44. Sloane

CHAPTER 44

SLOANE

T oday is Cam’s last day in Thunder Creek.

I shouldn’t have it marked on my calendar and I definitely shouldn’t care.

But I do.

No matter how hard I try to pretend I’m okay and everything’s fine, inside I’m dying. If I were Jane Austen, I’d describe my current mood as ‘bereft.’ I couldn’t sleep last night and haven’t eaten anything all day, not even able to stomach the donut Ms. Mabel brought in for me this morning from Java Jolt.

Between the dark circles under my eyes from insomnia and the late summer humidity wreaking havoc on my hair, I’m quite the vision.

Less than twenty-four hours and he’ll be gone.

Tears prick behind my eyes as I hurry over to the printer to grab the handouts for romance book club. Tonight’s the last meeting of the summer and there’s nothing I’d rather do less right now than sit around and chitchat about love .

“Psst—Sloane!”

I swivel so fast my ponytail swats my cheek. “Gracelyn! What are you doing here? I thought you had a client tonight.”

“I did, but my mom took her for me. She wanted a single-color process and a tight curl—not really my cup of tea. And I wanted to come to your book club. You know, for moral support.”

“Aww, babe. Thanks.” I smash her in a quick hug. “But did you read the book?”

“What? Y’all actually read the book? I thought most book clubs sit around and talk and drink wine?”

I chuckle. “Not this one. For starters, no beverages allowed in the library. And these ladies always read the book. But it’s okay. Tonight we’re talking about Pride & Prejudice. We read that back in high school. I’m sure it’ll come back to you.”

“Girl. You’re cute. You think I actually read that book, ever? Um, no. I read someone’s notes and copied an essay some upperclassman gave me. But it’s cool. I’m great at winging it.”

Holding my eye roll in check—because she is here to support me—I link arms with her and together we head to the conference room. Ms. Mabel and Meg Langley are already here, and a few more people stroll in as the clock ticks closer to five p.m.

“Okay, I think we can get started. We have a good crowd tonight.” I glance around the circle, noting a new face or two. Word must be spreading about this fun group of readers. Tonight we have eight people, not counting me or Gracelyn.

“First of all, thanks for coming. I picked this month’s book because I love Jane Austen. Any other Jane Austen fans here?”

Several hands shoot up and my lit-loving little heart is full.

“Super. Let’s go around the circle and everyone can share their favorite part.”

Gracelyn shoots me an SOS stare, and I add, “If you want.”

Her shoulders sag with relief as Ms. Mabel takes the floor, launching into a long response about the first ball scene. A few others chime in and the conversation gets going. Gracelyn toys with her stack of silver bangles, but everyone else participates enthusiastically.

After a while, the conversation dies down, so I ask another question. “Why do you think Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett had such a hard time resolving their issues? Do you think one of them was more in the wrong than the other?”

Meg answers first. “I think they both had a hand in the problem. Elizabeth was stubborn and prideful and Mr. Darcy couldn’t get past his biases.”

“Isn’t that just like a man—” Ms. Mabel mutters and Gracelyn giggles.

“Right?” Grace gives Ms. Mabel an approving look.

“I don’t know. I feel like Elizabeth wasn’t as much in the wrong as Mr. Darcy,” I point out. “He had more power than her and was in a better position. He kept secrets from her as well.”

Gracelyn kicks my foot, but I keep talking, ignoring her. “I understand why she was upset with him for most of the novel.”

She kicks my foot again, this time so hard I almost fall out of the plastic chair .

“What Grace?” I whisper, spinning to face her.

And there’s Cam, standing in the door of the conference room, one hand shoved in his pocket. Face burning, my eyes slide up and meet his marine gaze. He has matching rings circling his eyes and hasn’t shaved in a few days, dark stubble peppering his jaw.

Everyone stops talking as they all stare at Cam, then at me, then back at Cam. Gracelyn clears her throat and the sound bounces off the light green walls.

“Quick bathroom break?” she suggests, but I shake my head.

“No. I’m good. Anyone else?” I glance around the circle, but no one moves to stand. “Okay, then.” I clear my throat, shifting in my chair. “Let’s continue.”

Sitting up tall, I try my hardest to ignore Cam. Maybe he’ll take the hint and go away.

“Like I was saying—Mr. Darcy kept secrets,” I emphasize this last part, to hammer home the point, “and that’s not a good foundation for a relationship. So I get why Elizabeth was upset.”

“Maybe Darcy had good reasons for keeping secrets.” Cam’s deep voice carries from across the room.

“Perhaps. But Darcy should have let Elizabeth make that choice.” I stare directly at Cam, chin lifted and jaw tense.

“I’m sure he feels badly about it. In the end.”

An ache spreads through my chest, radiating out into my arms, my skin prickling.

“You’re right, Cam. He does,” Meg chimes in, bobbing her head. “That’s when the book really gets good. When all the secrets come out and he professes his love for her. Oh—that’s the best part.” Meg clutches her necklace, swooning over Mr. Darcy .

Cam straightens his shoulders and strides over to me, right through the center of the book club circle. Heat shoots all the way from my chest to my face and my heart’s racing.

He sinks down until we’re face-to-face and grabs my hands.

“Cam—don’t,” I whisper, my throat so tight I barely manage to squeeze out the words.

“Sloane Carter, I love you. And I screwed up, big time. Just like Darcy. I should have told you the truth from the beginning and I’m so, so sorry. But I can’t take it back.”

The entire book club circle shifts in their seats, leaning in closer so they can hear every word of Cam’s confession. Blood whooshes loud in my ears and my stomach twists into a knot so tight a sailor in the Coast Guard would be proud.

“What I can do is admit that I was wrong. Wrong to take advantage of your trust, your goodness.”

“Ohhh—” Ms. Mabel murmurs, glancing from me to Cam. “A man admitting he was wrong. That’s a good one there, Sloane. He’s a keeper.”

A tingle runs down my spine as Cam grips my hands tighter, moving in close, so close his familiar woodsy scent winds around me.

“What I can do is fight for you. I don’t want to quit on us, Sloane. We’re a good team—a great team—and that’s tough to find and even tougher to keep. Please don’t quit on us.”

Tears well in my eyes as I take a shuddery breath. “I don’t know, Cam. You hurt me, broke my trust. How do I know you won’t do it again?”

“You don’t,” Ms. Mabel says. “It’s called faith, child. Elizabeth didn’t know if Darcy would keep more secrets. But she bet on him and took the risk.”

Took the risk.

Some people stay.

Cam wants to stay. He could have left. Left Thunder Creek for good without ever looking back.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he took a risk and busted into book club to profess his love for me.

I inch to the edge of my seat, so close to Cam I feel his breath on my skin, our noses almost touching.

“Yes. I’ll take the risk, Cam.”

His tense face breaks into a smile and he presses his mouth to mine, seizing my lips in a passionate kiss. Applause breaks out around us, but all I care about in this moment is Cam.

Eventually, he breaks away. “I love you, Sloane Carter.”

“I love you, too. Have you ever read Pride & Prejudice, by the way?”

Cam grins, his teeth gleaming in the bright library lights. “No. Me and Coach watched the movie this afternoon. You know, to get ready for book club.”

I smack him lightly in the chest. “You talked to my dad about this?”

He nods. “Yeah. Who do you think told me to throw a Hail Mary?”