Page 70 of Loving You Always

Kerris glanced over her shoulder, wriggling to the ground and stepping out of Walsh’s arms, only to be pulled back and pressed against his chest.

“Sorry, I couldn’t wait,” Walsh said.

“Some things don’t change,” Cam said.

“Before I hid everything, buried my feelings, and didn’t tell you what the hell was going on.” Walsh held Cam’s eyes without wavering. “And it cost me the only thing that really mattered. You and Kerris should never have gotten married.”

“You’re a little late to this party, dude,” Cam said with wry bitterness. “We just had this conversation.”

“Not with me, you didn’t. I need to say this. You can be a selfish, egotistical, spoiled bastard.”

“Well, this is off to a great start.” Cam slid his hands into the pockets of his pants and rocked back on his heels. “Is there a ‘but’ coming?”

“But”—Walsh paused for emphasis—“you were the best friend I’ve ever had. Maybe will ever have, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you how I felt about Kerris. I’m sorry I kissed her when she was married to you, but I’m not, couldneverbe, sorry that I love her or that she loves me. I’m not sure things will ever be the same between you and me—”

“Doubtful.” Cam looked down at his boots.

“But I have to be honest with you this time. It’s all got to be out in the open.” Walsh squeezed Kerris an inch closer. She felt the heavy, frantic rhythm of his heart beat at her back. “I’m marrying Kerris.”

Not a twitch. Not a blink. Kerris saw nothing on Cam’s face until he drew a swift breath.

“I know that.”

“Soon.” Walsh reached down and around until his hand surrounded hers. “Very soon.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Walsh ignored the flicker of guilt he still felt every time he saw the man who had been his best friend. He’d never felt more ruthless. The killer instinct his father had so carefully cultivated in him over the years flared to life. There would be no doubt in Cam’s mind that Kerris was his, and that Walsh intended to keep her. Walsh had allowed his feelings to be swept under a rug before, disregarded. He had watched his future taken out of his control, out of his hands. Not this time. He was in control, and he wanted every card on the table.

“Walsh, wait.” Kerris stepped out of his arms and crossed over to Cam, dragging him over to stand beside Walsh.

“The last conversation I had alone with Kristeene was about the two of you.” Kerris looked from one face to the other. Walsh figured his expression was about as rigidly expressionless as Cam’s. “She asked me to make a promise. That I would do everything I could to reconcile her boys.”

Walsh and Cam looked away from each other. Walsh knew they both still wrestled with the grief that might always be there for his mother, the woman who had shaped both their lives so significantly.

“She died believing I would make good on that promise,” Kerris continued, eyes watering and mouth trembling. “Cam, Walsh and I have both asked you to forgive us for not being honest with you when we realized how we felt. I should have faced my feelings instead of avoiding them.”

Walsh watched Cam’s face soften only by degrees during Kerris’s speech. He had no idea how Cam was taking it.

“Cam, you’ve apologized for leaving after Amalie, and I understand why you did that.” Kerris stood between them like a small bridge. “I forgive you. I know it’s not possible to ever completely clean our slate with each other, but will you try? Will the two of you try to be…friends again?”

The two men faced each other like sparring partners, their weapons never far from reach. The betrayal, disillusion, and hurt was too deep, too real, to evaporate. Walsh glanced from Kerris’s pleading face to Cam’s impassive expression. Walsh remembered his mother knocking their heads together when they’d fought as adolescent boys and forcing them to apologize to each other. To make up and go back and play. It wasn’t that simple anymore. He wished it were, wished that one day they could help Kerris fulfill that deathbed promise, but today wasn’t that day. He could see the same regret on Cam’s face.

“I think I should go.” Cam’s smile had been waxed on. “I left something for you in the office. Something that was yours.”

“Oh. Okay.” Kerris’s eyes asked the question Cam obviously wasn’t going to answer. A solitary tear streaked down her cheek. “Tell me we can work this out.”

“Kerris, you don’t need my blessing to marry Walsh.”

“It’s not that.” She reached for Cam’s hand. “I have to make this right.”

“And maybe one day, it will be.” Cam’s eyes reflected the same pain Walsh strained against. “For all of us. But for today, this is as right as it’s gonna get. I have to meet Sebastian at the gallery. We’re heading back to Paris.”

“Cam, please don’t leave like this.” Kerris swiped at the tears still trailing down her face.

“Sweetie, this is the best I can do.” Cam gave her small hand a squeeze.

“Cam, I know this is hard,” Walsh said, finding it harder than he had thought it would be.

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