Page 71 of Flawless

“Why can’t I?” I tried to ignore the slow burn churning in my gut. Getting angry wouldn’t help my cause. I needed to hear her out, assuage her fears, and prove I wanted a life with her, whatever the cost.

“Because you haven’t known me long enough to upend your life to be with me.”

“I’d say it’s a little late to take things slow. We’re in this together, for the next eighteen years and beyond. The question is, will it be as my wife?” As a proposal, that sucked. But before I got down on one knee, I had to know she wouldn’t shoot me down.

“You know I love you,” she said, sounding desperate. “You know I see a future with you. And I want to raise our baby together. But this is happening so fast. When you talk about resigning from your job to be with me…” She sniffled. “That terrifies me. If this doesn’t work out, you’ll hate me. You’ll have lost everything and it will be all my fault.”

“Why are you so sure it couldn’t work out?”

I had no doubt it would, if she’d let it.

“I’m not good at relationships!”

It sounded like she was on the verge of hysteria now, and I knew this wasn’t a conversation we should be having on the phone.

There was too much at stake.

“I told you that the first night we met, I don’t do serious!”

“Yet you tell me you’re in love with me,” I said, using my expertise in diffusing explosive situations. “And you’re having my baby. I’d say that’s as serious as it gets, Rylee.”

“You think I don’t know this is serious?” she snapped. “You think I don’t lie awake at night wondering what the hell I’ve gotten myself into, and whether I can handle it?”

There was a long pause as I processed her words, while wondering whether she regretted it. When she didn’t attempt a retraction, I said, “I guess that’s where we differ then. I know what I want. Sounds like you need a little more time to figure it out.”

“Cam, please don’t hang up. I love you. I don’t want to lose you.”

“I love you too.” I drew a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to still my racing heart. “That’s not gonna change, no matter what happens.”

I took a personal day off work the next day, reasoning if my current situation didn’t warrant a little time for reflection, nothing did.

After driving around aimlessly for awhile, I worked up the courage to drive to my parents’ house. I planned to tell them they were going to be grandparents, but the soft expression on my mama’s face when she wrapped her arms around me, had me spilling my guts about Rylee too.

“What is it, sweetheart?” she asked, curling her hands around my face. “You look like you haven’t slept in a week.”

“That’s not too far off, actually.” I sat down at the old wooden table with a heavy sigh. Rubbing my hands over my face, I said, “I don’t know what the hell to do, Mama.”

She poured two cups of coffee and set them on the table between us, along with the sugar, creamer, and a plate of homemade sugar cookies. “Is this about Rylee? I know you haven’t been yourself since y’all broke up.”

“Rylee’s pregnant.”

She gasped and her eyes filled with tears before her hands flew to her mouth. “Is it…?”

I nodded. “You and Pops are gonna be grandparents.”

She flew around the table, squealing with delight as she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek. “Oh my goodness, this is the best news! What a blessing! Wait until your⁠—”

“Mama,” I said, patting her arm. “Calm down. Things are complicated.”

She pulled back to look me in the eye, frowning. “I know you must be happy about this.” She straightened up, fisting her hands on her hips. “Cameron, you’ve wanted a family for years. And I can tell by the way you look at that girl that you’re in love. So, what’s the problem? You do the right thing! Marry her!”

I smirked before rubbing my hand over my mouth to hide my smile when she scowled at me. “It’s not that easy. Rylee’s a strong woman, with a mind of her own. She’s got a career she’s passionate about and a life she loves in Nashville.”

“So, you move to Nashville,” she said, spreading her hands. “What’s the problem? You go wherever they are.”

That was my mama. Always stripping away the excuses to expose what really mattered.

“What about my career?” I asked, curious to hear how my mama felt about Rylee’s rationale.