Page 66 of Sophia & Cameron
“I’m sorry.”
She squirmed in her seat, turning her head so she could hear him better.
Cameron sighed. “I was wrong. I let my temper get the better of me. I overreacted and I… Let’s just say there’s room for improvement.”
Sam let out a low whistle. “I can’t say I expectedthat.”
“Yeah, well… I’m trying to be… better.”
“For her?”
There was more silence, and then Cameron sighed. Sophia could imagine him running a hand through his mussed hair or dragging it down his face. Then Cameron said, “No. Not for her. I mean, sure—if she’d take me back, I want to be someone she deserves. But right now? I’m just trying to fix my mistakes. For me.”
Sophia’s heart practically trembled in her chest. She closed her eyes and didn’t realize the tears were falling until one dropped from her chin and landed on her hand. There was no way he knew she was seated here, but that could change at any given moment.
She didn’t want to be caught. Suddenly, listening to their conversation felt like an invasion of privacy. So, she scrunched down as low onto the bench as she could and prayed that he wouldn’t need to use the restroom before she could slip out unnoticed.
Thankfully, in less than ten minutes, it happened. The brothers left on better terms than they’d arrived. Samuel didn’t tell Cameron what he’d confessed to Sophia, and he might never do so. But Sophia couldn’t think about that right now.
Her thoughts were consumed with the fact that Cameron had taken a step in the right direction without being told to do so.
“You’ve been quiet.”
Sophia glanced up at Emma. “Have I?”
She laughed. “We’ve literally gone into three stores, and you haven’t said a single thing. What’s going on? Is Cameron still hassling you?”
“The contrary, actually.” Sophia had paid more attention to him lately. She’d begun to notice little changes he’d been making in his behavior. They’d bump into each other at the country club when she’d been around town, and he was simply… different. He gave her space even when other guys were obviously hitting on her. He didn’t even seem angry anymore.
It wasn’t that he didn’t care. She could still see the look of desire in his eyes. That smoldering look said it all. His feelings for her hadn’t changed. But Cameron had.
Sophia swallowed and offered her friend a smile. “Sorry.”
Emma opened her mouth to say something as they continued on their way down the street but immediately snapped it shut as her eyes landed on something over Sophia’s shoulder. Sophia glanced in that direction and gasped.
Cameron smiled at her. It had been nearly a month since his apology to his brother, and he was looking good.
More than good, he looked like he was glowing—as much as a guy could.
Wow! Her brain wasn’t willing to work for her when this mouth-watering specimen looked at her like that.
“Sophia,” Cameron said, his voice slipping past her defenses and making her legs turn into mush.
“Hey,” she rasped, then cleared her throat. “How are you doing?”
“I’m gonna get us some muffins at the bakery. I’ll be right back,” Emma said.
Before Sophia could demand that her friend stay by her side, Emma had disappeared. Sophia looked after her like she was doomed before lifting her gaze to Cameron.
That smile made her want to do things—say things—she had no business participating in. She chewed on the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from putting her foot in her mouth, but apparently her head didn’t get the memo. “You look good,” she blurted. It was silly. She’d seen him around at the ranch even though she’d managed to avoid him more often than not.
“Thanks. You don’t look half bad yourself.”
She flushed with embarrassment. This had to be the most awkward conversation ever. There was so much she could say to him right now. The temptation to tell him she wanted to start over nearly burst from her when he completely shattered her reality.
He shifted, running a hand through his hair. “I started seeing someone.”
Her stomach dropped. “You have?” Her voice was just above a whisper, and she hated how the jealousy in her chest jarred her reality.
