Cameron stared at the ceiling as the morning sunlight played across the room. He’d had possibly the best night of his life with Jane, only to be turned into a nightmare when he finally called Crystal back.
He’d ignored all her texts that alternated between pleading and threatening until he returned home after dropping off Jane. The final text had prompted him to call her back even though it was after midnight. When the words: I’m pregnant, had shown up on his phone, Cameron had felt like the earth had swallowed him whole.
After talking to Crystal, and telling her that, no, he didn’t want to get back together, not even for a child’s sake, he hung up, feeling like crap.
Despite the fact that he knew he’d never get back together with Crystal, not for any reason, this event would tie them together for the rest of their lives. He wasn’t about to become a deadbeat dad, and Crystal made it clear that she expected generous child support.
Cameron was surprised he’d slept at all after receiving such devastating news. Why couldn’t the woman who became pregnant with his child be someone like Jane, or even any one of his previous girlfriends? Just not Crystal.
This would affect not only his life, but his parents, and of course his very new relationship with Jane. What would she think? If she was smart, she’d cut herself off from him. Who wanted to be with someone in as big of a mess as Cameron was in?
And now, in the light of the morning, nothing seemed better. The crushing weight was still there, and Cameron’s head was killing him. He’d left his phone off all night and couldn’t bring himself to check what were surely texts and missed calls from Crystal. She’d already demanded that he cover her prenatal care. Which of course he’d help with, but wasn’t that what insurance was for? Then she reminded him that she’d quit her job permanently when they’d started wedding plans. She hadn’t had time for both. He’d responded that he’d thought she was taking a three-month leave of absence, not quitting.
No wonder his headache felt like someone was stabbing him with a knife over and over.
And, he couldn’t forget that in the middle of all this mess was an innocent baby who’d be born—according to Crystal’s calculations—in seven months. February.
Cameron groaned.
He dragged himself out of bed and into a scalding-hot shower. If only he could wash away the entire few months he’d been with Crystal. She’d told him she’d been on the pill, but her response was that all birth control was only ninety-five percent effective. Why hadn’t she told him earlier? She said she’d suspected for a couple of weeks, and that her emotions had led her to “nesting,” as she again tried to justify taking his credit card and spending thousands on new furniture. Cameron told her they still weren’t getting back together. He’d hung up when she started screaming at him.
But as the hot water sprayed over him, he wondered. If he had known about the pregnancy earlier, would he have tried to make things work with Crystal? Would he have followed after Jane? Would he have allowed himself to kiss her last night?
Another groan.
When Cameron had dried off and dressed and gotten the first cup of coffee in him, he finally went back to his room to fetch his phone. He sat on the edge of his bed and turned his phone back on.
Three texts from Crystal. No surprise there.
A missed call from his mom. She was probably inviting him to Sunday dinner. And... Jane had called, then left a text.
He read through her text and felt his heart twist. He’d told her to call him when she’d woken up, and she had. His request had been so simple, so hopeful, and now... everything had changed. He’d have to tell Jane about Crystal, and he knew that the news would suck all the way around. Jane would be hurt. She’d go back to her life before they’d met. And he would be one of those jerks that she’d look back on and wonder what she’d been thinking.
Cameron hung his head and closed his eyes. He’d have to tell her. Today. As soon as possible. It was only fair. Besides, Jane could very well hear the news from someone else. Cameron wouldn’t put it past Crystal to make sure that she did. Some of Crystal’s nasty accusations against Cameron had included his playing the field with their former cleaning lady.
He picked up his phone and called Jane. He winced when she answered, her voice full of expectation. “Jane,” he said. “We need to talk, in person.”
“Okay,” she said, the wariness plain in her voice.
“Can you come over?” he asked. “Or can we meet somewhere privately? I don’t want to involve your dad in our discussion.”
“Does it have something to do with my dad?” she asked, worry now in her tone.
“No, nothing like that,” Cameron said. “I just... need to talk to you in person.”
“All right.” Her voice was soft, resigned. “I can leave here in about half an hour. I’ll come to your place.”
Cameron exhaled, but it was far from relief that he felt. “Okay.”
He hung up and remained still for several moments. Then he replied to Crystal’s text with: I need to think through everything. I’ll contact you tomorrow. Cameron might have to let go of Jane, but he refused to let Crystal worm her way back in. Until the child was born, he wanted very little contact with her.
Cameron pocketed his phone and went downstairs to wait for Jane.
The thirty minutes was closer to an hour when her truck finally drove up the road to his cabin. Cameron went outside immediately and watched her climb out.
She was wearing a V-neck black shirt and slim-fitting capris with sandals. Her hair was down, framing her shoulders. The dark, troubled look in her eyes tugged at his heart and made him feel terrible. As she walked toward him, he came down the stairs to meet her. Before he could stop himself, or think of how much he was confusing her, he pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair. He breathed her in for a long moment, feeling her soft body against his as she held onto him.
“Cameron, what’s wrong?” she asked, drawing away, even though he didn’t let go. “You’re scaring me.”
