There was a time in my life when Sundays were my favorite day of the week.

Back before my parents had died, we’d always go somewhere on Sunday. Sometimes to see our uncle, but most of the time it was family day for just the four of us. We’d take day trips, or if it was a long weekend, we’d leave on Saturday night so we could spend the whole Sunday together before traveling back home on Monday. I’d looked forward to it all week.

Kaleb and I had tried to keep it going those first few months without our parents, but it had been too painful. By the time we’d healed enough for it to be nostalgic, too much had changed between us.

After I’d gotten out of rehab, Piety had informed me that we were going to start a new tradition for our family. Sunday afternoon dinners. And it wouldn’t be just us either. Astra and Dash were part of this family too.

Usually, our Sunday dinners were the highlights of my week, especially since Jeremiah had been born, but today, I dreaded seeing Kaleb. He was still out of sorts with me, and only one wrong word away from being a flat-out asshole.

At least it wouldn’t be just Kaleb, Piety, and me. Astra and Dash would be there too, and I hadn’t had a chance to talk to either of them since I’d gotten back. They were easily two of the best people I’d ever met. Dash was drop-dead beautiful and sweeter than he could possibly be, not to mention head over heels in love with Astra. That meant he was good people in my book. Then again, anyone who didn’t love Astra was an idiot.

Of course, I felt the same about Piety. You’d have to be an idiot not to love her.

But that didn’t mean idiots couldn’t love her too.

As evidenced by my brother.

He was an idiot, but he loved her.

I supposed that meant he wasn’t completely beyond hope.

Still, whether he was hopeless or not, a part of me didn’t want to go see him and Piety, or even my adorable baby nephew today. I wanted to curl up in the chair by the window and read, stare out over the surf, maybe slide into a hot tub of water while I thought of Jacen—

“No!” I snapped at myself as I climbed out of bed.

I was done thinking about Jacen Barbour. Done, done, done. What had happened had been a fluke, a fluke among flukes, and if anything, all we had done was get the remnants of whatever crush I’d had on him as a kid out of my system. That’s what one-night stands were good for, right? Getting left-over obsessions out of the way.

That’s what I’d wanted to do anyway. Satisfy my curiosity about what it would be like to be with a boy I’d been crushing on for years. And I’d done that.

So why wasn’t I over him?

I wanted to growl at life, but I couldn’t lay here playing that’s what and what if.

I had lunch to go to, a brother to handle and life to deal with.

And...

Apparently, I also had a childhood crush to deal with.

Shit, shit, shit!!

Seeing Jacen standing in front of my brother’s door had my heart leaping into my throat. What was he doing here?

What did I do?

How did I look?

What was going on?

Did my brother know—

No.

That last question was the smack in the head I needed, and I was able to suck in a breath, get my brain back to functioning form. Of course, my brother didn’t know. If he had, he would’ve punched Jacen, and Jacen probably would have punched back. Neither of them were exactly known for being level-headed, and they didn’t look like they’d gone through a knockdown drag out.

Which was good.

Right?

A small pain in my hand startled me, and I gasped, looking down. Immediately, I felt like a moron because I’d been gripping my keys so tightly, I’d managed to puncture my palm just the slightest bit.

Feeling foolish, I paused long enough to grab a tissue from the glovebox and press it to the small wound before dropping my keys down into my purse.

I took a few extra moments to breathe, to calm down, to think, but that just made things more awkward when I realized that now, my brother and Piety were waiting on the steps, and Jacen was a step or two behind them. They were talking quietly, but once I closed the car door, the conversation lapsed and all eyes turned toward me.

Shit.

The urge to freeze, to turn and run, the urge to hide, all but overwhelmed me. Kaleb wasn’t looking all murderous, so our secret was still safe, but a part of me wondered if seeing us together would tip him off.

Anxiety twisted my belly and I squared my shoulders, forcing my feet to move. Pasting on the best smile I could manage, I told myself it was no big deal, that I could do this. That I didn’t have a million questions bouncing around in my head.

