33. Talia
thirty-three
Talia
Cam twines his fingers with mine as he leads me to the door of a yellow and gray house. The place is adorable. Planter boxes line each window, and the huge front porch with two rocking chairs is picturesque. A rainbow-colored balloon arch hangs over the door, welcoming us.
I nibble at my bottom lip. My anxiety is at an all-time high. I can’t help but worry that his family won’t like me.
Cam kisses my cheek and, without knocking, opens the front door and walks inside. “Stop worrying.”
Cam holds three gift bags full of clothes and books in his hands. I went a little nuts with the presents, but I had so much fun shopping for his niece, Sariah. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I ended up with a bunch of board books and half a dozen outfits, my favorite being the cutest little tutu onesie. It’s yellow and has Little Ray of Sunshine written across the chest. I hope his sister-in-law Rylann loves it too. She was so sweet when we spoke on the phone.
Cameron pulls me through the foyer and into the living room, leading me to the kitchen. A soft moan has our heads turning to find a couple getting hot and heavy in the hall. The woman has her leg up around a man’s hip, and his hand is up under her dress.
“Jesus Christ, can’t you two keep your hands to yourself?” Cam shouts, dropping the bags on the floor .
The man—who I am pretty sure is one of Cam’s brothers because they look so much alike with their brown hair and hazel eyes—turns around with a scowl as he wipes red lipstick off his mouth. The woman, an incredibly tall and beautiful brunette with light brown eyes, laughs, smoothing her red and white floral wrap dress.
“Mind your fucking business, Cameron. If I want to feel my wife up, I will.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
This must be Mason and his wife, Emery, because I met Jace and Eli is single.
“Dude, what if Rhys walked in on you with your hand inside your wife’s pussy? Jace would fucking kill you.”
“You’re fucking dead.” Mason charges forward, pointing at Cam, while his wife holds him back by the waistband of his jeans. “Mason, stop. He’s just kidding.”
My knee-jerk reaction is to step in front of Cam and protect him, so I do. Mason stops mid-step, eyes wide in disbelief.
“Did you just step in front of Cam to protect him?”
I look back and up at Cam, who towers over me and his brother by a few inches and at least twenty pounds. Cam doesn’t need protection, but that’s exactly what I gave him.
“Yes?” I answer, unsure if I did the right thing.
Cam wraps his arms around my chest, holding me tight before kissing the top of my head.
Mason stares at us in shock. “Interesting.” Mason tilts his head, watching me and Cam together. His lips slightly turn up into an imperceptible smile. “I hope you’re tough because his mouth gets him into a lot of trouble.”
Biting back my laugh, I think about all the ways Cam loves to tease the people he loves. “I know. He’s an ass like that.”
Mason chuffs.
Cam scoffs. “You’re going to pay for that later, baby.”
I grip his forearms and mumble, “Worth it. ”
“Well, aren’t you two the cutest,” Emery swoons, grinning ear to ear as she shoves Mason out of the way. “You’re horrible. I’m so happy to meet you, Talia. I’m Emery. Rylann can’t stop talking about you. Don’t mind my husband. He has a resting grump personality.”
I knew I liked Rylann. She has this aura about her that’s so pure and genuine. I could feel it through the camera. Emery has a similar energy.
“It’s nice to meet you, Emery.”
She gives me a hug before embracing Cam. Emery smiles up at Cam, and if I hadn’t just witnessed her making out with her husband in the hallway, I’d be intimidated. She is that stunning. Like, supermodel gorgeous and fit.
Emery looks at her husband and says, “Don’t be rude.”
He holds out his hand, and I can’t help but wince at it. Cam and Emery burst out laughing as the tips of Mason’s ears turn pink.
He glares at Emery and Cam. “Not a word. Nice to meet you, Talia.” Then he excuses himself to the bathroom.
“Babe, I fucking owe you like ten orgasms for that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mase’s ears turn pink before.” Cam grabs my face and kisses me hard on the lips.
Emery doubles over in laughter as Rylann enters the house. We follow her voice to the kitchen as she asks, “What’s so funny?”
