Page 130 of I Loved You First

Satisfied that another to-do had been checked off the list, she stepped into the bedroom with the empty box. Her smile returned as she studied the gorgeous summer blooms she’d arranged in a pretty vase and set in the center of the dresser. She’d done the same on the dining room table and kitchen island, choosing different-colored hydrangeas and alstroemerias for each room.

Heading downstairs, she moved toward the laundry room, ready to fold the next load, when a car door slammed outside. She frowned as she glanced at the wall clock because she wasn’t expecting anyone for at least another hour.

Moving back toward the front of the house, she sighed when Cam walked in, yanking off his boots as he clenched his jaw. “I guess I don’t have to ask you how things went with Ally.”

He frowned as he met her gaze. “What’s wrong with your mouth?”

It was her turn to frown. “I don’t know. What’s wrong with my mouth?”

“Your lips are purple.”

She slapped her hand over her mouth.

He moved to stand in front of her, pulling her hand away. “What did you eat?”

“It must be from the blueberries Brady and I picked at the farm. I had my first official craving. When I got home, I washed them up and ate an entire carton.”

He huffed out a small laugh. “Where is he?”

“With your mom. She called when we were on our way home. She wanted some Brady and Grammy time. I hope that’s okay.”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

She nodded. “I would’ve texted before I dropped him off, but I knew you were busy. I’m still trying to figure out how all of this works—our new dynamic…”

“Let’s keep doing things the way we’ve been doing them. I love you. I trust you with Brady.”

“Okay.” She touched his arm. “Tell me about your meeting.”

His jaw clenched again as he shook his head. “Ally’s withdrawing the paperwork she dropped off with Darius.”

She closed her eyes as her stomach dropped. “Oh, Cam… I’m so sorry.”

He jerked his shoulders. “She’s decided she wants to share custody after all.”

“I can—I can go stay with my mom⁠—”

“And what the hell is that going to change?”

She blinked, taking a step back when he snapped at her. Because Cam had never spoken to her like that.

“Fuck,” he muttered as he let his head hang. “I’m sorry.” He pulled her into a hard hug. “I’m so sorry, Fi.”

She returned his embrace, feeling his heart hammering against her chest. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.” He eased back enough to hold her gaze. “I’m scared, and I’m angry. But not at you. None of this is your fault.”

“It certainly feels that way. Things were fine before I came back⁠—”

He adamantly shook his head. “She’s not calling the shots. She doesn’t get to reappear after being absent for five years and dictate our lives.”

“How can we make this better?”

“I don’t know.” He stepped away, raking his fingers through his hair as he paced down the hall. “I put in a call to Darius, but he’s in court for the next couple of hours.”

He met her gaze as he moved in her direction again. “I keep replaying the conversation she and I had. Her move to Boston… I think she was hoping that we were going to start things up again.”

Fi swallowed as she stared at the floor. “And I messed up the plan.”