Page 58 of Flawless

Cameron

It was Friday afternoon, and I was swamped at work, so when my sister popped her head in and asked to talk, I was surprised and annoyed, but curious.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked, stretching my arms over my head to work out the kinks in my back.

I’d been burying myself in my work since Rylee dumped me, which was better than drowning in the bottle, I reasoned.

“Me and Austin flew in to meet with the architect who’s building our house by the lake. We’ll be spending some time with Mama and Daddy and his family too.”

“Nice, but you didn’t have to drive all the way out here to see me.” I lived and worked over an hour away from our hometown. “I could’ve driven to the folks tomorrow to see y’all.”

Not like I had any other plans. Just the thought of dating another woman felt abhorrent to me after Rylee.

“Um, I know I didn’t have to, but I was afraid I’d lose my nerve. So, I just wanted to get it over with, before I talked myself out of it.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

I watched her pace back and forth across the large room, her arms curled around her mid-section.

“What’s got you so freaked out?” When she didn’t respond, I said, “Shit, it’s not Mama or P⁠—”

“No, no,” she waved me off. “This has nothing to do with them.” She glanced at me. “Um, have you heard from Rylee lately?”

I scowled. “No, and I’m not expecting to. She dumped me, remember?”

She swore softly and took a deep breath before blowing it out. “Okay, it’s been three weeks. I promised I’d give her time, but the longer she waits the harder it will be and I don’t want you to be pissed at me because I knew and didn’t tell you.”

“What are you talking about?” I demanded, feeling my blood pressure rising. “You’re talking in riddles!”

She faced me, wrapping her hands around the backrest of the guest chair in front of me. “Easton came to me with this yesterday, because he apparently knows too. And he told me we couldn’t keep this from you any longer. He said, as a guy, he’d want to know⁠—”

“Know what?” I roared, slamming my hand against the desk.

“Rylee’s pregnant,” she whispered. “With your baby.”

I swear the room started spinning, which meant my blood pressure was probably teetering on stroke-out high. “What did you say?”

“You heard me.” She started wringing her hands, wide-eyed, as her cheeks flushed. “I hope she doesn’t hate me for telling you this. I told her I wouldn’t. But she promised me she’d tell you. And I know she has an ultrasound coming up, and that’s the kind of thing you should be there for⁠—”

“Stop rambling!” I shouted. “I can’t even think straight.” I dropped my head into my hands and tried to make sense of the bombshell she’d just dropped on me. “Rylee’s pregnant,” I repeated. “And she’s known… a few weeks?”

Eden nodded, looking miserable, and a little scared. “God, it wasn’t my place to tell you this. I feel terrible. But I love that girl like a sister. And she’s already gone through so much alone. I didn’t want her to have to go through this too.”

“And what about me?” I demanded. “I’m your brother, remember?”

“Yeah, of course,” she said, waving her hand in my direction. “Like I said, you have a right to know.” She pouted. “But I’ve wanted to be an auntie forever, and what if Rylee hates me now and won’t let me a part of the baby’s life because I broke her confidence? You know how she is about trust. That’s the reason she dumped you.”

“Thanks for the reminder,” I snapped. “And can we not make this about you? I’m sure she’ll forgive you for telling me, but… Rylee’s pregnant. With my baby.” I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. “Is she happy about this? Scared? Freaking out?”

I hated that I didn’t know.

“Yes,” she said, slowly. “She’s happy. And scared. And freaking out. She’s feeling all the feels, Cam. Just like you’d expect.” She smiled, before whispering, “You’re gonna be a daddy. Can you believe it?”

“No, I can’t believe it.”

I’d wanted this forever. And to be having a baby with the woman I loved, even if she hated me, was everything.

“Well, believe it.” She bit her lip. “My guess is you have between seven and eight months to prepare yourself.”