Ignoring Mason’s threat, Cam tells her what happened.
She grabs her pregnant stomach and joins in. “Oh man, that’s great.” Rylann gives me a huge welcome hug before ushering me and Cam outside onto the deck.
“Do you remember me saying that I selfishly wanted to buy Emery’s house?” Cam whispers.
“Yes.”
“Well, this is why. What we just walked in on is the PG version of what Jace and Rylann do in their home. And out of it.”
Oh. “Ohhh.”
“Yeah, oh.” Cam squeezes my hand. “Are you ready? ”
The roller coaster that is my stomach does a backwards loop. I’m Fine. Breathe. I’ve been preparing myself all month for this. Cam has told me such wonderful things about everyone. I feel like I know them already.
“As ready as I’ll ever be meeting my boyfriend’s family.”
“That’s my girl.” Cam kisses the back of my hand.
Even though my heart races, I’m excited to meet the Millers. Cam loves his family. They mean the world to him.
His parents, Karen and Mark, are easy to talk to. They are both huggers and really excited about Cam bringing a girl home for the first time. It’s a first for both of us—meeting the parents.
I also meet Eli—who flirts with me on purpose to get a rise out of Cam—Jace’s neighbors and best friends, Levi and Scarlett, as well as his niece Sariah, who lets me scoop her up without a care. She’s the spitting image of her mom and is absolutely adorable in her birthday outfit. I think I’m in love with her.
The entire Miller family treats me with nothing but kindness. There is no mention of my brother, for which I am grateful.
Cam stays by my side. His arm is a permanent fixture, draped over my shoulder. I lean into his body, absorbing his affection.
I really had nothing to worry about. These people are amazing. Cam is so lucky to have such a supportive and loving family.
When Rhys comes ambling over, he stops and stares at me. I know kids, and I can see his little wheels spinning.
“There’s my little buddy.”
His head snaps in Cam’s direction. “Uncle Cam!”
“How’s my guy doing?” Cam grabs him around the middle and tickles him. His cute little laughter fills the air.
There is nothing hotter than watching my man play with his nephew. My ovaries want to make their way down to my womb so Cam’s virile sperm can impregnate them.
Oh goodness. Is it hot in here?
My cheeks flame, and my lady bits tingle. I fight the urge to fan my face after watching Cam interact with Rhys .
Rylann catches my eye and smiles. She sees too much. She reminds me of Zia Rose in that way.
I turn my attention back to Cam. He holds Rhys in his arms, listening intently to every word the little guy relays about yesterday’s Evaders’ game.
They look so much alike it’s crazy. All the Miller boys do, actually. Tall, strong jawline, hazel eyes, and broad shoulders. Mark Miller has strong genes. Every one of his sons—grandson included—looks like a younger version of him.
Cam’s parents and brothers edge closer to listen to their conversation.
“Are you practicing your swing like I showed you?” Cam asks.
“Yep. Grandad took me to the batting cages. He said my swing is better than yours.”
Cam looks over at Mark, and they have a silent moment. I didn’t have a traditional father figure growing up, but I rather not have a father if I received anything less than what Cam’s dad gave him—love, attention, and support.
“Then it must be true. Grandad taught me everything I know,” Cam says, returning his attention back to Rhys.
“That’s ’cause you stink. You haven’t hit a home run in six games.”
“Oh dang. Burned by an eight-year-old.” Eli laughs. “Need some aloe to soothe the sting, Cam?”
Eli is an interesting guy. He’s funny, like Cam, but also has this quiet aura about him. Like he’s always watching and waiting for the next shoe to drop. He’s a little shorter than Cam but no less broad, and like the rest of the Miller brothers, he’s hot as hell.
What the hell kind of Herculean genes does their dad have?
Cam rubs his nose with his middle finger, directed at his brother. The entire patio erupts in laughter.
He ruffles Rhys’s hair. “I’ll do better. Next homer I hit will be for you, and I’ll hold up our rock and roll sign with my hand. Deal? ”
“Deal.” Rhys looks my way and crunches his brows. I’m afraid he’s going to acknowledge the elephant in the room, but he doesn’t. He innocently asks, “Who are you?”
