Page 72 of Three Little Wishes

“How did you and I never hook up?”

“You were either married or getting married.”

“I’m an idiot.”

“You might not have the best taste in men, but you’re far from an idiot. Now stop trying to distract me and tell me what’s going on.”

She did. She told him everything from how she’d gotten pregnant at seventeen to where she was now, trying to make things right. The one thing she didn’t tell him about was Will and the part she’d played in his death.

Other than offering a murmured word of comfort when she got a little emotional, Hugh mostly stayed quiet.

“So there you have it. The messy, complicated story of my life.”

“I get first option on the movie rights.”

She laughed. “I’m not writing my life story, Hugh.”

“I’m begging you. Please, write this story.”

“You’re serious?”

“I’ve never been more serious in my life.”

“First off, I’m not a writer. Second, I couldn’t open myself up like that. People would crucify me.”

“You’ve been in the business long enough to know that some will, but people need stories like yours, Cami. They need someone like you, a gorgeous woman who seems to have it all, to show them that no one’s perfect, that you’ve been knocked down and got back up, that your mistakes don’t define you, and that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. We can talk about the actual writing of the book. I think you can do it, and I’d like to see you give it a try. I’m happy to read your first few chapters. But I know several authors who’ve worked on celebrity biographies.”

“I can’t believe that not only do you want me to do this, but you think I can.”

“The Cami Monroe I know can do anything she sets her mind to.”

“There’s more to the story, Hugh. I’ve never told anyone. It’s ugly, and it’s… it’s unforgivable. If anyone found out, I could be in serious trouble.”

“Hang on a sec.” She heard him talking to someone in the background. “As you know, I have a situation to deal with here, but as soon as everything calms down, I’m coming to you.”

“Hugh, no. You’re busy. You don’t have to drop everything to come hold my hand. I’m fine, honestly.”

“I’m not coming to hold your hand, Cami. I’m coming to convince you that you need to write your story, and to hear the part of it that you haven’t shared with anyone.”

“I can’t, Hugh. I can’t tell anyone, not even you,” she said, the panic coming out in her voice.

“You don’t have to tell me, but I’m still coming.”

“You’re busy!”

“Cami, for the first time since I’ve known you, you’re not in a relationship. Do you really think I’m going to risk you meeting someone before I can convince you to give me a chance?”

She grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest, tears rolling down her cheeks. She didn’t deserve a man like Hugh in her life. He was beautiful inside and out. So she did the only thing she knew that would convince him she wasn’t worth it. She told him about the night she’d killed Will Bennett.

When she was finished, she buried her face in the pillow. Over her muffled sobs, she heard him swear and waited for the sound of him disconnecting.

Instead, his voice came over the line, deep and pissed off. “Baby, your sense of timing sucks.”

“I… What?” She sat up and wiped her eyes.

“You know what I’m dealing with, Cami. It’s not like I can charter a plane and come to you. My phone is blowing up, I have producers losing their minds, and—”

“After everything I just told you, you still want to see me?”

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