The Stubborn Suitor, Book 3 (The Stubborn Suitor #3)(5)

As much as Cami wasn’t sure about having Drew spend time with Madison, she really didn’t want to disappoint her daughter. And so she finally heaved a deep sigh and relented.

“Fine,” she said, trying not to sound too nervous. “We can do something fun.”

“Awesome!” Drew replied, sounding just as excited as Madison. Cami had to bite her lip to keep from smiling at his reaction. “So,” he continued. “What does one normally do for fun with a three-year-old? I take my nephew to Chuck-E-Cheese a lot.”

Cami couldn’t hold back the smile as she pictured Drew at Chuck-E-Cheese, running around behind a five-year-old version of himself.

“Chuck-E-Cheese is fine. We go there sometimes,” Cami replied.

“Chuck-E-Cheese!” Madison repeated from the back-seat, though Cami doubted the little girl actually knew what they were referring to.

It had been a while since they’d had an opportunity to go. Money had been tight because of the custody battle. Lawyers were expensive, and Cami had been picking up overtime at the Emergency Room, where she worked as a nurse, and she was still struggling to get bills paid. Still, she could splurge tonight. Madison deserved some fun, and so did she.

As soon as they were inside the door, Cami was able to see her fantasies acted out in real life. She ran around with Madison and Drew for a while before sitting back and just watching as the man played with her daughter. He helped her win at ski ball and miniature basketball, and Cami couldn’t help but laugh, even though she was sure that he was technically cheating.

They used the tickets they had won to get tiaras, which both Madison and Drew wore around the restaurant. He helped her down the slide, never leaving her side. It made Cami’s insides melt in a way that let her know that she was in trouble.

When their food came, Drew held Madison on his lap and helped her eat pizza. It was sort of disconcerting, seeing the man that was usually so poised and put together—whom she had only seen dine at five-star restaurants—bounce a baby on his hip as he ate slice after slice of greasy pizza. His dark hair was in complete disarray, sticking up in every direction under the little pink tiara that sat jauntily on his head. She waited to see a sign of exasperation or annoyance on his face, but he really seemed to be having as much fun as Madison.

In fact, Drew almost looked like a completely different person, Cami realized. The tension that had always seemed to be in his shoulders was gone. He appeared to be completely relaxed and looked years younger than he had last time she’d seen him, less than two weeks prior. There was color in his cheeks and his dark eyes were sparkling with energy.

Cami barely had Madison buckled back into her car seat before the little girl was out, like a light. They’d stayed longer than Cami had meant to, especially considering Madison already had an over-stimulating weekend with her father. But she didn’t want the night to end. Madison was having too much fun. And, though Cami was loath to admit it, she had too much fun as well.

The drive home was silent for a few minutes before Drew’s deep voice broke Cami out of her thoughts.

“I had a lot of fun tonight, Cami,” he said. She didn’t know how to reply. She still wasn’t sure if she was ready to give him another chance. What if he just ditched out on her again? “Listen,” he continued when she didn’t respond. “I know we have a lot to deal with. I have a lot to make up for. I realize that. And you have every right to be mad at me. But I’ve changed. I promise. I’ve been going through something recently, but it’s over now. Things will be different.”

Cami wanted to believe him. She really did. But she just wasn’t sure if she could. He’d acted like this in the past. In fact, every time they’d been together, he’d acted like she was the most important thing in his universe. But then something else would come up, and he’d dash away without a second thought, revealing what his true priorities were.

“I don’t know,” was all Cami was able to say.

Thankfully, they were soon pulling into her driveway and she was saved from any more conversation before she’d had time to think.

Cami hurried from the car as soon as it was parked, gently unbuckling Madison and sliding her from the car seat.

“I’ve got to get her to bed,” she whispered to Drew as she carried her daughter towards the house. She fumbled with her keys, which Drew caught and used to open the front door. “Once she’s tucked in, I can come unbuckle her seat from your car. Or, if you can figure it out, you’re more than welcome to do it yourself. That way you don’t have to wait. Just leave it inside the door.”

Without a second glance, Cami headed down the hall towards Madison’s bedroom. She tenderly removed Madison’s clothes and dressed her in a nightgown before tucking her into her bed. It was a testament to how much Drew had worn her out that she didn’t even wake up at all.

Instead of hurrying back out to help Drew, she sat down at the edge of her daughter’s bed. She told herself that she just wanted to make sure Madison was asleep before she left her side. The truth was, she was hoping Drew would take the hint and unbuckle the car seat himself—that way she wouldn’t have to face him again tonight. Without the buffer of Madison there, she knew they’d have to have a serious conversation, and she just wasn’t sure if she was ready.

Watching Drew spend time with Madison tonight had really done a number on Cami. All of the reasons not to date him were slowly slipping out of her mind. She’d pictured so many more days just like this one, and before she knew it, her mind went unbidden into the scariest territory: her secret dreams. Lazy Sundays where Madison didn’t have to go to Ken’s—where they could all wake up slow and make a big breakfast, Drew helping Madison stir the pancake batter. She thought about a wedding where Madison was the perfect little flower girl, all dressed up in a frilly white dress. She thought of Madison as a big sister, cradling a baby brother or sister in her arms as Drew looked on adoringly.