“Rhys, this is my girlfriend, Talia. Talia, this is Rhys,” Cam interjects, placing his nephew on the floor and tugging me to his side.
Geez, Rhys is tall for his age. He already comes up to my chin. I bet he ends up being as tall as Cameron.
“Hi.” I wave like a dork. I know how much Cam adores him, and after the family picnic, I’m more nervous about meeting this little guy. Kids don’t process the nuances of relationships like adults do. They say what they think without thinking.
“You have weird eyes,” he says.
I cover my mouth with my hand and laugh.
“Rhys, manners,” Rylann chides her son.
“It’s okay. He’s right. I kind of do. Lots of people have told me so. Everyone in my family has them except for my cousin Sofia. She has brown eyes, kind of like yours.”
“Mine are like my dad’s.” He puffs his little chest with pride.
I could just eat this guy up. He’s so cute. It’s no wonder everyone fawns all over him.
“Are yours?”
“No, mine are like my mom’s.” My chest aches, thinking about the way we left things.
“What color are your dad’s eyes?”
I can feel the stares of everyone in the room as I chat with Rhys. Like I expected, he doesn’t hold back and says exactly what’s on his mind. This is why I love working with kids and teens. Their innocence and honesty are refreshing. Too many adults are ashamed of asking for help, but kids aren’t. When they hurt, you know it. When they need help, they ask for it.
“I don’t know. He left before I was born.”
Cam places his hand on the small of my back, rubbing circles, feeding me support with his touch .
When I was younger, conversations like this hurt. I didn’t understand. All I knew was that there was no dad in my life to chase away the monsters under my bed or to take me to father-daughter dances.
I may not have had a dad, but I had a Nico. And he did all those things for me.
My answer doesn’t faze Rhys as he continues. “My first dad died. But now I have my real dad. Maybe Grandad can be your dad. Then you can be happy too.”
“That’s a great idea, but you know what? I had a big brother who always looked out for me, so I was never sad.”
“I’m a big brother. I’m going to take care of my baby sister and baby brother too.”
Rylann gasps. “Rhys, how did you know that?”
He looks guiltier than Yogi Bear caught red-handed with a picnic basket as he mumbles, “I ate one of the surprise cupcakes. It was blue.”
Everyone stifles a laugh as Jace drops to his knees in front of his son. “Rhys, we were waiting to surprise you and the rest of the family.”
“I know. But I couldn’t wait. I really wanted to know. I’m sorry, Dad. Are you mad at me?”
Jace chuckles. His eyes are filled with so much love as he chats with Rhys that it brings tears to my eyes. I look around and notice similar shining eyes on those paying attention.
“Never, kiddo.”
Rhys throws himself at his dad, who wraps him up in a tight hug.
Tears tingle my nose at the sweetest father-son moment I’ve ever witnessed.
Jace stands, his son wrapped around him like a koala, and walks over to stand behind Rylann. He kisses her neck and rubs her belly.
Little flutters hit me in the gut as I picture them as me and Cameron. Would he be the same doting father and husband? I can see it. Does he see it too? He’s mentioned a future in which we are married, but does he want kids too?
“One thing at a time, itty bitty,” Cam whispers in my ear.
Shivers wrack my body, and my hair stands on end. I chance a look up into Cam’s warm hazel eyes, and our life together flashes before me. We can have this.
“Cam,” I choke. Emotions clog my throat. There are so many complications that face us.
A piece of me wants to tell him about my mom, but I don’t want to put that on him. I know Cam; he’ll push me away before he comes between me and my family. I’m not sure I’d recover if he left me, and I don’t know if I’d ever forgive my family for chasing him away.
Because Cam knows me, he runs his finger down my cheek and says, “I know, baby. I promise I’m going to fix it.” Sealing his promise with a kiss, he places a chaste peck on my lips.
I want to believe him, I really do, but that little voice buried deep in my head won’t shut up.
What if Cameron can’t fix whatever problem Nico has with him?
What if I lose my mom and brother by being with Cam?
Worst of all…What if I lose Cam?