How did I greet him? Did we mention that we’d seen each other in Vegas? How much truth did we share? Why in the hell had Kaleb invited him to Sunday dinner? Better yet, why was Jacen here? In LA? Shouldn’t he have been in Vegas? Taking off his clothes for strange women and then having hot one-night stands with them?

I reminded myself I couldn’t think about that as I stopped in front of them. “Hi,” I said brightly.

Too bright.

Shit.

Piety had the baby on her hip, and this time, it wasn’t just because Jeremiah was so adorable that I plucked him from her arms. He was also a very good distraction. But…he really was adorable, and he smelled so good. At least he did at the moment. As soon as he dirtied his diapers, he was going straight back to his dad.

“Hi, handsome,” I said, pressing my face to his neck and breathing in that sweet baby scent. “Did you miss me?”

He gurgled and cooed.

“That’s how it goes around here these days, Jacen,” Piety said, clearly amused. “We don’t exist anymore. It’s all about Jeremiah.”

I rolled my eyes but shot a grin at her. “Don’t be silly. Of course, you exist. You’re here to feed him and change diapers. Or make Kaleb do it. I’m not on diaper duty until he’s old enough to come spend the night.” And then, because it would look weird if I didn’t greet him, I sucked in a quick breath, then shifted my attention to Jacen. “Well, long time, no see.”

That seemed…safe. It could either be sincere or tongue in cheek.

Right?

Jacen inclined his head in my direction, but his eyes didn’t meet mine, though I doubted anyone else noticed.

“Hello, Camry. How is life treating you?”

So casual. So calm.

“Well enough.” I gave him a bright smile, then looked at Kaleb. “Hey there, stranger.”

His response was cut short by the powerful roar of an approaching car, instinctively cradling the baby against my chest, but the noise didn’t seem to bother him. Babbling away, he shoved a hand into my hair and pulled.

“Some grip you’ve got there, little fella,” I murmured, patiently disentangling the small, pudgy hand.

“Gah,” he replied.

As Jacen moved to join me, I kept my eyes focused on the sleek curves of the oncoming car. An Aston Martin, Astra had told me. It had been Dash’s Valentine’s Day present to her.

Seriously.

Who the hell gave a car on Valentine’s Day?

Apparently, Dash Lahti did.

But I’d happily forgo cars and expensive trips to have a guy who looked at me the way Dash looked at Astra.

“Two of my favorite people!” she shouted as she rushed toward me. She threw her arms around us both, kissing Jeremiah’s cheek, then mine. Then she reached for the baby and I clung to him, giving her a mutinous look.

“I just got him. Wait your turn.”

“I ought to sell tickets.” Piety said, amused. She joined us and hooked an arm through Astra’s, then slung the other around my shoulders. “Come on, ladies. Let’s not keep these handsome gentlemen waiting.”

* * *

I should have sat somewhere else.

In my normal seat next to Kaleb, I felt awkward and out of place, something that pissed me off. I hadn’t felt out of place around him in months. I’d thought the rift between us had finally healed, or at least started to, but he wouldn’t hardly look at me or talk to me.

The tension was enough that almost anybody could pick up on it, but most people would ignore. It was the polite thing to do.

Astra wasn’t most people.

She eyed Kaleb for a moment, then me. Finally, she sighed and rolled her eyes expressively. “Emotions are such messy business,” she announced, like it was an earth-shattering announcement. “The two of you need to talk this out. Kaleb, in case you haven’t noticed, Camry’s a big girl. Relax a little.”

Kaleb opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Astra forged on ahead as if her little pronouncement had settled the matter.

“How is she, Camry? Daytin, I mean? I haven’t seen her since we finished getting her through the intake process.”

“She’s…angry,” I answered, shaking my head. I didn’t think anything Astra said would make a difference, but I’d answer her questions rather than debate the point. “Really, really angry, and it’s all directed at me.”

“Why?” Kaleb eyed me narrowly.

“She’s going through withdrawal,” I said shortly. “It’s not a lot of fun. You’re sick, and you hurt. You see and feel things that aren’t necessarily real. And depending on what she’s been using, the worse it will be.”

