Chapter 18

The weekend passes in the blink of an eye. It makes me wonder if I was ever happy before, or if I was wrapped up in presenting myself in a certain way. Making concessions to make Phoebe happy instead of climbing Mount Everest. I wouldn't climb a mountain, so that's not fair. But did I accommodate her wants and needs instead of pursuing my own?

I flip through old photos of Phoebe on my phone, trying to see if my smile was ever as big as it is with Cameron. I only have a few pictures with Cameron, but in each one, I'm grinning like a Cheshire cat from a cartoon, or I'm looking at her like a man in love.

Unquestionably, I loved Phoebe with all my heart and soul, but I gave up so many things I loved. I used to be adventurous, hang-gliding, ziplining, but with Phoebe, we ended up going to movies, playing golf, or staying in. Although I can see the love in my eyes and the presence of smiles, they seem slightly less vibrant than the ones with Cameron.

Her shyness was attractive when so many girls in college would bare their breasts or whisper how they would fuck you in your ear. Pamela brought Phoebe and me together and from there, our friendship blossomed and turned into nine years together. We succumbed to a routine, and I won't blame her for that. I made a conscious decision to make her feel safe and loved.

I've flown all over the country in the past two days, and I've thought about Phoebe and Cameron the whole damn time. Tonight, when I arrive back in Miami, it's go-time to shoot the WHAT NO TO DO commercial for Big O Excursions.

Barclay picks me up at the airport and brings me a change of clothes and a few other items. The film crew doesn't know that Cameron and I have been seeing each other, so Cameron greets me with a sarcastic tone. "You're late, Mr. Worthington."

I can hardly hide the smile that unfurls like a flag inside me when I see her face and hear her voice.

"Boss, where do you want me?"

The filming crew takes their places so they can get all angles. We shoot several scenes, and the script is hilarious. Cameron laughs so much, we do nine takes of her saying, "Put the rod in the holder."

And this is why I'm here, making a commercial for her. It's just a ruse to afford me one more time in her presence. Who knew we would hit it off after our first meeting on this boat was an unmitigated disaster?

When she thinks filming is over, I grab her hand, pulling her towards me. Her eyes are clouded with worry. "Ms. Darling, do you still want to give up the million dollars for a chance at ten million. You can change your mind because you could end up with nothing."

Cameron rubs her lips together. "Yep," she says, popping the P. "Life's a risk, and ten million is worth the risk."

"Do you realize every other woman on the show has taken the million or, in Jonna's case, gotten a well-paying job with Triple W?" I know she does, but this is television.

"The other women aren't me."

No, no, they're not.

God, I love the gleam in her eye. "Okay, are you ready? If the coin lands on Triple W, then you win ten million. If it lands on my image, you lose and get nothing, except a professionally made commercial."

She lets out a giddy cackle. "I'm ready."

"We're going to let you flip the coin, so there is no hint of impropriety."

Cameron takes the coin, and her fingers linger on my palm. One cameraman comes in close. She tosses it into the air, and it bounces on the fiberglass boat, alternating between my face and Triple W until my image is facing up.

I frown. I wanted her to win and make her dreams come true.

She tries to hide her disappointment, but it's there. "Oh well, you win some, you lose some. Thank you all for filming. It's been fun."

"You have one more chance."

"I do?"

The crew looks at me like I'm crazy, thinking I'm giving her a second chance at millions.

"I have a proposal for you." She glances around, and I drop to one knee, pulling a white velvet box from my pocket. It takes a moment to register. "Cameron Darling, will you marry me? Will you swim in the ocean, take helicopter rides, and climb small mountains with me?"

Her hands cover her mouth, and a tear rolls over the apple of her cheeks. How can one drop of water mean so much? Say so much? When she finally nods, a collective sigh comes from the crew and Orlando.

The diamond weighs two carats wrapped in fourteen-karat gold. It's simple. It doesn't scream my fiancée is a billionaire or look at me. The ring says, I know what she would want and what I want our life to be—simple. When I saw it, my heart opened, stuttered, and fluttered, and I knew my body was telling me that Cameron is the one, and this ring is perfect for her.

I yank her down onto my knee. "Is that a yes?"