Page 17 of Among the Stars
“I told him we all face the Marsha firing squad in the beginning.” Nick lifted his glass in salute. “It’s a rite of passage.”
Not for Cam it wasn’t. The woman had a right to know who her daughters were spending time with, but he didn’t share his past or his family details with anyone.
“Lunch is ready,” Mr. Hamilton yelled from the dining room, and the crowd moved that way.
Cam let Nick walk away before saying, “Are you okay?” Veronica had looked shell-shocked while talking with her sisters. He assumed they’d brought up her ex.
A smile lit her face, and Cam’s chest tightened. “I am. Thank you again for doing this. The scene at the door would have been much worse if you hadn’t distracted them.”
He hadn’t done anything but stand there. “Happy to help.”
“Come on, you lovebirds,” Marsha called. “The food is getting cold.”
Because he could, Cam took Veronica’s hand, then kissed her forehead. When he drew back, she looked as if he’d punched her.
“Too much?”
Veronica blinked. “No. No. You just surprised me.”
“If we aren’t affectionate, this won’t be believable.”
The smile that made his heart stutter flashed again, and she pressed against his side. “Affection is good.”
Her teeth sank into her bottom lip, and Cam nearly forgot they weren’t alone. Moments before he bent for a kiss, someone tugged on his pant leg.
“Come on, Mr. Cam. I saved you a seat.” Penelope stared up at him, the epitome of innocence and poor timing.
His date giggled. A sound like nothing he’d ever heard. He wished she’d do it again.
“I think we better go sit down,” Veronica whispered.
“Right.”
They followed Penelope into the dining room, and Cam took the seat to the little girl’s left, which put Nick on his other side. Veronica caught his eye as she took a seat farther down the table, offering a silent apology.
Bowls were passed around. Mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, crescent rolls, and finally a large platter of sliced ham. Everything smelled delicious, and Cam couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a home-cooked meal. Not that he didn’t cook at home, but this was something different. Something special.
Had the Rhodes clan ever had holiday dinners? If so, he bore no memory of them.
“Can you butter my roll?” Penelope asked, holding out her crescent roll.
“I’ll do that for you, baby,” Nick cut in.
“I’ve got it.” Cam took the roll and sliced it open along the side.
“Uncle Ash doesn’t cut it like that,” she informed him.
He smoothed butter along the warm bread and set it back on her plate. “I’m not Uncle Ash.”
As if this was some failing on his part, Penelope patted Cam’s arm. “That’s okay. I’ll eat it this way.”
Nick shook his head. “Sorry. She really likes Ash.”
Keeping an eye on Veronica at the end of the table, he said, “The ex gets mentioned a lot.”
“We don’t really think of him as her ex. They’re one of those weird couples who stayed friends.” Nick cut into a thick piece of ham. “He’s around all the time, so he’s pretty much still part of the family.”
If they were still friends, why did finding out he was getting married send her off on a bender?
“How long has the divorce been final?” He’d assumed not long if this was the first Christmas the guy wasn’t here.
Nick shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s been years.”
Reality hit like a shot. Women had come up with a myriad of elaborate and outlandish schemes to get his attention. To say they’d tagged the most eligible bachelor in the city. Veronica had taken the subtle route, and he’d let her suck him right in. Like a goddamn idiot.
Cam refused to make a scene. He’d eat his ham and butter a little girl’s roll, but as soon this meal ended, he was leaving.