Page 58 of Sophia & Cameron

Cameron fought the instinct to flinch at the tone. He didn’t release her. “I miss you,” he whispered.

That caught her off guard. She stared at him for a moment, her eyes flickering with so many emotions that he couldn’t keep any of them straight. He’d hoped that she’d say she missed him too. Or that she’d be willing to hear him out. Instead, she shook her head and pulled away from him.

She led Tilly from the barn, and he continued to follow her, but he was stopped in his tracks when Mateo and Roman blocked his path. Mateo looked disappointed and maybe a little irritated. Roman almost looked sad.

“Let her go, Cameron,” Roman said.

“You know I can’t do that.”

Mateo folded his arms. “I’ve kept out of this up until this point, but I can’t let you keep doing this. She told you what she wanted. You have to respect her wishes.”

Cameron could feel the desperation growing within him. Frustration, too. These guys didn’t know what they were talkingabout. They only had Sophia’s side of the story. How could they understand if they didn’t hear him out?

He frowned at one man, then the next. “I just need to talk to her. I think if I can explain?—”

“What is there to explain?” Mateo said quietly. “You attacked your brother.”

“Hekissedher,” Cameron snapped. “He kissed her, and he was trying to?—”

The pity in Roman’s eyes only fueled Cameron’s fury. “That doesn’t give you an excuse to do what you did. He’s your flesh and blood. And from what I understand, he didn’t even know the two of you were together.”

“And that’s my fault?”

“No one said that it’s your fault. But you’re responsible for your own choices.” Why did Mateo have to be the voice of reason right now? What he was saying made a great deal of sense, and Cameron hated it.

Yes, he was responsible for his own choices. Yes, he needed to rein himself in. But his brother should have known better.

“You need to leave her alone, Cameron. I know it’s going to be hard, but you can’t just keep chasing after her.” Roman placed a hand on Cameron’s shoulder, and it took everything in his power not to shrug him off or push him away.

Cameron opened his mouth to argue, but Roman continued.

“You want to get her back, right?”

“You know I do,” Cameron shot back, his eyes drifting to where Sophia had disappeared. “I’ll do anything?—”

“Including seeing a therapist?”

Cameron’s mouth clamped shut. Anything but that. What was a therapist supposed to help him do? Cameron didn’t need to sit down on some uncomfortable chair and talk out his feelings. He needed his brother to admit he was just trying tomake his life miserable. Once he confessed, no one would look at Cameron like he was the bad guy.

“I know you don’t like that idea, but Sophia is right.” Mateo’s words dragged Cameron back to the present conversation. “And honestly? I think it would be a good idea for you while you work here.”

“Seeing a therapist isn’t in my contract,” Cameron ground out. “I’m not required to do any such thing.” He was fully aware that he was pushing his luck with his boss. He just couldn’t dredge up the ability to care.

The look on Mateo’s face made it clear that Cameron was right, but Mateo wasn’t happy about it. He probably would require therapy if they were to extend the contract.

Cameron folded his arms, looking from one man to the other. “If that’s everything…”

Roman glanced at his brother, then back to Cameron. “Just leave her alone. She’s already said that she’s going to do the same. You guys need space.”

“I don’t need space,” Cameron argued. “All I need is her. I’m not going to hurt anyone else. I’m not going to lose my temper.”

“Of course not,” Mateo said bitterly. “Because if you do, then I’ll have to void our contract. I won’t allow anyone on my payroll who is a danger to themselves or others. I don’t care about your excuses.” He didn’t have to say his threat outright. Mateo’s message was loud and clear.

There would be no more flexibility when it came to Cameron’s jealous outbursts.

Clearly, Cameron had been lucky up to this point regarding what Mateo was willing to put up with. He got the feeling that if Mateo was completely informed of every altercation, that would change.

Cameron dragged a hand down his face. “It won’t happen again,” he attempted to reassure the man who he alsoconsidered a friend. “I just…” He sighed. “Please. Let me talk to her. One more time.”

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