“Wait. What?” I stand and peek over her shoulder at the phone screen. The picture was taken in a workshop of some sort, with wood shavings everywhere and a bottle of glue on its side. In the center of the photo, there is a replica of Princess Marianna’s ship that she went searching for sunken treasure in.
Cal rubs the back of his neck. “I asked Rowan to make us something special. He got his Creators to base it off one of the model ships I recommended after doing some research.”
Oh my God. My legs shake from how weak in the knees I feel. “How is that even possible?”
“For once, it pays to have the Kane name.”
My heart doesn’t stand a chance.
Cami and Cal open the box and pull out the pieces, and I sit next to them while they get started. I keep out of the way while they work together. Sometimes I offer assistance when she can’t do what he asks, but for the most part, I’m happy to watch them work with each other. There is something sweet about how patient Cal is with Cami and the way he takes time to answer her every question.
At one point, Cami climbs into Cal’s lap so she can get a better look at what he is doing. He freezes for a second before clutching her hands and modeling how to glue a piece together.
I always knew Cal would be an incredible father one day, and how he treats Cami is proof of that, even if he doubts his own skills. It’s in the little things he does without even noticing.
The patience. The understanding. The reassuring way he speaks to Cami when she gets frustrated or upset.
The longer I stick around watching them, the more apparent it becomes that I don’t want this to end once we sell the house. Just the idea of Cal leaving makes my chest ache, and I’m not sure what to do with that feeling.
There are so many things standing in our way of ever moving forward together—his drinking being the biggest one. But I can’t help but wonder what might happen if he gets that part of his life under control. Would we have a real chance at the life we could have had six years ago? Could we let go of the past and make a family of our own?
I’m tempted to find out.
36
CAL
On Saturday, I wake up to chaos. Lana is hunched over the counter, finishing up Cami’s birthday cake while the kid runs around the kitchen in circles, trying to steal frosting from the bowl.
“Go get dressed before everyone gets here.” Lana points in the direction of Cami’s room without glancing up from her task.
Cami takes off, not looking where she is going. I jump out of her way before she can crash against my legs, saving us both from falling over.
“Watch where you’re going there.”
Her eyes light up. “Sorry!”
“Happy birthday.” I rub the top of her head.
She launches herself at my legs, giving them a big squeeze. I never thought I would come to crave hugs from a little kid, but every time Cami does it, I feel like I’m winning at life. Although mine isn’t put together like my brothers’， Lana and Cami make me feel whole in a way a job or an inheritance could never even attempt.
Maybe Declan and Iris were on to something when they said they wanted a whole brood of kids and a dog. There’s something about a family that can’t be beat.
Cami breaks away and runs into her room, leaving Lana and me alone.
“It’s only nine a.m. and I already have a headache.” Lana rubs her face with the back of her hand, effectively smearing chocolate frosting across her cheek.
I can’t resist leaning forward and licking it off her skin before she has a chance to wipe it away. Blood begins to flow downward, especially when she looks up at me with hooded eyes.
I’m tempted to recreate our first kiss with chocolate icing this time. Lana seems to have a similar thought with the way her eyes drag from my lips to the bowl beside her.
“Tastes great.” I wink.
Her eyes narrow, although the brightness in them doesn’t quite fit.
I walk around her and sift through the medicine cabinet. “Here.” I pass Lana two Tylenols and a glass of water.
“Thanks.” She sighs before knocking back the pills.
I lean against the counter next to her. “Rough morning?”
“I have like, a hundred people coming over in two hours, and I’m not even close to being ready.”
“What do you need help with?”
“Everything.” She slumps against the counter.
I grab my phone and pull up a notetaking app.
She shoots me a look.
“What?” I ask when she doesn’t say anything. “I work best with a list or else I might forget something.”
“You’re really offering to help?”
“Sure. I don’t mind if you put me to work.” I smirk.
She rolls her eyes with a smile. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Lana rattles off a list of random tasks, most of which require me to drive into town. It’s evident that with each task I take on, her tense shoulders drop a little more.
“Be back soon.” I give her a quick kiss on the temple before leaving the house.
It takes me over ninety minutes to finish all the tasks. My car is filled to the max with balloons, food, and a few last-minute supplies Lana forgot at the store.
By the time I make it back inside the guesthouse, it’s been transformed into a Princess Marianna wonderland, with decorations covering almost every surface, streamers hanging across the ceiling in fun patterns, and a half-complete balloon arch behind the cake table.
“You made it!” Lana rushes out of her room and grabs the balloons from my hand. She ties them to the balloon arch to finish it, although she needs my help reaching the tallest point to secure the Princess Marianna inflatable.
“You really go all out.”
She laughs to herself. “Too bad you didn’t see last year’s theme. Cami wanted a Christmas-themed birthday because she didn’t want to wait until December, so I turned the backyard into a winter wonderland. Most of the town donated their Christmas decorations, so it ended up being epic. Blew out the power grid for the night and everything.” She laughs to herself, making my chest warm.
I grab her by the hand and pull her against me. “I wish I had been there.” I place a soft kiss on the top of her head.
She looks up at me with batted lashes. “I do too,” she says and places a quick kiss on my cheek before wiggling out of my embrace, brushing against my cock in the process.
I groan. “Cruel woman.”
“Sorry! Gotta get ready!” She darts away toward her room with a laugh, leaving me wondering how the hell I spent six years away from the one person who made me feel whole.
And how do I make sure I don’t spend another day without her ever again?
My anxiety about spending time with Delilah, Violet, Wyatt, and the rest of the town who hates me intensifies as the clock gets closer to noon. The more I help Lana carry everything outside, the more real the whole birthday party becomes.
The first shot of vodka was only meant to take the edge off. I wasn’t proud of sneaking back inside the guesthouse, but the fear of what might go wrong overrode my pride.
Music playing and people talking outside only makes my anxiety worse, which fuels the vicious cycle.
I’m not happy with my moment of weakness, which drives me to drink some more. It’s a pathetic sight. Me sitting on the floor, nursing a bottle of vodka while Merlin stares from the other side of the room, secretly judging me. I don’t stop until the burn in my throat rivals the one in my chest.