Page 72 of Sophia & Cameron

Cameron glowered at Roman’s retreating, laughing form. He glanced down at the ring, then shoved it into his pocket. It was perfect for Sophia. She might not have picked it out, but he’d been very attentive to her over the last year or so. She didn’t like gawdy. Simple and unique. That was her taste, her style. From the red streaks in her short hair to the casual clothes she preferred to wear, this ring, with its single round stone, would match her flair to a tee.

The door to the house opened and he froze, feeling her eyes on him before he turned. He’d told her he’d be here to pick her up in about twenty minutes. She was early. Or maybe she thought he was.

And he couldn’t care less.

She was dressed in a simple black blouse and a pair of cut-off jean shorts. She leaned against the doorjamb and smirked at him. “Hey, handsome.”

Cameron prowled toward her, his smile growing. “Hey, Red.”

Sophia rolled her eyes, then pulled the door shut and headed down the steps toward him. Her eyes drifted toward where Roman and Olivia were talking, and she cocked her head slightly. He followed her attention with his own gaze as she came up beside him.

His arm slipped around her waist, and he pressed a kiss to her temple. “What are you thinking?”

“Hmm?” she murmured.

“Roman’s friend? Is she… more than that?”

Sophia snickered. “No. We always thought there might be something. Mateo and me. But nothing has ever started between them. The guys she dates are nerdier. Roman’s not her type.”

“And Roman’s type?”

She turned to him and tugged at his shirt to pull him into her. “No one knows.”

He chuckled. “That’s too bad. With how much he’s helped, I sorta wish I could help him find the level of happiness that we have.”

She glanced over at her brother. “He helped? How?”

Cameron shrugged. “I guess he’s felt more like a brother to me than my own.”

That had her frowning, and it caught his attention.

“What’s that look for?”

Sophia chewed on her lower lip and avoided looking directly at him. “You talk to your brother lately?” She’d been asking him that question a lot over the last several months.

He and his brother had kept in contact, but nothing life-changing had occurred. “No more than usual.” His heart thundered at the mention of his brother. Not today. He couldn’t think about his brother with what he had planned today. “Sophia, what’s wrong? Did he say something to you?”

She shook her head. “I haven’t talked to him since…”

He already knew the rest of that statement. But that didn’t mean that Samuel hadn’t said something to her that bothered her. “What did he say?”

Her surprise and flicker of guilt were all he needed to know he was on the right track. He pulled her to him, his hands on her waist to prevent her from pulling away.

“You can tell me,” he insisted. “I won’t get mad.”

“It really is something you should talk to him about.”

“Sophia…” he warned.

She shut her eyes, then blew out a breath. “Fine. But you can’t tell him I told you. And you can’t get mad. You promised.”

The way his heart picked up at her words wasn’t doing him any good. He was a few seconds away from calling his brother to chew him out. But then her words cut him off cold. She wove a story that was so detailed he had no other option but to believe it. His brother had made mistakes, but he hadn’t intended tohurt Cameron. All those years ago, he’d tried to be the good big brother in his own way. When Sophia was done, all he could do was stare at her.

“You promised,” she said quietly.

He swallowed hard, then nodded. “I’m not… mad. Not really.” He was shocked more than anything. “I’m just… digesting.” His brother had actually helped in a strange kind of way.

“Are you… okay?”

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