Page 44 of Best Laid Plans (Rock Harbor #1)

Cam wrinkled his nose. “Gross, bro. You’ve been hanging out with high schoolers too much. We need to get you a life. With, like, actual other adults.”

Wyatt began to hand dry his dishes, which he’d inevitably eaten an aggressively large portion of chicken, broccoli, and rice on for dinner. Another ritual. “Speaking of hanging out with other adults…”

The spidey senses in Cam’s body had gone on full alert at the way Wyatt was looking at him. He pushed down the feeling and stood still, refusing to fidget under Wyatt’s watchful stare. “Are you going to finish that sentence?”

“You’ve been holding out on me, man. ”

Cam drew his eyebrows upward. This couldn’t be about Elle. There’s no way Wyatt would be so calm. “I’d love to know how.”

“You had me here thinking that you were just hiding out, martyring yourself in Rock Harbor.” A beat passed, which Cam didn’t fill. “I was cleaning my medicine cabinet earlier and I noticed the missing condoms. Glad you’re getting some, bro. It’s good for you to lighten up a little.”

Which was rich, coming from Wyatt. Pot, meet kettle.

Only, Cam couldn’t even make the shitty joke because his mouth felt like it was filled with cotton.

And it only served to showcase that Wyatt really didn’t think of Elle as anything except his little sister, considering Cam wasn’t the only one staying at the apartment.

And the last thing he’d do, even upon excruciating pain, was mention that he and Elle had both benefited from Wyatt’s preparedness.

Cam scratched at his five o’clock shadow, trying to figure out how to play this.

He’d always thought of Elle as his best friend’s little sister, but that had clearly changed over the last few weeks.

Now, she existed in a wholly separate space in Cam’s mind, one that had nothing to do with his best friend and everything to do with the messy tangle of feelings that she’d been driving him insane with.

And he hadn’t found a way to reconcile his friendship with Wyatt and his relationship with Elle.

He didn’t know how to merge the two parts into something that didn’t make him feel like he was doing something wrong.

Mostly because he knew that Wyatt wouldn’t like it.

And he didn’t especially like knowing that, so it was just one of many thoughts he was choosing not to think about these days.

Cam put down the water bottle he’d just taken a drink from, needing something to be able to get the lie out.

He cleared his throat. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but sadly, you can’t live vicariously through me.

I went to the bar one night and wanted to be on the safe side.

Wasn’t needed, though,” he said with a self-deprecating shrug.

Wyatt nodded approvingly. “Good man. This wouldn’t be a great time to add ‘dad’ to your resume, you know?”

Cam didn’t like how Wyatt’s words settled in his stomach. It’s not like Cam had ever seriously planned to have a family given his own rotten home life, but still, if even Wyatt thought he’d be shit at it, that wasn’t a good sign.

Which is why it was so jarring when an image of Elle flashed through his mind, with a little tennis-playing mini-me at her side, a dark ponytail bouncing as the little girl tried to hit the ball.

Elle, patient and loving, was guiding her through the motions, a bright smile on both of their faces.

The thought about damn near made his knees buckle, and he put his hand on the counter to brace himself.

Did he want those things with Elle? God. He rubbed at his face, ignoring Wyatt’s confused look. How had things gotten so out of control?

Wyatt took a step closer. “You okay? You look like you’re about to upchuck all over my very clean kitchen.”

Cam swallowed to get some air into his lungs, but it still felt like he’d been punched in the stomach. What the fuck was he doing? He took another deep breath and held his hand up. “I’m good.”

Still concerned, Wyatt studied him. “Are you sure? You’ve been kinda weird the past few days. Honestly, you’ve been weird the whole time I’ve been back.”

Which made sense to Cam. He hated lying. He hated sneaking around. He hated wanting things. He hated that he didn’t feel good enough. He hated knowing that now, there’d always be a before and after where Elle was concerned, and that he’d have to spend the rest of his life keeping it at bay.

But instead of saying any of that, Cam only nodded. “Just a busy day at the restaurant. I probably didn’t eat enough. ”

Add into the mix that he hadn’t even told Wyatt that he was making an offer to invest in Pierce’s. But he didn’t have the energy to get into it right now. Once the Pierces’ had the proposal, he’d tell him.

“I put some leftovers in the fridge for you.”

He couldn’t even find the strength to make a joke about Wyatt’s under-seasoned food right now. “Thanks, man. I think I’m just going to have sleep for dinner, but I appreciate it.” Wouldn’t be the first time in his life he’d done that, even if this time it was completely self-imposed.

Cam started walking toward his room, heavy steps making him feel like he was slogging through quicksand. When he reached the doorway, he turned, Wyatt’s studious eyes still on him. “I’ll be at the restaurant tomorrow night, but I know you and your guys will kill it for the season opener.”

Instead of sitting on the bed, he thumped his head back against the wall at the same time he heard the bathroom door open.

He’d wanted nothing more than to join her in the shower.

To follow her into her bedroom and fall asleep with their bodies intertwined.

To wake up with her in the morning and brush the little stray hairs around her temples away so he could see her face.

Tonight, he wouldn’t allow himself any of those things.