I wanted him to lift his hands, touch me. Anywhere would be good. But he was a statue. "You handled it pretty well. You gave me the space I needed. And Dad said you helped him paint the gym." "He invited me." "Still. You didn't have to go. I'm... Thank you. Thank you, Cam." I moved my hands down to his stomach, wanting to slip them under his shirt so I could touch his skin, but his big hands wrapped around my wrists to stop me. "You were a mess when I found you in the rain. You were a mess the whole fucking night." I looked down, still ashamed of how I was that night. "Don't." He touched my chin, lifted it so I'd meet his eyes. "I was glad you came to me." He swiped a hand on his face, looking frustrated, helpless. "I know I screwed up before. And if you're expecting the people in your life to leave someday, you're right. Everyone leaves eventually. But I won't be the next one. Not anytime soon." He was right. Everyone leaves eventually, voluntarily or not. Life and death were the only constant in this world. "I was a mess. I needed time to be by myself." He let out a defeated sigh. "I understand. I'm a damned hypocrite for wanting you to turn to me when something goes wrong in your life, but there it is." "Cam..." He stepped away. "Get your stuff. I'm taking you to see a movie." I blinked. Once, twice. Slowly. My mind was on other things. More interesting things. Sexy things. Going to see a movie was the very last thing from it. "I don't want to go to the movies." "Would it help if I said your dad asked me to?" "Did he?" "No, but let's go anyway." He was already walking away. I marched after him. I heard him brushing his teeth in the bathroom off the den. Placing my hands on my hips, I glared at his reflection in the mirror. "What's going on with you? You said you hate going to the movies. Or do I need to clean my ears?" He wiped his mouth when he was done, turned to me. "You heard right." I was going to pull my hair any time now. "Hello. Did the size of my brain shrink? I swear I can hear you speaking words, but I'm not understanding any of it." "You like it." "What?" "Going to the movies." "Says who?" "Your dad. Get your stuff. Let's go." "You should know that I'm only letting you off because I was a shithead this week," I said once we put on our winter gear and were in his truck. "Otherwise you'll be in excruciating pain right now." "Yeah, yeah." But he was smiling. Now that I could concentrate a little clearly, I studied his profile. Cameron was the most beautiful man I'd ever seen in my life, but I could see the dark circles under his eyes. My dad was right. Cameron was exhausted. "I want to drive," I said, hoping he'd let me so he could rest. "Too bad. I want to drive too," was his reply. I blew out a breath. Maybe I was approaching this wrong. But being with him was giving me a high. I felt happy. Really happy for the first time after Tala left. "Are you cold? Your hair's still wet." "No." I turned the heat up anyway. I frowned when he missed the turn to the closest theatre, but let it go. Maybe he wanted to go to a different location. Honestly, I was just happy to be around him again. Cameron had become my sun. Reaching out, I fingered a curly lock of his dark hair. It was damp. "How's the reno you're doing for the triplets?" "We finished it today." He turned his head to check the right-side mirror at the same moment when he grinned. It made my heart go pitty-pat. He didn't get excited often, and it felt good I discovered something new about him. "Great job, boss. I'm sure they'll be happy in their new home. Thanks to you." "The crew did most of the job." I doubt it. "I didn't know you have a modest bone in your body."