He frowned. “I thought you said she wanted you to help her.”

I shot him a look. “She did. But the kind of help she might have wanted and what I knew she needed are two different things.” Shaking my head, I looked back at Astra. “She probably wishes she’s stayed at the hotel, whor–”

I stopped and looked at Jeremiah, even though he’d fallen asleep on Piety’s shoulders, and was far too young to understand even if he had been awake. Still, I couldn’t say it, not with him there. Not that bluntly, anyway.

“Ah…I mean, she probably wishes she’d stayed involved in her business exchange with that guy at the hotel, never mind the fact that he was using her and lying to her.”

“If she’s taking money for it, I’d say they were using each other,” Kaleb said shortly.

My cheeks heated. “She was taking a roof over her head for it,” I snapped as my hands curled into fists. “You have no idea what it’s like. She ran away from home when she was fourteen because her mother beat her and her stepfather was starting to...look at her. Hug her a little too long. She had no one to talk to. No one who’d believe her. She didn’t even finish the ninth grade. How do you think she should have survived?”

“I…” Kaleb’s cheeks heated, then he looked away.

“That’s enough,” Piety said gently. But there was nothing gentle about the hard look she gave Kaleb. When her eyes met mine, though, she was smiling. “You did exactly what I would have done, Camry. What your brother did for you. You’re solid gold in my opinion.”

Sudden tears burned my eyes and I looked away. “I…well, thanks.” My gaze landed on Jacen, and a rush of humiliation burned through me. He’d heard all of that, and he had to be wondering.

Shit.

Shoving back from the table, I got up and half-stumbled away. “I need some air,” I said, my voice thick.

I didn’t look at anybody when I left, much less Jacen.

* * *

I’d been gone for less than twenty minutes when the door opened behind me.

Hands tensing on the balustrade, I stared out over the ocean, my eyes burning from the attempt to keep from crying.

I’d been fighting the tears for close to ten minutes.

“Want me to leave you alone?”

I flinched at the sound of Jacen’s voice, but I covered my misery and turned to smile at him. “Don’t be silly. I just lost track of time. I love their view here.”

He took a step in my direction, his expression sober. “You don’t have to pretend with me, Camry.”

“I’m…” The word not froze on my tongue. No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t make the lie come. Swallowing, I looked away. “I do love the view.”

“It is pretty spectacular.” His voice had dropped, roughened.

Looking at him from the corner of my eye, I found him staring at me, not the ocean. I blushed and turned back to face out over the water, trying desperately to ignore the shiver going down my spine. “You were the last person I expected to see here.”

“You’re the main reason I said yes when Kaleb invited me.”

His voice was closer, and I had to grip the railing beneath my hands to keep from turning and reaching for him. One night, I thought. One night with him, and he’d done more to make me enjoy sex, to make me want it, than anyone I’d ever been with. Of course, it hadn’t been just the sex.

It had been Jacen.

Palms slicked with sweat, I turned to face him. “You were gone when I got back.”

Immediately after the words left my mouth, I wanted to yank them back. I had not just said that. What the hell was wrong with me? I wasn’t that girl, trying to make something more out of a night with no promises.

I fumbled the words as I tried to correct my mistake. “I…well, that didn’t come out right. I just…I mean, I wanted…you were a big help and I wanted to say thanks.”

“That’s really what you meant?” Jacen asked, taking a step closer.

Heat arced between us, surging and sparking. It was enough to suck the air from my lungs.

I wanted to reach for him. My hands itched to do it so badly that I ended up folding them into fists tight enough that my nails left little half-moons in my skin.

“Camry?”

Such a low, soft voice, seductive and persuasive. So much power in a single word.

I found myself responding with more honesty than I should have. “No,” I whispered. “That wasn’t what I meant.”

His head dipped toward mine.

From the open window over my head, I heard a baby’s happy shriek, following by a giggle, and I stopped, pulling back from him just before our mouths met.

“I can’t,” I murmured. “We have to stop, or he’ll never believe I’ve changed. He’ll think...” I let the thought trail off as Jacen stared down at me, clearly confused.

