The Stubborn Suitor, Book 2 (The Stubborn Suitor #2)(9)

Cami wasn’t sure she did, but the mood had already been ruined, and she wasn’t going to be able to get it out of her head now anyway, so she nodded.

“It was so weird, sitting across from Ken and his new fiancée. It’s like we were talking about before—you think you know someone so completely, then you find yourself sitting across from a stranger.” Drew nodded in understanding, so Cami continued. “You know what was really awful?”

“What?” Drew asked.

“He was holding Natalie’s hand—that’s his new fiancée. She was there, and he was being so sweet and comforting towards her. He’d never been like that for me. And I can’t help but wonder if it was me…if he was capable of love and compassion, just not with me, you know? And it didn’t help that Natalie is younger and thinner and taller and all around more perfect.”

“You’re perfect,” Drew replied.

Cami was about to tell him to quit flattering her because it wasn’t helping, but when she looked up, the utter sincerity and passion in his eyes cut her off short. So she only smiled and looked away again.

“So, what happened? What was decided?”

“Absolutely nothing was resolved,” Cami said with a sigh. “Which means we’ll have to go to court. Which will waste a lot of time and money, and he’ll have the upper hand. Ugh…and that isn’t even the worst part.”

“What’s the worst part?” Drew grabbed her hand and gave it a soft squeeze.

“He called me right afterwards, while I was still in the parking lot. We didn’t say one word to each other during the meeting, then he calls me five minutes later. And he was so warm and friendly, and I thought maybe he’d come to his senses. In fact, I was completely convinced that he was calling to tell me he was dropping the case. He was going on and on about being mature and reasonable and handling things like a couple of adults, and I agreed. So then he was, like, ‘Good, so you’re just going to give me primary custody.’ I was, like, ‘What? No!’ I ended up telling him not to contact me except through my lawyer and hanging up on him.”

“Good,” Drew said, still holding Cami’s hand. “Is that when I called? You were a little upset on the phone.”

“That’s an understatement,” Cami said with a laugh, thinking of the way she’d chewed Drew out before she realized he wasn’t Ken. “Sorry about that. It’s just really frustrating to know that he thinks I have such a bad case that I’ll just give up and give in without a trial. It really undermines my confidence.”

“That’s probably exactly what he’s doing,” Drew told her. “Maybe he’s scared. Maybe he doesn’t actually think he has much of a chance, which is why he called and tried to intimidate you into giving up custody.”

Cami considered what Drew was saying. She thought about the steps Ken and his lawyer had taken to intimidate her. Perhaps they were only relying on such techniques because they knew they didn’t actually have much of a case. For the first time in weeks, Cami felt better.

“Maybe you’re right,” she said. “I just need to remain positive. I’m a great mother. There’s no way I’m going to lose custody.”

“That’s the spirit,” Drew replied with a smile.

The rest of dinner passed easily, with no more serious conversation. Drew kissed her on the cheek as they left, promising to call her the following day.

Cami was in such a good mood that she even put up with the annoying questions her mother bombarded her with when she went to pick up Madison.

Perhaps things were going to be all right, after all.





5





Cami





Cami didn’t really expect Drew to call the next day. Following the pattern of the way that things had worked with Drew so far, Cami almost expected a cold shoulder. That had really been Drew’s MO since she’d met him.

Upon first meeting, they’d clicked and spent an hour flirting, then he’d turned into a complete snob. They’d spent a passionate—albeit drunken—night on the beach, then the following morning he’d practically ignored her for some skinny model.

She’d seen him be sweet and compassionate with his sister, only to witness him being rude and cold later—laughing at jokes about the poor. Then they’d spent a ridiculously hot night together, then he’d fled in the morning without even leaving a note.

So yes, their date last night had been fantastic, but Cami was still unsure. She was waiting for the other shoe to drop. In fact, she pretty much expected not to speak to him for another week or so.

Which was why she was thrown for a loop when, right after she’d put Madison down for her nap the following day, she received a call from Drew.

“Hello?” she’d said hesitantly into the phone, almost unsure whether he’d meant to call her or not. She was half expecting to find he’d dialed her accidentally.

“Hey, Cami. How are you today!”

“Good,” she replied, slightly caught off guard and surprised to hear his voice. “Just put Madison down for a nap, which is why I’m talking quietly. In case you were wondering.”

“And how is Madison?” Drew asked, surprising Cami even further. He had never asked after her daughter before. He’d asked about the custody suit, but never about Madison herself.