Page 65 of Sophia & Cameron

He placed a warm, firm hand on her forearm. “I don’t know if he told you anything about our past, but I wasn’t exactly the best big brother to him.”

Sophia attempted to hide that she knew exactly what he was talking about. The truth was, she only knew one side of the story, and while she sympathized with Cameron, those sympathies were waning when she saw the way Cameron went after his brother.

Sam chuckled again, but this time it sounded strained—embarrassed, even. “Cam fell hard and fast for this girl in high school. I swear, my brother thought the moon rose and fell on Kristy. I could tell that she wasn’t completely into him. It was obvious that she would have willingly gone off to the next guy if the opportunity presented itself. I told Cameron as much, but he got upset.”

Sophia’s brows rose. This wasn’t part of the story she knew.

Blowing out a breath, Samuel continued. “So, I decided to save him the heartache and intervene. I flirted with her one time. One time, Sophia. And that was all it took for her to kiss me. I don’t know if it was the fact that I was older. Or that I was her boyfriend’s brother. Whatever the reason, she threw herself at me and Cameron found out. Rumors got out of control, and Cameron believed them all. They said I was the aggressor in that relationship.” Sam’s eyes were almost pleading as he lowered his voice. “He was heartbroken, and I knew if I corrected the rumors and told him the truth, it would destroy him. I didn’t think he’d overcome the betrayal, and I didn’t want him to become jaded in the relationship department.”

She stared at him blankly. So much pain had been locked between them and all because Sam had wanted to protect Cameron from a girl who didn’t deserve him.

He shrugged again. “I probably should have just told him. Clearly, trying to shelter him was just as bad as the other outcome could have been. Eventually, he forgave me—on the surface, at least. But the damage had been done.”

Her head was reeling. “Why can’t you tell him now?”

“I doubt he’d listen. Especially after what happened between the two of us.” He gave her a sad smile. “I’m so sorry, Sophia.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” she insisted. “What happened between Cameron and me is… for the best.” At least she hoped so. She was starting to question herself more and more the longer they were apart. Samuel didn’t know her as well as some, and it was likely even he could hear that she didn’t believe what she was saying. “For the record, I think you should come clean to Cameron. He has spent this whole time believing you were the bad guy.”

“But I was.”

She gave him a pointed look—one she hoped conveyed just how much she didn’t believe that. Had he gone about it the wrong way? Sure. But he hadn’t been trying to hurt his brother. He’d been trying to help.

Samuel only shrugged. “I don’t know that talking to him would do much good. And after what happened? I’m already worried about seeing him today.”

Her brows shot upward. “You’re seeing him today?”

The nervous look he gave her made her stomach twist in knots. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen Cameron recently. She didn’t know why his statement put her on edge. Cameron had caught Sam off guard when he’d started throwing punches. This time, he wouldn’t be so lucky. “Do you know why?”

It was none of her business, of course. Sam didn’t have to tell her anything. She held her breath as she waited for him to respond, then exhaled when he did.

He rubbed the back of his neck—a nervous habit he’d had when they’d spent time together a couple years ago. “Honestly, I don’t know. I had no plans for coming back to Copper Creek any time soon—especially since Cameron is staying here for the next little while.” He blew out a breath and chuckled. “Cameron asked me to come, and I guess my morbid curiosity got the better of me. Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment or something.”

That brought a smile to Sophia’s face even though it probably shouldn’t have. She could relate to that. After everything that Cameron did that rubbed her the wrong way, Sophia was still drawn to him.

Sam offered her another smile. “Anyway, I’m gonna head out. Don’t want to be late to that coffee, right?”

She nodded. Samuel looked like he was about to lean in for a hug, but then he held himself back. It wasn’t hard to figure out what he was thinking in that moment. The last time they’d touched, he’d been knocked to the ground. It was fine. A hugnow would have been more than awkward. “See you around, Sam.”

“Yeah, see ya around.”

Sophia watched him as he moved past her and headed across the street to the coffee shop. Her curiosity got the better of her, and as much as she knew she shouldn’t, she followed after him.

She slipped into the building, first taking stock to find that Cameron wasn’t present. Sam was already in a booth, staring at his phone. Without thinking about it too long, Sophia moved in that direction. She ducked down into the seat of a booth behind him. Based on the height of the booth chairs, no one would know she was there unless they moved to the bathroom at the back of the shop.

Thankfully, Sam was distracted enough that he hadn’t even seen Sophia move past him.

Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she waited for Cameron to arrive. When she heard the sound of his voice, she went stock-still. Though he spoke quietly, she could hear everything he said.

“Thanks for meeting with me.”

“What can I say? I was curious.”

A chuckle. Then strained silence.

“So, what is it? You want to tell me I’m the cause of all your problems? Blame me for the mess you found yourself in?” Samuel shifted in his seat, and the leather beneath him creaked with the movement.

Sophia waited with bated breath. She closed her eyes, expecting Cameron to do just that. But then he shocked her.

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