Page 69 of Sophia & Cameron
“Because you’ve been here a total of thirty minutes and she’s been staring at you for half of them.” Roman elbowed him. “Just go talk to her. What could it hurt? You’re already broken up. Might as well see if there’s any spark left.”
Right at that moment, “She Ain’t Ready” by Luke Combs came over the speakers and it was like Cameron had been transported back to that first night he’d danced with Sophia in Texas. His hands twitched and his eyes found Sophia’s.
She’d noticed it too.
Without thinking, Cameron moved in her direction. Even if this was the last dance they’d ever spend in each other’s arms, he’d take it. His heart belonged to her no matter what anyone else said.
Sophia’s eyes followed him as he made his way to her. The men who had been talking with her were gone now, allowing them privacy to speak. But he wasn’t going to be happy with just talking to her.
“Dance with me, please,” he said, holding out his hand. It wasn’t a question. And thankfully, Sophia didn’t refuse him.
His heart pounded. His hands grew clammy. Before the words escaped his mouth, he knew what he was going to say, and he prayed that she’d accept it.
“Cameron—” she started, but he cut her off.
“I’m in love with you, Red.”
She blinked up at him.
“I was in love with you from the first moment I saw you. On that first night, I’d planned on finding out where you were from so I could relocate.”
“What?”
His hold on her tightened as if he was worried she might fly away. Or run. There was no going back after starting this conversation. The only way was through. “I knew that night that you were it for me. I knew that no one else would hold a candle to the feelings I had, and I… just didn’t want to scare you away. I can be… intense.”
She blushed, but he didn’t miss the way she’d tensed in his arms. She was still holding back. And why wouldn’t she? He’d not given her any indication that he’d changed. And honestly, there would be no way of knowing until she forgave him and he had a chance to prove it.
“I know I haven’t earned a second chance yet,” he whispered, moving closer to her ear. “I know you deserve a man a million times better than me. But he won’t love you the way I do.” His thumb traced circles on the back of her hand, and he refused to pull back to see her face—not until he finished what he had to say. “I hope eventually you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me. One day, I hope you’ll see our potential and take me back.” Cameron waited, swaying with her as the song neared its end.
When he pulled back, all he could see was the conflicted nature of her expression. It even appeared that she was holding back tears.
“You don’t have to say anything, Sophia. I’m not going to force you or give you an ultimatum. I simply wanted you to know that my feelings for you haven’t changed. Not since Texas and not since we’ve broken up.”
The song came to an end and Cameron released her. He left her to think about what he’d said as he moved to the bar and ordered himself a soda.
29
Sophia
“You’re shaking! What’s wrong?” Emma rubbed her hands up and down Sophia’s arms.
“Everything. Nothing. Gah, I don’t know.” Sophia’s eyes sought him out, searching for the man who had just laid his heart on the table. It couldn’t have been easy for him to confess any of that to her, especially after she’d turned him down so many times. She couldn’t believe he’d said any of it, and right now, she didn’t know how to respond.
“What happened?” Emma tried again. She was giving her husband a nervous look. “Do you need me to take you home?”
Sophia’s eyes landed on him then. The man who had managed to steal her heart and had kept it locked away all this time. His eyes met hers, and for a moment she thought he might charge right back over here to kiss her. She glanced at her friend as if she were her lifeline.
The worst part about that idea was that she wasn’t completely against it.
Her cheeks heated, and she tore her eyes from her friend. “Cameron.”
“What about him?”
The warmth in her body spread like wildfire. “He wants me back.”
This time, Emma looked for the topic of their conversation. When her eyes landed on him, they bounced back to Sophia. “Okay? Is that a bad thing?”
Sophia covered her face with her hands. “No.” She shook her head. “Maybe. I don’t know, Emma. We weren’t any good for each other?—”
