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Sam didn’t miss the motion. “Would you like me to leave?”

“No,” I jumped in quickly. “You’re welcome to stay, if you’d like. Maybe you’ll have some advice.”

Sam just nodded once.

I glanced at the steaming dish between us. “Want to serve up the food first? I promise I’ll talk once we start eating.”

Sam nodded, grabbing the spatula Cameron had brought him and dishing up a serving to each of us. Such a Daddy move. Cameron’s grin was exceedingly sappy.

Once we’d all been served and Cameron had taken a bite, I took a deep breath and exhaled. “So I hooked up with this guy in October.”

Cameron’s eyes sparkled at the news, but he stayed quiet. Sam was smirking beside me as he shoveled a piece of lasagna into his mouth.

“It went really well, and it was really fucking hot, but . . .” I didn’t know what to say next. I was a coward and tried to sneak out? I’d basically broken his heart because he deserved to be with someone who wasn’t as messed up as me?

Cameron didn’t let me contemplate for long. “But what? What happened?”

I sighed, dropping my fork on the plate holding my untouched pasta. “Nothing happened. It was a one-night stand, that’s all.”

“Bullshit.”

My eyes shot to Sam’s at his blunt assertion. “What?”

“It wasn’t a one-night stand. At least, it wasn’t just a one-night stand. This guy meant more.”

My mouth dropped open, and I couldn’t figure out how to reply.

Cameron snickered. “Nothing gets by my man.”

“I . . .” My brain was not sending enough data to my mouth.

Cameron was full-on laughing now. “You’re adorable, Tris. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you rendered speechless.” He grinned at his boyfriend. “Good job, Daddy.”

Sam chuckled then. “I didn’t mean to break your brain, Tris. But your response tells me I’m right, correct?”

My jaw snapped shut, then I nodded.

Cameron’s brow furrowed, his jovial mood gone. “So what’s the problem? Can you not see him again?”

I shook my head, slouching in my chair. I picked up my fork and poked at my lasagna for something to do. “No, I can’t.”

“Why not? Is he not local or something?” Cameron crossed his arms on the table, pushing his plate forward as he leaned in.

“Nothing like that,” I muttered. “I just can’t.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Cameron and Sam exchange a pointed glance. Shit. That couldn’t be good.

Cameron turned back to me, and he waited until I lifted my gaze to his. “Look, bestie, as long as I’ve known you, you haven’t had any serious relationships. I used to think it was because you hadn’t found the right guy yet. But that’s not it, is it?”

I held his gaze as I shook my head slowly.

He reached across the table, and I grabbed his hand like a lifeline. “Then what is it?”

I took a gulp of water from my glass with my other hand. Once I’d swallowed it, I cleared my throat before answering. “I can’t get him out of my head.”

Cameron smiled softly. “But that’s a good thing.”

I just held his gaze, and his smile fell.