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CHAPTER THREE
It was Luciana’s expression. Cameron saw his sister on Adrianna’s little girl’s face. The devilish curve, the dimple, and the giggle his sister had yet to lose, even though she was in her twenties.
His heart set off into a gallop and his thoughts exploded into his skull. All the pieces swam around one possibility.
"How old is Bronwyn?"
"She's nine. She was born April 7, 2008."
His mind raced back to the summer they spent every second they could together. When he'd shrugged off baseball practice and scout appointments to sneak into her bedroom after her mother went to work. They’d kissed like they were starving for each other, fought like bitter rivals, and fucked like they’d invented it.
It had been the happiest time in his life. The aftermath of it was what Luciana referred to as the dark ages. He stole a glance as the child poured the coffee into a mug like she’d done a thousand times. She turned to look at him and gave him a smile he’d known all his life.
"She's mine, isn't she?"
Even as the question left his mouth, he couldn't fathom it. How was this possible?
The moments before her response were pure agony. No matter the answer, it would hurt like a baseball to the shin.
Tears shimmered in Adrianna's eyes and she nodded.
The blood furiously rushed to his head. His hand shook. He wanted to stand up and pace but was rooted to the chair. His world flipped upside down and Cameron drifted. When Adrianna's hand touched the back of his, he secured it in place with his free hand. He used her to steady himself.
Her teary eyes bore into his. "I wanted you to know, but your dad…it’s a long story." She swallowed. "Can you stay? Let me ask Lauren to manage the bistro so we can talk."
He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. She brought up his father again and along with it, a rage inside him. Because Walter had known about this all along. He’d always encouraged Cam to stay away. His blood boiled and his hold on her hand tightened.Walter. Always fucking Walter.
"Here's your coffee," Bronwyn said to Cam. "Grape juice for you, Mom."
Both Cam and Adrianna removed their hands. Adrianna put her arms around her daughter, who looked at her tears and immediately frowned.
"What's wrong?"
There was such vulnerability in her voice and her eyes darted between them like she wondered if Cam had done something to her mom. Adrianna smoothed her hair and softly ran her hands over her face, smiling through her tears and for a second, Cam had to look away from the scene. He never forgot Adri's touch.
"Nothing's wrong. I’m just emotional. You know I get like that sometimes." Adrianna hugged her.
"Yeah. Like when I lost my first tooth and my kindergarten graduation?" Bronwyn turned to look at Cam. "She cried for a long, long time."
It hit him. He'd missed her whole life. For some reason a lump formed in his throat and he swallowed it back. "I bet it was a nice day."
"She also cried when I won the school art competition and when I made my painting of her for Mother’s Day." Bronwyn said, coming closer to him.
His hands itched to bring her closer, to touch her face and make sure she was real. She couldn’t be his. She was too perfect, too sweet. Instead, he balled his hands into a fist and placed them in his lap.
"Bron, would you like to keep Cam company while I talk to your aunt Lo? Then we’ll go home."
Bron’s eyes lit up. "Okay! Does this mean you're not mad and I'm not grounded anymore?"
"Oh, I'm mad and you're still getting grounded until the Orioles win the World Series." Adrianna leaned to pinch her cheeks before walking away.
Bronwyn turned to him with a smile. "I'll make her forget that she's mad."
Cam could see the hint of mischief in her eyes so much like his brother Chase’s. "How?"
Bronwyn shrugged. "She can't resist this face." She leaned towards him and rested her elbows on the table with her face in her hands. The smile spread and her cheeks strained towards her eyes.
Even though it was a game, and he was not supposed to give in, Cam's lips curved on their own.Definitely Chase.
"Oh cool! It works on you too."
She leaned back and dug into the cake and juice she’d brought for her mom.
