“But what about Cam? Why’s Michael being so mean?”
It felt like déjà vu. The first day she’d met Cam all over again. Another argument on the doorstep, another attempt to keep the peace. But this time she had no idea what was going on. “Just go in, okay? I’ll come in in a moment.”
“Okay.” Josh nodded. “I’ll go.”
When the door closed behind him, she turned to look at Cam and Michael. Her son was staring at the older man, his gaze full of venom. “What the hell is going on here?” she asked through gritted teeth. “Why did you make Josh cry?”
“Maybe you should ask ‘Doctor Love’,” Michael spat out.
Her chest tightened as she lifted her gaze to Cam’s. His eyes were soft as they caught hers. “He knows.”
“I know you’re an asshole who takes advantage of married women,” Michael spat out. “That’s what I know.”
She wanted the ground to swallow her up. Instead, she took a deep breath and reached for Michael’s arm. “Honey, he didn’t take advantage.”
“So you fucked him willingly?”
Her jaw set tight. “Don’t talk to me like that. And don’t let me hear you use that word again. It’s disgusting.”
Michael rolled his eyes. “Not as disgusting as him.”
“Whatever you think happened between the two of us, you’re wrong. Now can we go inside and talk about this like adults? Because right now we’re giving the whole street a performance they’ll talk about for weeks.”
“That asshole’s not coming in my house.” Michael glanced at Cam, shaking his head. “Not now and not ever.”
“It isn’t your house,” Mia reminded him.
“Oh I know that. You dragged me away from my house. The one in Kansas City. I get no damn choices over my own life. Because it’s all about you and dad, isn’t it? You messed up each others’ lives and now you’re messing up mine.”
“Michael…” Cam’s voice was soft. “We don’t want to mess up your life.”
“Do you love him?” Michael asked her, his nostrils flaring.
“Sweetie, I…”
“Because he loves you. Or so he says. But we both know he’s full of shit.”
He loved her? Mia’s hands started to shake. When she looked at Cam she could see it. The softness, the light shining out of him. A tiny gasp left her lips.
He loved her. Oh god, she loved him, too.
“That isn’t any of your business,” she told Michael. There was no way she was going to declare her feelings here and now.
“But you love me, right?” His lip trembled.
“Of course I do.” She stroked his hair, but he recoiled from her. “So much.”
“If you love me, you’ll stop seeing him. Right now. Tell him it’s over.”
His words felt like a mack truck hitting her head on. She turned to her son. He was staring at her with a question in his eyes. Did she love him enough to make Cam leave?
Or was she going to turn out like Niall, and put her love life before her children? There was no question about her choice, but it hurt so damn much. She inhaled raggedly, looking at both the boy and the man she loved.
“Cam…” She tried to find the words, but her brain was a mess of emotions.
“It’s okay,” Cam said, his voice cracking. “I’m leaving.”
That’s when the tears started rolling down her face.