Page 64 of Sophia & Cameron

He lowered his gaze, hating the turn this conversation had taken.

“You’d do anything for her, right?” Roman asked.

“Yeah,” he ground out.

Roman sighed. “Why can’t you do the same for yourself?”

Slowly, Cameron lifted his gaze to Roman.

“She wants you to get better—to get over whatever it is that’s holding you back. If you’re willing to do anything for her. Then make that happen.” He lifted placating palms. “That’s all I wanted to say.” Roman glanced once more to the blonde who’d entered a little while ago. They exchanged smiles, and she looked as though she wanted to stop by their table to talk to him.

Was she a potential girlfriend? Or just an acquaintance?

It didn’t matter. She slipped past them with nothing more than a nod in Roman’s direction. Roman’s eyes followed her out the door before returning to Cameron.

“Anyway, if you decide you need a recommendation, I’m sure I could help you find someone. And if you decide you hate my advice?” He shrugged. “Then I guess we know where the cards have fallen.” He got to his feet and retrieved the hat he’d placed on the chair at his side. “Just think about it, okay? I don’t like seeing my sister hurt so much.”

Cameron grunted. He didn’t stand or watch Roman leave. He just stared at his still mostly full coffee cup.

He’d watched her with all those guys last weekend. And each time he’d had to shove his hands deep into his pockets to stophimself from intervening. It had taken all his energy to not pull her into his arms when he’d gotten her alone. He’d felt like a fool afterward—the way he’d begged her to take him back.

At least he hadn’t taken a swing at anyone. And he hadn’t dragged her out of there caveman-style. That was an improvement, right?

Maybe Roman was right.

Cameron had tried every other avenue. Perhaps this therapy thing was the route he’d have to take.

27

Sophia

Sophia headed out of the grocery store with one bag in hand and nearly collided with Sam. She gasped and stumbled back a step. He was quick, grasping her wrist before she knocked into someone else.

A wry smile played on his lips. The bruising on his face from his brother was still present, but it was fading into that brownish-green color.

She grimaced, reaching up as if she were going to touch the injuries, but then thought better of herself.

Samuel released her hand and shoved both of his into his pockets. “I was hoping I’d bump into you today,” he said.

She glanced around warily. Cameron must have done a number on her if she was concerned he’d be coming out of the woodwork to do more damage. When she didn’t immediately sense any impending danger, she brought her eyes back to Sam. “You could have called.”

He lifted a shoulder. “And would you have answered?”

Biting back a chagrined smile, she shook her head. “Probably not.”

“And seeing as he’s working for your brother… I thought it best not to just show up at your property.”

Heat filled her face. Sam didn’t have to say Cameron’s name for her to know who he was talking about. Cameron was the topic of most of her conversations lately despite how much she wanted to avoid them.

She cleared her throat and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I’m really sorry… about what happened. I should have told you I was seeing him.”

“I didn’t exactly give you a chance to get a word in about it.”

“But I could have said I was dating. I don’t know what I was thinking, not telling you.”

Sam chuckled. If he was upset with her, he wasn’t showing it. “It’s my fault, too.”

She scoffed. “How is getting beaten up your fault? Your brother should have known better. He should have?—”

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