After that, I made an effort to join the conversation—even just a little. As long as the topic wasn’t about me, I could manage.
We finally left the restaurant around nine. While I stood on the sidewalk, waiting for the Uber, Lina walked up to me and asked, “Was that okay? Are you having a good time?”
I looked at her, and a wave of emotion hit me hard. My eyes started to sting.
I stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. She froze, probably shocked. I never hugged her. Ever.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice shaking. “For being my friend. For putting up with my nonsense without a single complaint. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m keeping you for life.”
I felt the tension in her body slowly melt, and then she hugged me back.
“Good,” she whispered. “Because I’m not going anywhere. You’ve got people in your corner, Sloane. You just have to keep reminding yourself of that.”
I nodded and let her go. My Uber had just pulled up, and I gave her a small wave as I climbed into the car.
When I got home, I noticed a yellow sticky note pressed to the living room window. I peeled it off the glass.
It was from Cameron.
Noticed the window wouldn’t close yesterday. Fixed it.
I’m here. Still.
For as long as you’ll let me.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cameron
It was Saturday mid-morning, and it was Harper’s 6th birthday. The day was perfect. Not too hot, not too cold, just the right kind of warm that made you want to stay outside a little longer. We celebrated at my mom’s house so Harper could invite her friends from school. Mom’s place was closer, easier for everyone.
Harper was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. We had a bouncy castle in the backyard, and she and the ten friends she invited spent most of the time in it, shrieking and laughing like there was no tomorrow.
We got two cakes. One was chocolate crunch, and the other was the blue-and-pink cotton candy cake she had wanted so badly, mostly because of the color. Caleb and I were at the grill, flipping hot dogs and burgers nonstop to feed the kids and their parents, while Sloane and my mom moved around the house handling everything else that needed doing.
Caroline was away at a conference overseas, and her husband had accompanied her; however, their three teenage children came to the party. They helped me keep an eye on the younger ones.
Jace, Caroline’s oldest at sixteen, was a little overprotective with Harper, just like he was with his siblings. He watched her like a hawk, and every time she jumped too high, he looked like he was barely holding himself back from rushing over and carrying her away.
My eyes drifted to Sloane. I noticed she was talking more to people. She stayed in conversations longer, managing small talk and polite chatter in a way she hadn’t before.
I watched her with pride. She had come such a long way.
And every time our eyes met, she smiled. I smiled back without thinking, my chest tightening every single time.
She was so damn beautiful.
“Pay attention, Cameron!”
Caleb’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I turned to him, frowning. He was frowning back at me.
“Those two buns are burned.”
I looked down and gasped. They were already black.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
But I could still feel Caleb’s gaze burning into the side of my head.
