Page 39 of Flawless

“I get that.” I appreciated Cam for even trying, but I wanted him to have as much faith in us as I did, and he clearly wasn’t there yet. “But we both know this lifestyle isn’t easy when you’re in a committed relationship. And if he believes the lies other people tell him about us, how can we make this work?”

“Oh, honey,” he said, hauling me against his chest. “If he loves you, and you love him, you’ll find a way to make it work. But just understand, it’ll take him awhile to work through his shit. All that stuff his buddies are telling him, about you being too young or too good for him, those are things he’s probably already told himself. So whether they realize it or not, they’re just feeding his insecurities.”

I took a step back, placing my drink on the bar behind me. “But I don’t want him to feel insecure.”

“Do you feel insecure?” When I didn’t respond right away, he said, “Of course, you do. Everyone does at the start of a new relationship. That’s human nature.”

“But we promised each other we wouldn’t continue letting this crap get in our way.”

“So, he had a setback tonight.” He smiled. “Cut the guy some slack.”

I returned the smile and rolled forward on my toes to kiss his cheek. “Thanks for talking some sense into me.”

“Anytime, pretty lady. Anytime.”

It was two in the morning by the time I got in, and I knew Cam had to be up early for work, but I didn’t want to go to bed with him thinking I was mad at him. So, I texted to ask if he was awake and he responded right away.

“Hey,” I said, as soon as he answered my call.

“Hey.” I could tell he was waiting for me to dive in, possibly bracing himself for the worst, but I knew there was only one way to start this conversation.

“I love you, even when you piss me off.”

He laughed, sounding relieved. “I love you too, baby. Look, I’m sorry about tonight. I shouldn’t have bought into all that shit my buddies were spewing, but⁠—”

“You’re only human, I get it. You’re going to have doubts and insecurities. So am I, and that’s okay. But when we do, we have to talk to each other about it, not other people. Agreed?”

“Yeah, definitely. So, what cooled you off?”

“My friend, Easton. He told me it hadn’t been easy when he and his wife got together either. And they had a lot of the same issues we have. He encouraged me to give you a break, and try to put myself in your situation. And just so you know, babe, I’m right there with you. I’m freaked out too.”

“You are?”

I kind of loved that this big, tough guy, whose job it was to have it all together seemed as uncertain as I was sometimes.

“Of course, I am. This is happening crazy fast. I never expected you, and I sure as hell wasn’t looking for a relationship when we met. I thought I was fine on my own.”

“You were fine on your own. I know you don’t need me.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

We could only feel secure in this relationship if we were both willing to reveal all our insecurities and vulnerabilities, and for him, I was willing to do that.

“Doing life alone sucks. You may not know that, since you’ve always had family and tons of friends. A huge support network. But for me? A lot of my life, it’s just been me. And that’s not easy.”

“Baby…”

It sounded like his heart was breaking for me, but I didn’t want his pity, just his understanding.

“It’s okay. I made it, right?” I swiped at a tear gliding down my cheek, grateful this wasn’t a video call. “My point is, I met you, and I felt like I’d finally found the missing pieces.”

“Yeah? Tell me.”

“Safety. Security. Love.”

Those were huge words for me. They represented everything that had been missing from my life and I didn’t realize how much I craved them until I met him.

“Sweetheart, I always want to make you feel safe and loved and secure in what we have. I’m sorry I screwed up tonight, but that doesn’t mean I don’t believe in what we’re building, Ry. ‘Cause I swear to you, I do.”