Finally, he released her and stepped away. He scrubbed a hand through his hair. He moved back to the steps and sat down.
Jane came to sit by him. “Just tell me,” she said. “My stomach is in knots.”
Cameron met her steady, worried gaze. She was right. He just had to say it. “Crystal’s pregnant.” He looked away then. When it came to it, he didn’t want to see the pain and questions in Jane’s eyes.
After a long moment, she said, “I’m assuming it’s your baby.”
“That’s what she says.”
Jane went quiet again. “Are you getting back together again?”
“Hell, no,” Cameron spat out. “I’ll provide for the kid, of course, and I want to be a decent dad.” He spread his hands. “All of this isn’t fair to an innocent kid. It’s not fair to you either.”
He finally looked at her. She wasn’t looking at him like she was disgusted. But she was hurt, and there were tears in her eyes.
“Jane, I’m really sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to make a mess of things, of us, but this kid is going to keep Crystal in my life forever. And I don’t anticipate things getting any easier. Crystal has already been texting over demands this morning. I can hardly stand to open her texts, but I have to look beyond my own ego and feelings and think about the baby.”
Jane blinked. “What are you saying, Cameron?”
He swallowed against his dry mouth. “I don’t expect you to... stick with me. Ever since we started becoming friends, I’ve been on a rollercoaster. And it’s not fair to expect you to deal with my problems. You’re dealing with your dad and—”
“Cameron,” she cut in. “Crystal’s pregnancy isn’t something that would make me give up on you.” She brushed her fingers along his jaw, and he wanted to lean into her, take comfort from her touch. But she wasn’t finished talking yet. “I believe you when you say your relationship is over, but I also understand how things can change. You just had life-changing news, and I don’t want to stand in the way of you making the decision you need to. I get that our friendship started under stressful circumstances, but life is stressful in general. I’m not saying that you’re on the rebound with me, but I am saying that you have a lot of things to work out before you can consider getting into a new relationship. And maybe I do too.”
The tears were back in her eyes, and Cameron felt his heart start to rip.
“You’re a lovely man, Cameron Vance,” she said, leaning close and kissing his cheek as her hand strayed to the other side of his face. She drew back, holding his gaze. “I like you too, and when you’re ready, call me. Maybe I’ll still be around.” She rose to her feet and brushed off her pants. “Thank you for everything.”
Cameron couldn’t speak over the lump in his throat. He watched her walk back to her car and climb in. As she turned the car around and started to drive away, he rose to his feet to call after her. But she couldn’t hear him, and he knew she was right. He had to figure his life out. Crystal had torn him to pieces. And now there was a baby in the mix.
Cameron pulled out his phone, wanting to call Jane. To beg her to come back. But she didn’t deserve a confused man. So, instead he called his mom as he walked to the backyard. As he paced the deck, he told her everything. About how he was falling in love with Jane. About her mom. About her dad. About Sparks. Then he told his mom about Crystal and how she was having his baby in February.
His mom was silent for a long time, and Cameron wondered if the call had dropped, or if he’d shocked his mom into a heart attack.
“Son, did you not use birth control?”
Cameron exhaled. It wasn’t too fun discussing this with his own mother. “She was on the pill.”
His mother scoffed. “Sure she was. Or... have you considered the other alternative?”
“I don’t think Crystal slept with another man,” Cameron said. “She was practically with me twenty-four-seven.”
“No, I mean that she’s not pregnant,” his mom said.
“What?”
“Think about it,” she said. “Crystal is desperate to get back together. You’re a great catch—sorry to be blunt—but you know that money attracts the piranhas. Crystal might use this to get back together. You marry her after all, then she’ll conveniently have a miscarriage.”
Cameron sat down on the edge of one of the deck chairs. “How do I find out if she’s really pregnant?”
“Well, time will tell, of course, but there might be a quicker way,” his mom said.
“How?” Cameron prodded.
“Tell her you want to go to her next doctor appointment with her,” his mom said. “Insist on an ultrasound. And even then, when the child is born, do a paternity test.”
Cameron exhaled, his mind reeling. “Do you think another human would really stoop this low? Even Crystal?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “But I do know you shouldn’t let this come between you and Jane. If anything, you need her more than ever. If you really like her, son, you shouldn’t be choosing Crystal over her.”
“I’m not choosing Crystal,” he said. “Things are so screwed up right now, how is that fair to Jane?”
“Life is messy,” his mom said in a firm voice. “You’re choosing Crystal over Jane if you are letting this come between you. No matter the outcome of Crystal’s pregnancy, do you still choose Jane?”
Cameron closed his eyes. “Of course.”
“Then choose her now,” his mom said. “Waiting will drive a wedge between you. If you choose Jane now, before the paternity is verified, before the baby is born, then Jane will believe that your feelings are true.”
“You’re right,” Cameron said. After he hung up with his mom, he remained on the back deck, sitting in the sun and letting it warm him through. He was going to follow his mom’s advice and tell Crystal that he was coming to her doctor’s appointment. He was also going to figure out how to keep Jane in his life.