Page 124 of Love Unscripted
He turned to look at her again—and that didn’t help.
If anything, it made it worse.
She still looked… undone. Affected. And the knowledge that she hadwanted him too—that she had stopped them not because she didn’t feel it, but in spite of it—tightened something in his chest.
He stood abruptly, needing distance.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said, voice rough. “I shouldn’t have put you in that position.”
“You didn’t put me there alone,” she said quietly.
That made him pause.
She met his eyes, steady now, though her voice remained soft. “I wanted it too.”
The honesty landed between them—heavy, unguarded.
“But wanting something doesn’t make it right,” she continued. “I’ve been reading… trying to understand what it means to actually live this out. And I know—this isn’t it.”
He swallowed, nodding slowly. “You’re right.”
He took another step back, creating more space between them.
“I need to go,” he said finally, quieter now. “If I stay… I’m not sure I’ll make a better decision the second time.”
Something flickered across her face at that—something that looked a little too close to disappointment before she smoothed it away.
“I understand.”
He hesitated, just for a second.
Then nodded once, firmly—as though choosing something.
And turned for the door.
This time, when he left, it wasn’t frantic.
But it wasn’t calm either.
Chapter 20
Houston
Their time in Houston passed in a blur of studio lights, sharp questions, and measured answers. The interview with Zachary Brooks set the tone—probing but respectful—forcing each of them to articulate not just the film’s themes, but their own convictions about faith, strength, and truth. Camille handled herself with a composure that impressed even Aaron, her responses thoughtful and grounded in a way that hinted at deeper change. The chemistry between them didn’t go unnoticed either, drawing subtle commentary that neither fully leaned into nor denied. By the time the cameras went dark, the promotion had done more than advance the film—it had quietly shifted something between them, leaving Aaron thoughtful as the night gave way to a more personal conversation still waiting to be had.
Aaron went out to dinner that night with his father, and Robert finally asked about the relationship between him and Camille.
Aaron had told his siblings about Camille’s deception, but he had been too embarrassed to tell his parents. It wasn’t that he couldn’t talk to them or feared they wouldn’t understand. It was that he didn’t want them to see her in a bad light. They were his parents, and it mattered deeply to him what they thought of any woman he brought home. Inviting Camille to his parents’ anniversary celebration had been significant. If she had been just some casual woman, he never would have done that. In fact, the only other woman he had ever brought home was Scarlette. For him to do that, and then for everything to sour, was not something he had been eager to relive out loud—especially after he had already confided in his father about how deeply he felt for her, and his father had urged him to slow down and be sure.
He didn’t want to hear—or even sense—an “I told you so.”
They knew, of course, that he and Camille had broken up, but he had offered only something vague, like, “It didn’t work out.” His parents had seemed disappointed, or maybe just sorry for how miserable he looked. His siblings were the only ones who knew the details.
But now everything was shifting again. His feelings for Camille were overtaking him, and he was forced to examine whether he had been entirely right in how he had judged her. He had a decision to make about where they were going—if they were going anywhere at all. His physical desire for her was nothing new, but that alone would never be enough to build a relationship on. Trust was needed, and he wasn’t sure he was there yet.
Still, he couldn’t ignore how impressed he had been when she had put the brakes on their heated make-out session in Chicago. She had changed. Matured over the last few months. He could see it clearly. Even her responses during the interviews had been measured, thoughtful, controlled in a way he hadn’t noticed before. It was as if she had truly spent their time apart reflecting and growing closer to God.
Aaron had checked out engagement rings online, and one in particular had immediately caught his attention: the Camille marquise diamond engagement ring. The name alone felt almost impossible to ignore. He called the jeweler and asked how quickly it could be delivered. They told him the ring was in stock and available for same-day delivery. For a moment, he was tempted to place the order immediately. But this was too important to rush. He needed to be certain.
