Page 38 of A Simple Regret

I glance his way as he opens the cabinet and retrieves the bag. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” he replies, taking the bag to the table and opening them up.

Cracking a grin, I watch Camden place a few of the mini marshmallows beside my son’s coloring book before holding up a finger over his lips. Theo giggles softly before popping the first treat in his mouth and grins widely when Cam does the same.

“Whatcha coloring?” Camden asks, pulling the chair out beside Theo and having a seat.

“Bwuey.”

Of course.

Camden chuckles. “I should have known. Silly me.”

“Siwee goose,” Theo bellows with a cackle of laughter. “Cam a siwee goose.”

I stifle a giggle of my own, enjoying the interaction of the two at the table. It’s easy. Cam makes Theo comfortable, and my son seems enamored by him. I can relate—at least I used to be able to. He was my world for a while too.

Until I fucked that all up and left.

Honestly, as much as I love and appreciate the friendship they’ve formed, I’m not so sure it’s a good idea. I value the little lessons Cam is already instilling in my impressionable three-year-old, but at the same time, the hero worship Theo sees when he looks at Cam is obvious. He’s his friend, that’s for sure, and I just pray this doesn’t end up hurting him.

Not to mention the fact seeing them together causes an extra pitter-patter in my heart and evokes ideas my brain has no idea imagining.

Abort, abort!

This feels too good, too right.

Maybe I’m the one risking getting her heart hurt.

Definitely after the cocoa, that’s the end of it. He’ll go home and we’ll become neighbors who wave from across the yard when we pass.

That’s it.

Right?

While the milk finishes warming, I scoop the appropriate amount of powder into the mugs, using part of a scoop for Theo’s, since he’ll only receive half a mug. Finally, I add the warm milk, stirring each mug until the powder is dissolved, and deliver them to the table.

“Cocoa,” Theo states happily.

Before I can do it, Camden gathers up the coloring book and crayons and slides them out of the way. He helps Theo drop a small handful of marshmallows into his mug. “Tank you,” my son says before carefully reaching for the mug.

“Careful,” Camden replies, his hands hovering near the mug, ready to jump in if needed.

Theo takes his first sip and grins. “Tank you.”

I return to the counter and retrieve my own mug and then join them at the table. “Is it good?” I ask.

My son nods. “Yep!”

“I could put your mug in the microwave for a few seconds if you want it hotter,” I offer, sipping my own warm beverage.

“It’s fine, Maren. Thank you for inviting me to join you.”

I sit back and let Theo and Camden monopolize the conversation. They talk about Bluey, of course, and playing in the snow. I realize how very wrong I was when I thought our cocoa today would be the end of whatever this association is. Turns out, I’ve already agreed to continuing and keeping him close thanks to our sledding adventure scheduled for tomorrow.

Sure, I could cancel, and maybe that’s exactly what I should do. Theo doesn’t know about it, so it wouldn’t upset him that it’s canceled. But if I’m being completely honest, I want to spend that time with Camden. I want to have him here now. Should I? Absolutely not, but that doesn’t mean my heart doesn’t still call to him, even if I tell it not to. I just need to make sure it stays in its lane and doesn’t get any ideas of a future with Camden Miller.

But we can be friends, right?