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For months, Lyra had been pointing out Cam was “showing signs” he still loved her—or loved her again. Lyra thought it was awesome. Wouldn’t it be great if after everything, they ended up together? Like, the ultimate first-love romance story.
Vivian had tried time and again to dissuade Lyra without crushing her spirit, but nothing got through that brain of hers. Once she’d found Spence, Vivian had sighed a little with relief. She’d thought Lyra would have all her energy focused on Spence and her bakery and none left for playing Little Ms. Matchmaker. Boy, had Vivian been wrong about that. So very, very wrong.
That thing about happy couples wanting everyone to be happy couples?
True. Very, very true.
But last night had been the first time Cam had acted on it.
And she wanted to say, get over it. You don’t mean it. No one ever does.
She got it, they were sixteen and he was powerless to save her from her mom, but still. She couldn’t help but think—way in the back of her mind, past every other part that knew she’d been the one responsible for her actions—that if Cam just hadn’t been a “we should see other people” jerk, none of the fallout would have happened.
She wouldn’t have been ostracized or attacked by her mother or moved into a freaking eighteenth-century home for unwed moms.
The whole time she just knew nothing was going to get better. She knew this was life now. But she couldn’t help it if her little sixteen-year-old self would wake up from dreams of going home because Cam had come to get her.
He obviously never did.
Andof coursehe didn’t. He was sixteen too. Not to mention not the baby’s father.
But when Charlie showed up one day, looking for some help with his garage, she’d jumped at the chance. He’d said she’d have to do the books and learn about engines.
Not one other girl wanted to do that, but she’d always gotten a kick out of how Mr. Ross could make anything work. If she’d had a dad like that, she’d have lived in his toolshed.
And then she’d had Tyler and everything changed.
One look at him just kicked all the bitterness out of her heart. She loved him on sight and suddenly realized she’d loved him the whole time.
The dreams about Cam became less frequent, less needy. More just like check-ins.
He never left her heart. She knew that.
And that’s why she had to double down on not letting him play this game.
Oh, she knew he didn’t know he was playing a game. But it still was. Once he set things right as he saw it—won her back, made things “right” between them, supported her and Tyler in some way—he’d realize they weren’t the two sweet kids they’d been a decade ago.
And she couldn’t take that heartbreak again.
So, avoid, avoid, avoid.
And also, get Tyler up and ready for camp.
When she headed back upstairs, Tyler was already munching on his cereal,Percy Jacksonopen in front of him, his Thor propped up next to it.
“Ready for camp today?”
“Yup. I can’t wait to show Mikey my new moves. Mr. Ross is an awesome coach. I hope he helps out today.” He kept going on about baseball and Vivian didn’t want to interrupt one good thing for another, so she waited until he petered out.
As he rinsed his bowl and was about to go get his backpack, she stopped him and motioned to the chair at the table.
Slouched shoulders let her know he remembered last night’s promise.
“You broke your promise to me, lied to Cam, then tried to make up a reason it was okay instead of owning those two things.”
The slouch deepened, but at least there was noyeah, but…coming out.
“And part of me wants to say no to what I’m about to offer you because it feels like rewarding you for lying and breaking the rules. The offer comes with a punishment.”