“He…what?”

I took a few steps back and laughed nervously. “I imagine you’ve got some questions after hearing all that mess inside, right? Not what you were expecting at a nice family dinner?”

“I didn’t have any expectations,” Jacen said levelly as he closed the distance between us again. “I just wanted to see you.”

“Yeah, but you weren’t expecting to see…” I snapped my jaw shut, appalled at what I’d almost said. A junkie, a whore.

“Camry…” He reached out and skimmed his fingertips down my arm.

“Please don’t.” Moving back again, I shook my head. “You touch me and I can’t think straight. Okay? I’m getting enough grief from my brother.”

“Right.” Jacen’s expression shifted. “Him seeing me touch you would cause more of that for both of us, wouldn’t it? And if he knew about the other night…”

“You know what? Fuck him.” I surprised myself with the amount of rancor in my words. “I’m a big girl. But that doesn’t mean I want to face the interrogation that’d come my way if he saw us. He already doesn’t trust me.”

“It’s a bad idea all around anyway.” Jacen moved away, increasing the distance between us. He stared out over the ocean. “You were practically like a kid sister to me.”

Ouch. I couldn’t help the immediate sting his words caused. I’d adored him as a girl. He’d been my ultimate fantasy, the ideal man who no one could ever live up to.

And he’d thought of me as a little sister.

“You’re right. It is a bad idea,” I said in a voice sharper than I’d planned. “Because of what you heard in there for one. I’m a mess. Recovering addict, former prostitute. You picked up on all that, right? I turned tricks so I could get enough money to score drugs. Hell, I can’t even remember half the shit I did, and I’m glad, because I have a hard enough time living with myself.”

I’d barely finished my last sentence when he turned. To my surprise, there was a faint smile on his lips.

“Have you been paying attention to my life the past few years? The media sure as hell did, and none of it was pretty.” He took a couple of steps toward me, his dark eyes smoldering with intensity. “You ever read any of the bullshit about me? Seen stuff in the gossips rags? The last four years, if you saw something, it probably wasn’t gossip. After my mom...the accident...”

The pain on his face was something I understood all too well. He might have been an adult when his mom had died, but that didn’t make the hurt any less.

“I fell pretty hard, and pretty fast after that. If it hadn’t been for Kaleb, I’d probably be holed up in a room somewhere, still drunk off my ass, assuming I wasn’t already dead.”

Unable to not to touch him, I reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder. Not his face like I wanted; I had enough self-control for that. “You had a rough road and you made some bad choices.”

“And you haven’t had a rough time of it?”

I felt his muscles flex under my hand as he shrugged and a thin flicker of flame burned through me.

He continued, “We all have rough times. We can either be smart like Kaleb. Or stupid, like we were. I can’t fault you for making less than wise choices when I haven’t always made good ones myself.”

I saw him turning his face away at the same time I did, and I wondered if he was hiding his tears as I was. He might be looking at our choices equally, but I knew better. Sure, I’d lost my parents young, and that had been rough, but blaming my poor decisions nearly a decade later on the fact that I hadn’t had a traditional family wasn’t even close to the same as what Jacen had been through four years ago, losing his mother and his career all at once. Still, I appreciated the gesture.

“We should stick with being friends.” Jacen’s voice was gruff. “I’ve got too much going on. You sound like you’re figuring out some stuff of your own. And things between you and Kaleb sound strained as it is.”

“Strained.” I choked off a bitter laugh. “Yes, you could say they’re strained. He doesn’t think he can trust me…sees me as the same, messed-up addict he found in Las Vegas last year.”

He gave me a strange look. “I think it’s a bit different than how you see it. Your brother wants to protect you; that’s what he’s always wanted. Maybe he’s seeing what he perceives as his failure to do that, not anything you did wrong.”

I didn’t agree, but I couldn’t find the energy to argue. “Maybe.” Because he was so sweet…so damn sexy…I gave him a smile.

It wasn’t what I wanted to give him. But things between us? He was right. They wouldn’t work.

“So…we’ll be friends, then?” I held out a hand.

“Friends.”