Page 59 of What Should Have Been Ours

He exhales, tapping his fingers against the table. “There’s not much to say. There are very few, and none of them ever really…mattered.”

I raise an eyebrow. “That’s kind of a depressing answer.”

“Not really.” He shrugs. “Just proves I never stopped being stuck on someone else.”

My stomach tightens at that, but I try to keep my voice even. “And who would that be?”

His eyes flick to mine. “Just someone special enough to invade my mind for twelve years when they weren’t even around.”

I swallow, looking away before I let myself get too caught up in what he’s saying.

Cam’s expression darkens slightly. “Your turn. Tell me about all the men I should hate.”

I hesitate, but then sigh. “The last one was…pretty bad.”

His jaw tics. “How bad?”

I shake my head, not really wanting to go into all the details of William.

“He wasn’t physically abusive or anything. He was just…controlling, and manipulative. Knew exactly how to make me feel like I wasn’t enough or like I was the lucky one to have him, even when I was miserable in the relationship. Then, to put the cherry on top of it all, he cheated on me with one of our vet assistants at the clinic. I still have to be around them both at work.”

Cam’s whole posture changes. He sits up straighter, his hand flexing against his knee. He’s visibly trying not to look pissed.

“You still have to see him at work?” he asks, voice tight.

I nod. “He’s my boss technically.”

Cam’s eyes darken, his jaw clenching hard enough that I swear I hear his teeth grinding.

“Cam,” I sigh, nudging his foot with mine. “Don’t do that face.”

“What face?”

“The one where you look like you’re planning the full fight you want to have with him in your head.”

He exhales, shaking his head. “I mean, can you blame me? Kicking his ass sounds pretty nice.”

I snort. “Yeah, because that would look so good for me professionally.”

“I wouldn’t do it at your job. I’d catch him out in a back alleyway in the city, where no one would even bat an eye at me pummeling his face in,” he tells me, as if that makes it better.

I laugh.

It feels good seeing how much he cares.

His voice softens suddenly. “You know I’d never do that to you, right?”

I look up at him, my heart stumbling over itself at the reassurance.

“The days of me being able to even look at another woman the way I look at you?” He shakes his head. “Long gone, Gabrielle.”

Before I can respond, he reaches for me and pulls me onto his lap.

I let out a small gasp, my hands instinctively going to his shoulders. He just holds me there, leaning his back against the couch, and looking up at me.

“You’ve always been it for me,” he murmurs. His hands are warm as they slide up to cradle my face. “I’ve spent twelve years dreaming of what it would be like to have you back and what I would do if I ever had another chance with you. I would never want to screw this up.”

Without missing a beat, he kisses me. Taking his time and savoring every second.