“When do you find out the gender?” Camden interrupts my deep thoughts.
“I’m not sure yet. I think by twelve weeks, they may be able to tell me when they do the prenatal testing.” I slip my hand from under his and grab my water glass, taking a drink. I need something to cool me down and a break from his touch.
“So, in about six weeks?” He lifts his eyebrows in question.
“Give or take,” I nod.
My stomach growls loudly, and I press my hand against it in an attempt to quiet it, but it’s no use. Camden chuckles and opens the menu.
“Let’s get you fed.”
Once we order, Camden tells me about his job, the work he did for the dating app he mentioned when we flew back from Everton to New York. As I listen to him speak, I smile. All afternoon, I’ve been on some kind of cloud, pinching myself. As shocked as I was when I saw him standing by my apartment, as the afternoon went by, I started to feel less alone.
He has no idea what it means to me that he flew over here to talk in person and simply offer the comfort I’d been missing. It’s going to be a long road, but I believe we can work together to make this as easy as possible.
“Does Easton know?” Camden says after swallowing a bite of his steak. The food here is delicious, and the aroma has been amping up my hunger since we walked in.
I shake my head. “I wanted to talk to you first. The only reason I told my mom was because you never replied to my message, and I had a meltdown. I called her on impulse and spat it out.”
Camden nods, pensive. “I know he’s your brother, so if you want to tell him alone, I’ll respect that, but I’d like to tell him together. Even if it’s through a video call. I owe him that much.” He scratches the scruff on his jaw, his eyes darting around the restaurant.
“We can do that,” I agree. “He’s not going to kill you,” I add when I notice the wrinkles on his forehead and tight jaw.
“Funny,” he chuckles dryly. “Trust me, Easton is going to rip me a new one, so I’d like to be there when you tell him. I’d rather show my face than have him think I’m a coward.”
“Camden, look at me…” I wait until his eyes land on mine. “I’m sure Easton is going to be confused, but I won’t let this ruin your friendship.”
“It might already be ruined without him knowing it.”
This time I reach for his hand to comfort him. “Trust me,” I whisper, but everything else I was going to say dries up in my throat when I stare into Camden’s eyes. They pierce through me, heat and affection combined. The way he’s looking at me digs deep in my heart and claims a piece of it.
“This is kinda a shit-show, right?” He gives me a crooked smirk that makes him look younger.
“I guess, in a way, it is,” I laugh.
In between bites of dinner, I catch glimpses of Camden. The guy I thought I knew has been replaced with a version of him I could see myself falling for. He makes me laugh when he needs to and comforts me when he senses I’m going to fall apart. He’s been considerate all day. The perfect gentleman, really, which is a category I had never placed Camden into.
When we finish dinner, we head out into the cool evening, and I point out different places to Camden. My phone keeps buzzing in my purse, but I’m ignoring it as best as I can, assuming it’s Noel.
“You can answer the phone,” Camden says finally. So much for trying to be slick.
“Sorry, it’s probably Noel. She’s been worried about me.” I fish my phone out of my purse, confirming my assumptions.
“Yup, it’s her.” I show him the screen before answering.
Her eyes narrow, scrutinizing me before she opens her big mouth. “Where are you? You look pretty. Are you out on a date? Getting some and forgetting about that douche bag baby daddy?” Her eyebrows dance on her forehead as she smiles deviously.
“Noel!” I scold her and widen my eyes, wishing she could read my damn mind. Instead, Camden leans in closer to me, making sure his face appears on the screen.
“Hello, Noel, long time no see.” I see the cocky smirk reflected back at me on the small frame in the call.
“Oh… Uh… Hi,” she squeaks, staring at me like a deer caught in headlights. “I was talking about another douche bag baby daddy,” she says, schooling her features.
“Uh, huh,” Camden nods. “Sure…” He pinches his thumb and forefinger together in an okay gesture.
“A little warning would’ve been great, Ally.” Noel rolls her eyes.
“Now it’s my fault? You’re the one with the huge mouth. Imagine if I were on a date, and you said that. The guy would’ve heard you!” I argue.
Noel opens her mouth to say something, but we both look at Camden when he growls.
“Whoa…” Noel says. “That’s kinda hot.” When I look at her again, she’s fanning her face. “Gotta go!” She smirks and winks before hanging up, leaving me alone with the man who looks like he wants to eat me for dessert. The idea alone causes tingles to travel up and down my spine while at the same time, terrifies me.
“I’m sorry you thought I didn’t care and thought I was a douche bag. I wanted to see
