Page 51 of Unwrapped
“You’d better not.”
“I promise.” He points to the page. “He’s not going to back down, Cami. He loves you. Give him a chance to prove himself.”
Mood Music: “Celebrate Me Home” by Josh Groban
Ryan stomps down the snowy sidewalk, pausing near the back entrance to Hotel Polaris. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Standing out in the cold. You?”
“You know what I’m talking about.” His nostrils flare when I don’t respond. “Why were you sitting so close to Cam?”
“Like I told you inside, don’t worry about it.”
He narrows his eyes into slits. “You can’t possibly be seeing her.”
I clench my fists at the derision in his tone. “And what if I am?”
“We’re brothers. That’s crossing a line.”
“Guess you can call me a line-crosser, then.” I advance on him, backing him toward the building’s brick exterior. “Either get used to the idea or get the fuck over it.”
“She wasmygirlfriend.”
I grab him by the collar. “You lost the privilege to call her youranythingthree years ago when you cheated on her.” I get right up in his face, so close, our noses touch. “You’re a bastard. YouknewI wanted her, but you went after her anyway.” He opens his mouth to protest, but I tighten my grip on his collar to silence him. “Don’t even try to pretend it didn’t go down like that. You knew exactly what you were doing when you invited her to that concert after I told you how I freaked out when she tried to kiss me. YouknewI was trying to work up the courage to apologize and go after her.”
“That’s not the conversation I remember.”
“You only pay attention when it’s convenient for you. It’s just like when we were kids. I wanted something for myself, so you made it your mission to take it from me. And for what? To belittle her writing dream? To hurt her by having multiple affairs with the gold-diggers who worked for you? To ruin her chances of getting her dream job? To crush her fucking spirit?”
He doesn’t have an answer for that, but the fucker has the balls to look sheepish.
I release him and step back. “Even when she was yours, deep down, you knew she was mine. That’s why you held on to her for so long. IfIdidn’t have feelings for her, you would’ve cheated sooner.”
“That’s not true.”
“Bullshit.” I jab my finger into his chest. “You didn’t deserve her, Ryan.”
“And you think you do?” He sneers.
“You’re goddamn right, I do.” And for the first time in my life, I believe it. I’ll do whatever it takes to be worthy of her love. “So, let me make myself perfectly clear. Camille is mine now, and I don’t care if you, Mom, or anyone else has a problem with it. I’m not letting her go this time.” Turning, I stalk to the hotel’s front entrance.
He shouts something, but I’m not interested. The golden child can make all the noise he wants.
Upbeat music reaches my ears as I make my way toward the main ballroom. Camille is pacing the hallway with her arms wrapped around herself. Jude is with her, leaning against a nearby wall, listening intently to whatever she’s saying. They don’t see me yet, which is fine. It will give me a chance to pull myself together. I silently move closer, keeping to the shadows.
“I know you’re scared, but you need to look at the facts. He’s here. He ditched his mom and traveled from Boston to seeyou. And he knew damn well Ryan was going to be herebeforehe came, so it’s not like there was an element of surprise. He’s out there having a conversation with his brother, instead of avoiding the situation. Dean is doing everything right for once.”
My appreciation for Jude grows, hearing him come to my defense.
“I know, but Ryan’s a manipulator. He holds a fucking PhD in gaslighting.”
“No one’s arguing that one, sugar.” He rubs his jaw. “I have a few other words for him, but I’ll spare you my tirade. Bottom line, you need to trust Dean enough to give him a chance. If he has half a brain—he’s a doctor, so there’s got to be something up there—he’ll do right by you.”
She pauses in front of him. “But what if he doesn’t?”
“Then he didn’t deserve you to begin with.” She opens her mouth to protest, but he holds his finger to her lips. “You’re a gift, Cami. Everyone who knows you, feels that way. If Dean is stupid enough to walk away from you again, he isn’t worth your time.” He stares at her face for a moment. “Because Ipromiseyou, there are men out there who’d love nothing more than to take his place.” The longing in his voice makes it abundantly clear he’d be first in line.
“Thanks, Jude. You always know the right thing to say.”
