a single thing. What’s going on? Is Cameron still hassling you?”
“The contrary, actually.” Sophia had paid more attention to him lately.
She’d begun to notice little changes he’d been making in his behavior.
They’d bump into each other at the country club when she’d been around town, and he was simply…
different. He gave her space even when other guys were obviously hitting on her. He didn’t even seem angry anymore.
It wasn’t that he didn’t care. She could still see the look of desire in his eyes. That smoldering look said it all. His feelings for her hadn’t changed. But Cameron had.
Sophia swallowed and offered her friend a smile. “Sorry.”
Emma opened her mouth to say something as they continued on their way down the street but immediately snapped it shut as her eyes landed on something over Sophia’s shoulder. Sophia glanced in that direction and gasped.
Cameron smiled at her. It had been nearly a month since his apology to his brother, and he was looking good.
More than good, he looked like he was glowing—as much as a guy could.
Wow! Her brain wasn’t willing to work for her when this mouth-watering specimen looked at her like that.
“Sophia,” Cameron said, his voice slipping past her defenses and making her legs turn into mush.
“Hey,” she rasped, then cleared her throat. “How are you doing?”
“I’m gonna get us some muffins at the bakery. I’ll be right back,” Emma said.
Before Sophia could demand that her friend stay by her side, Emma had disappeared. Sophia looked after her like she was doomed before lifting her gaze to Cameron.
That smile made her want to do things—say things—she had no business participating in.
She chewed on the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from putting her foot in her mouth, but apparently her head didn’t get the memo.
“You look good,” she blurted. It was silly.
She’d seen him around at the ranch even though she’d managed to avoid him more often than not.
“Thanks. You don’t look half bad yourself.”
She flushed with embarrassment. This had to be the most awkward conversation ever. There was so much she could say to him right now. The temptation to tell him she wanted to start over nearly burst from her when he completely shattered her reality.
He shifted, running a hand through his hair. “I started seeing someone.”
Her stomach dropped. “You have?” Her voice was just above a whisper, and she hated how the jealousy in her chest jarred her reality.
“Yeah, he’s pretty great. He works with some of the veterans over at the country club. Holds a group meeting for people with anger issues, too.”
Her heartache immediately shifted to understanding, and she bit back a surprised laugh. “You’re seeing a therapist?”
Cameron nodded, embarrassment written all over his face. “It’s been good, though. You were right.”
“I’m so happy for you!” Sophia stepped forward. “That’s amazing.” Cameron was really doing it. It took every ounce of her self-control not to tell him what had been on her mind. She couldn’t exactly ask him out when he’d just admitted to seeing a therapist. How would that go over?
Not well.
It’d look like Sophia only wanted him back because he was doing what she’d recommended. He might not even be interested in taking her back anymore. He’d changed.
She blinked away the tears that stung behind her eyes. Sophia would have to let him go. It was the right thing to do. Swallowing back the disappointment, she forced a smile. “I’m so proud of you.”
He hovered there. For a moment she thought he might say something more, but he didn’t.
“Sophia! Ready?”
They both looked over to where Emma was holding up a brown paper sack from the bakery.
“I should probably…” Sophia murmured.
Cameron nodded. “I’ll see you around. At work.”
“Right,” Sophia agreed. “At work.” She smiled and then pushed past him.
Her skin brushed against his and a chill ripped through her body.
No looking back. She wouldn’t be able to bear it without running into his arms. She wouldn’t become the reason he got derailed from the improvements he’d started to make.
He was happy. Who was she to upend that?