Page 28 of Flawless

“I miss you too, baby. That dress you were wearing… killer. I swear those curves of yours should come with a warning label.”

I laughed, thinking of him scrolling the pics others had posted of me on social media tonight. So much for not having time to scroll, Sheriff. I thought it was adorable.

“My friend and stylist, Marissa, found this hot little number for me.” It was a black strapless bandage dress that fit me like a second skin. And she’d convinced me to wear it with red stilettos. “But with my au naturel size D’s I was pulling that damn dress up all night.”

He chuckled. “Hmm, I’d give anything to be peeling it off you right now.”

A long-distance relationship with this sexy man would be the death of me. I wanted him all the time.

“Do me a favour?”

“Anything.”

I loved that response. “Anytime you see me online wearing a dress like this, pictured with guys like that, just remember it’s you I’m thinking about, Sheriff. Always.”

“Not gonna lie, I got inside my own head tonight. Started questioning whether this could work, or whether we’re crazy to even try.”

My tummy did a backflip because the thought of losing him, when we were just getting started, was a fate I couldn’t contemplate.

“And now?”

“Now I know I’d be the crazy one, if I walked away now. I have to know where this can go, Ry. I know there’s a chance it won’t work, and that we’ll hurt each other. But it’s a chance I’m willing to take because I meant it when I said I’m falling for you.”

I felt like I could finally breathe again when I said, “I feel the same way.” But Eden’s comments about Cam’s past relationship, prompted me to dive a little deeper. “You weren’t the only one questioning things tonight, if I’m being honest.”

“What were you questioning?”

“Whether you’re really over your ex. The break-up was hard on you, wasn’t it?”

“Sure, like I said, I thought it could lead to…”

When he seemed hesitant, I asked, “You thought it could lead to what?”

“Marriage, babies, and I’m not gonna lie, I want that.” He didn’t give me a chance to comment before he said, “But honestly, Kelly probably hurt my ego more than anything. And the thought of starting all over with someone else, when I have obvious trust issues, isn’t easy.”

I was still hung up on the whole marriage and babies thing. I didn’t want to waste his time, but could I really see myself settling down? And how could that work when our lives were in two different states?

“Talk to me, Ry.”

“Um, my whole reason for bringing this up was to make sure I’m not your rebound girl. I need to know you’re really over Kelly⁠—”

“Honey, I can assure you I didn’t really love her as much as I loved the idea of settling down with my person.”

His person. God, could I be Cam’s person?

I forced a laugh. “This conversation is freaking me out a little. As you love to point out, I’m still young, and didn’t think I’d have to make decisions about this stuff for another five or ten years.”

He was silent so long I thought he’d dropped the call, but he finally said, “That’s something you’ll need to think about, if things get serious. But right now, we’re just getting to know each other, right?”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to lead you on. So, I just want to be honest. My career demands a lot of me. In fact, it will probably have to be my top priority for the next five to ten years, until I’ve paid my dues.”

“So, what are you telling me, Rylee? That you don’t think this is worth pursuing?”

My heart was pounding so hard I feared he could hear it. “No, I’m not saying that at all. Spending time with you is worth any sacrifice.”

“But your career will be your top priority?”

I knew Cam wasn’t the kind of guy who was afraid to face the truth and have the tough conversations, and I admired that about him. But it scared me too, because I didn’t want to lose him before we’d explored where this could go.