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“See you around,” I say with a heavy breath as Beau takes Holly’s and Marcus’s hands and skips away with them.
That was supposed to be me.
“You okay, man?” Dan asks, and I shake my head.
“She's back. I need her to know.”
“Give her time, mate. She just got here, and no matter how many ways you try to swing what happened, the truth is, you slept with another woman. That's all that mattered to her.”
“It wasn't like that!”
“Hey, whoa.” Dan holds his hands up. “I know that, Cam, I fucking know, but give her some space. Let them settle in. And I hate to break it to you, but she's already taken.” He looks back over his shoulder at the family walking away, and I sigh loudly.
“Taken byhim. Grace could take him out with one punch.” I scoff angrily, internally fighting the thought of him and Holly together.
“He is kind of puny.” He frowns.
Holly slowly walks away when Nadine breezes over. She passes Holly, all the while grinning at me. I know that look. My heart sinks, and I feel terrible because this woman has got it bad for me, and I'm now torn up about the woman walking away.
“Hey, you.” Nadine blushes and pecks my mouth. It's the first display of open affection between us. Usually, we are holed up inmy house or some town over eating dinner. My eyes falter across her shoulder, where Holly is looking at me. Her expression falls, and she picks up her daughter and smiles at the little girl. My heart slams repeatedly against my chest, and I force my eyes down to Nadine. “You okay?” she asks. Her brow furrows when I don’t respond. She looks embarrassed, and I know it’s because it took a lot for her to kiss me just now.
“Yeah, good. You look nice,” I tell her because she does. Her creamy legs are on show and her ample chest is tucked in a small wrap dress.
“I thought you would like it,” she purrs, and I pale inwardly because what I like is walking further away from me, and it’s the closest Holly has been to me in forever.
Marcus places a hand on her lower back.She's definitely in a relationship. I've refused to think of her for years, but knowing she is here, back in Richmond… I'm so screwed.
“Yeah,” I mutter, not hearing what Nadine is saying. “Drink?” I offer quickly and look away. My friends are eyeing me avidly, and I have to force a smile. It’s not just Holly, though; a thousand sickening thoughts have brutalised my mind and I want to punch something.
Nadine slips by me to grab us both a beer and Dan takes it upon himself to wrap an arm around me. “I know that can't have been easy, but we’ll figure it out. Don’t do anything rash.”
I grunt, wishing I had stayed home and chased after her.
Holly Matthews is back in Richmond with her perfect family.
I'm officially in hell.
Chapter Two
Holly
Ialmost throw Marcus out of the house when we make it home, feigning a headache. “I could watch Beau for you whilst you take a nap?” he offers kindly.
“That's so kind, but I'm tired, plus Beau has her first induction at the summer club tomorrow morning. We could do with an early night,” I remind him.
“Are you sure? You seemed pretty quiet this afternoon.” He rubs his nose out of habit.
I point to my head. “Too much sun.” I placate him with a smile. “Thanks for coming to visit us.”
“Of course, just checking you’re all settled in. The city is pretty boring without you both.” He’s so sweet, but I'm ready to stick my face into my pillow and scream after bumping into Richmond’s finest. None of the men have changed, except they all have because it’s been so long. They have obviously settled down here and continued with their lives, unlike me, who had to start over after the painful encounter all those years ago, with Cameron and his bit on the side. I force another smile and wave Marcus off. The minute the front door clicks shut, I walk past the living room to check on Beau and then go in search of wine.
I never asked my dad about Cam when he was alive, and I never expected him to stay in Richmond. He’d planned to go to London and be a banker like his father. It’s disconcerting to learn they are all still here.Maybe they commute.I pour my glass almost to the rim with my favourite pinot. “He’s an unfaithful pig,” I remind myself. I need to, because seeing him again after all of this time almost had my knees collapsing. He’s filled out so much. He always was fit and athletic, but now he is broad and muscular, his jaw covered with a little stubble and vivid green eyes a complete contrast to his dark blonde hair. He is a liar and a cheat. It doesn’t matter how nice they are now. I know how unkind his friends can be. I still remember their mocking laughs and the soul-crushing humiliation I faced. That's what I got for being naive enough to think the popular kids actually liked a plain buff like me. Cam had always playfully picked at me for having my nose in a book or losing me to the library when I had agreed to meet him. Little had changed about me, other than having Beau. That little bundle of blonde curls has given me more confidence than Cameron Stone ever had.
This time would be different.
I know first-hand what they were capable of and I’m not about to let them manipulate me a second time.
After I’ve bathed Beau and settled her down for the night, I grab a hoodie and sit out back with a wine. I knew if I ever came face-to-face with Cam again, it would be hard, but I had never expected just how deep the pain would burrow. My chest aches, and my eyes have filled more than once this evening. I'm annoyed at myself for feeling so emotional, but I remind myself that this past year has been difficult with Dad passing. Dealing with his loss, Beau’s grief, moving back home, and starting a business alone, it’s easily been the hardest year of my life. I overcame it all ten years ago, and I can do it again. The initialshock will have worn off by tomorrow. That and the nasty fact that he is dating a ridiculously beautiful woman.
