Page 117 of Cougar

Grabbing her foot by the ankle, I pin it to the cushion. “First of all, I do love you, and I didn’t break up with you because we’re technically not a couple.” She narrows her eyes. “Your choice, not mine. Second, I didn’t jump into bed with Juliette. We’re just friends. I would never do that to you.”

“So you’ve never slept with her?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Jesus Christ, Cam. Cut the bullshit. I’m too old for your fucking games. I know you’ve been sleeping with her, that Juliette is Jules.” She flings her arm out. “I’ve heard Liam mention her name more than once in my presence. And I saw you with her last week. You asked me to come to you if I was having doubts, and guess what? I did come to you. You said we could go slow. I’ve given you everything I’m capable of giving at the moment. Maybe you should’ve taken your own advice and talked to me instead of acting like a child and running back to your fuck buddy. Communication is important. Remember that in your next relationship.”

Not gonna lie, that last line slices through my heart. She tries to yank her foot from my grasp but I tighten my hold.

“I haven’t slept with Jules since you stepped foot back in Heritage Bay. I know what day you’re talking about. We had lunch and that’s all. She’s my best friend.”

“No, Liam is your best friend. Juliette—Jules is your fuck buddy. And honestly, I’m glad I saw it with my own eyes tonight before I gave myself over completely, or worse, fell in love with you. Good talk. You can go now.”

Another slice to my heart.

She twists, trying to break free from my hold, kicking out her other foot. With my free hand, I grab her other ankle, yank her down the chaise toward me, and hook my thighs over the tops of hers. Her robe parts, exposing a sliver of her tan skin between the hem of her thin tank and the edge of her panties.

I huff out a humorless laugh. “I’m not fucking finished,” I growl. “It pisses me off that you think so little of me to think I’d toss you aside like trash. Aren’t you the one who told me things aren’t always what they look like? That we shouldn’t make assumptions? Why are you so quick to throw in the towel and give up on me? My ego took a blow, and I reacted like a dumbass. I fucked up. I’m sorry. I invited Jules to the movies with Zach and me because she doesn’t have any family here. We bumped into my sister and Mike with Chris and Rebecca on the way out. Jules had been on a few coffee dates with Chris a few months ago. He told her he was divorced.”

“He is,” she defends, and it pisses me off.

“Well they sure don’t act like it. He’s parading his wife around like they’re this happy couple.”

“He’s protecting his daughter,” she argues.

“Well I was protecting my friend by making Chris think she was with me. The day you saw her at my house, we’d just gone to lunch. I needed someone to talk to who isn’t Liam.”

“About what?”

“You.” I bend at the waist and press a kiss to her bare stomach.

“You told Juliette about us? Why would you do that?” She lifts her body and tries to push me off her. “What if she says something to Jay?”

“Jules would never do that. She’s known about you for a long time. I trust her completely.”

“What do you mean? What’s a long time?”

I scoot back and pull her thighs over mine, running my palms up her smooth skin. “Let it go, Emerson.”

“How long, Cam?” she whispers.

“Ten years,” I admit.

She closes her eyes as she soaks in my admission. “Is there anything else you need to tell me?”

My stomach is in knots. I want to tell her everything, but I can’t. My hold on her isn’t strong enough, and I’ll lose her. I know I will. And telling her the truth means I’d be breaking Liam’s trust. I won’t hurt him more than I already have.

“No.”

* * *

Emerson

The Heritage Annual Winter Wonderland Ball is my mother’s favorite charity event and one she throws every year to benefit Toys for Tots.

Cam is my date tonight. He squeezes my hand as he leans in to my ear. “Have I told you how beautiful you look?” He presses a kiss just below my ear before he leans back, his eyes zeroing in on my cleavage.

I’m wearing a red one-shoulder gown with a jeweled bodice and a high slit. I’m short, so I need high heels, but I also need to be able to move.

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