Page 114 of Stolen Bases

Returning his attention back to my aunt, Cam says, “Ma’am…”

Zia Rose crosses her arms over her chest. “Call me ma’am again, and I’ll poison your breakfast. Just call me Rose.”

“Rose it is, then.” Cam chuckles. “Out of respect, I would prefer this conversation to happen with your sister, but here we go. Let me start by answering your question. No, I am not justsexingyour niece for revenge.”

He’s not really sexing me at all,my brain grouses.

As if he knows what I’m thinking, Cam winks at me. “I love Talia. She’s it for me. I know we are going to have our challenges—mostly with Nico—but you and everyone else just have to get on board. I’m not going anywhere.”

Rose looks over our shoulders. “What do you think, Cat? Do we believe him?”

My head whips around so fast that I wouldn’t be surprised if I get whiplash. “Mamma. How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough,” she says, placing the grocery bags on the floor. She avoids looking me in the eye as she walks past me, and she joins Zia Rose on the other side of the island.

“Girls, it’s time to go.” Rose snaps her fingers at my cousins—I forgot they were still in here—and ushers them outof the room. Placing a hand on my shoulder, she whispers, “You got this,” before leaving the kitchen.

“So, you’re the one who’s been sending the gifts? Calling at all hours of the night?” Her gray eyes focus on the way Cam’s arm is wrapped protectively around my waist.

“Yes, ma’am. At least, I hope no one else is sending her presents and calling at all hours of the night.” He looks at me for confirmation.

“Don’t look at me like that. You know it’s only you.”

A slow smile spreads across his face, reaching his eyes, at hearing my confirmation. Who knew even my hotshot baseball god of a boyfriend needs a little reassurance sometimes?

An exaggerated sigh pulls our attention back to the problem at hand.

“Lia, when I said you should get a tune-up, I didn’t mean for you to pick the one man your brother would have a fit over.”

“Do you really think he would accept any man I brought home?” There isn’t a guy out there that Nico would approve of. My brain thinks back to Kyle. The one time my brother made an exception, it turned out to be the worst dating experience of my life.

“Probably not.” She doesn’t even crack a smile at my joke. Dread pulls low in my stomach. “But I can’t condone this, Lia. It would be a betrayal to your brother. I will not be another person in his life to betray him.”

“But, Mamma…” Tears flood my eyes. Of course, she’s picking Nico’s happiness over mine. It’s always been like that. “I’m not betraying him.”

“No, Lia.” She faces Cam. The flowing stream of confidence I had before this conversation dries to nothing as my mom speaks, her voice firm. “While I appreciate what you said, Mr. Miller, I must ask that you stop seeing my daughter. If you love her the way you say you do, then you will take a step back. I’m sure you understand that family must come first in a situation like this.”

Hot tears roll down my cheeks. I can’t believe she’s asking Cam to walk away. To leave me.

Calm as can be, Cam responds, “No. I don’t. Unlike you, my family would never stand in the way of my happiness. But I understand. Family means everything to me as well. The last thing I want is to come between Talia and her family.” Cam turns his body to face me, pulling me to his chest.

A sob breaks free as reality sets in. He’s leaving without a fight.

“Don’t.” I cry into the crook of his neck, breathing in his exotic, spicy bergamot scent.

Releasing me from the safety of his arms, he stands. “Your mom is right, Talia. We have to end this. It never should have started in the first place.”

“No.” I cling to his shirt. He can’t leave me.

“I’m sorry, baby. You have to let me go.” Cam wrenches his shirt from my grip. He drops a quick kiss on my cheek and rushes out the back door like his ass is on fire.

What the fuck just happened?

My mother wraps her arms around me. “Shh. It will be alright, Lia. In time, you’ll see this is for the best.”

How could she say that to me right now? She just chased the man I love away, decimating my heart, all because my brother is a jealous asshole.

I push her off of me. “No. Don’t touch me.”

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