Page 131 of Double Daddies
It’s a big question, and I have no idea how to answer it. I’m not the only one in the equation, after all.
“Who do youwantthe father to be?”
Ben’s question catches me off guard, and I feel my shoulders tighten. As surprised as I am by the question, I’m no more prepared to hear the answer.
Cami looks at him, as surprised as I am. Then she buries her face in her hands. “Ben…” His name comes out muffled.
I’ve been watching the two of them for months now. Normally, no one is more attuned to Cami, or as eager to accommodate. But not this time. I can see he’s not going to let her off the hook, but I have no idea where he’s going with this.
“No. You’re not getting out of answering the question, Cami. Look at me and tell me who youwantthe father to be.”
She reluctantly removes her fingers, and I tense as she looks at him.
But I try to be a source of comfort—solid, and there for her, whatever that looks like.
“You want it to be mine, right?” he asks.
“Ben…” His name is a moan on her lips, a plea for mercy. “Of course I do. We talked about this. About marriage, and kids one day.”
My heart stills in my chest. I don’t know why—they’re not saying anything I don’t already know.
“And Ryle… you want it to be Ryle’s, don’t you?”
Even though her gaze seems to be trapped in Ben’s, she brushes her hand over mine, and that touch feels like a jump-start to my heart. It begins pounding in my chest as I wait.
“Come on, Cami, our relationship is built on honesty.”
Funny, the way he saysouralmost sounds like he means the three of us.
“I know you love him. I know you haven’t said the words, but I see the way he looks at you, the way you look at him. The way he takes care of you.”
She nods and the shadow of a smile crosses her lips. “Yes. I want it to be Ryle’s, too.”
“Well then.” He sits back as though this answers everything, but I still feel lost.
“I didn’t mean it to happen,” she says softly. “I didn’t think it was possible to love two men at the same time. I had a French bulldog as a kid. I’ve been obsessed with getting another one, because my whole life, I’ve loved French bulldogs.”
I look to see if this metaphor is making sense to Ben, but he looks as mystified as I feel.
“And it’s like, one day I come across a golden retriever in the park, and I fell in love. I never knew I could be interested in another dog. It, uh, it doesn’t stop the way I feel about French bulldogs, but… now my mind is open to other possibilities.”
“So…” He clears his throat and runs a hand through his hair. “That’s how you’re gonna play this? You’re comparing me to a dog?”
“Ummm…”
“To be honest, Cami, I don’t see Ryle as a retriever.” He laughs, and finally looks at me.
I smile weakly back.
“He’s a Doberman, maybe.” He taps his finger on his chin thoughtfully, and Cami giggles. “A mastiff? No, that’s not it. What are the dogs that look really good, but you wouldn’t expect them to protect you if someone broke into the house?”
“Ben!” She laughs and goes to smack his chest, but he catches her hand before it lands.
“Listen, Cami, what happens next isn’t up to any one person. We’re in this together.” He lifts his chin in my direction. “All of us. And I don’t know about the two of you, but I thought that was the plan from here on out, no matter what.”
I don’t have to even think about it. The truth is, I don’t care if the baby comes out looking like me, or Ben. All I want is thefamily we’ve built together, as crazy as it might seem to people on the outside.
“Really?” Her voice is soft with awe. “You… you’d do that?” Her eyes swing to look at me this time, assessing my reaction.
