Page 77 of Curious
“I talked to the insurance broker for our office, and she can get you a quote for insurance for your business. If you band together with a few other GCs, it’s even more affordable.”
Camden’s expression is very strange. I thought he’d be glad to know that insurance can be affordable, but he’s not looking totally happy. More … conflicted? “Okay. Thanks.”
“And I’ve found a few places where I can move.”
“What?”
I haven’t, actually. Sam and I talked some more this afternoon, and he said I could stay in his old condo until I find another place, since he’s moved in with Jules.
“And there’s a divorce petition in there.”
Cam blinks at me, startled, and his expression turns to one of pain. I’ve hurt him, and I hate that. But one of us has to take the initiative here.
How else will I ever find out if this thing between us is real?
I hold out another envelope. “I can’t serve you with the papers, but if you want to get a divorce, we can sign this stipulation. I can get it filed, and you’ll be done. I mean, we have to wait six months for it to be final, but that’s just a technicality.”
He stares at me and doesn’t move for a long time. Finally, he reaches out and takes the envelope. “Is this what you want?” he asks.
No!I want to scream.No! I want you. I want to be with you for the rest of my days.
“It doesn’t matter what I want,” I mutter, unable to lie to him.
“What do you mean, it doesn’t matter? You matter, Shelby.”
“I want to follow through on what we agreed to. That’s all.”
He scrubs his face in exasperation. “Why?”
“Because it’s better than waiting around for you to do it. People don’t stay with me, Cam. They leave.”
“I don’t want to leave you!” he almost yells. “And I don’t want you to leave me,” he continues in a quieter tone. “Unless you don’t want to be with me.”
I wring my hands. “What are we supposed to do, then?”
“Are you doing this simply because that’s what we agreed at the beginning?”
I nod.
“I’ve contemplated breaking another bone just to have an excuse to keep you around longer,” he says.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s no more ridiculous than you thinking we have to get a divorce because we got married under circumstances that have now changed.”
I blink at him, tears forming. “What are you saying?”
“I don’t know how to make it any clearer. I’m not going to leave you just because I have insurance. Or because my ankle is healed.”
I want to believe him. I want to, so much. And my brain does, I think. Logically, I know Cam isn’t a liar. He wouldn’t say this if he didn’t mean it. But my heart can’t make sense of his words. People don’t stay.
Cam shakes his head. “No. I’m not signing a stipulation.” He falters. “Not unless that’s what you want.”
I groan. “I don’t know what I want.”
“Then don’t be so hasty. Can we talk about this some more?”
“What else is there to talk about?”
