Page 131 of I Loved You First

He shook his head. “She and I were never going to happen. We made each other miserable. When we dated… When we lived together at my parents’ place… I don’t understand why she can’t seem to remember that.”

“Maybe now that you’re both older, she was hoping things might be different.”

Cam raised his brow. “Or she’s pissed because we’re together—because you and I make each other happy. Ally wants me because she can’t have me. That’s her MO.”

Fiona shrugged when she didn’t necessarily agree. Because she knew what it meant to love Cameron Bennet. It had been impossible to shake him from her heart. She’d tried and failed for nearly six years. “I guess.”

“I love you. I want to be with you. You make my life better. You make Brady’s life better. End of story.”

She nodded, but clearly, Ally didn’t feel the same way.

“None of this is even about Brady,” he said as he moved down the hall, riling up again. “She’s not doing this because she wants to be his mother. This entire thing is about making me pay for hurting her.” He started back toward the entryway. “Why can’t she love Brady the way you do? Why can’t she see that he’s an amazing kid?”

She heard the agony in his questions. “I don’t know.” She walked to him, standing in his way, capturing his hands in hers.

“He’s so damn awesome, Fi.”

She nodded, bringing his knuckles up to nuzzle against her cheek, eager to banish his pain. “He’s the absolute best. It’s her loss if she doesn’t see or want that.”

He sighed as he closed his eyes.

“He’s so well loved, Cam. He knows that. You’ve done such a great job with him.”

He swallowed as he looked at her again—as his eyes radiated with grief. “But someday, he’ll want to know where she’s been. He’ll want to know why she didn’t want him.”

“And we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” She wrapped him up in a hug. “I’m sorry this is hurting you so much. I wish I could make it okay.”

He returned her embrace. “Holding you feels pretty great.”

She hugged him harder. “We can stay like this for as long as you want.”

“So, forever works for you?”

Smiling, she eased back. “We’re going to figure this out.”

He nodded.

“Have fun with me in the meantime,” she whispered as she stood on her tiptoes, nuzzling his nose with hers. “I don’t want her ruining what’s left of our day—what’s left of Brady’s summer break. In two days, he starts school. Let’s make this a special afternoon.”

“I need to be able to take Darius’ call.”

She nodded. “But after that. Brady will be home soon. I promised him we would make blueberry muffins.”

“That sounds good.”

She nodded again. “But we can also swim and roast hot dogs on the fire. We can make those fruit kabobs with the vanilla cream cheese dip that Brady gobbles up. Let me love you guys up and take care of you.”

He settled his forehead against hers. “I love you, Fiona. So much.”

“I love you, too.”

He sighed. “This is going to get messy. We’re bound to be in court for years. Because I’m going to fight like hell for my son.”

“We’ll be fighting together. We’re in this together.”

He nodded. “Maybe I should try calling her. Or sending her a text.”

She adamantly shook her head. “Give her a couple of days. You just told a woman who’s clearly in love with you that you’re making a life with someone else. That we’re having a baby. That’s a lot to digest.”