“I do now, but for a while she had me convinced otherwise.”

“She told me what she said to you, at dad’s memorial service.”

Hayley’s expression is one of skepticism, and disbelief. “She did?”

I nod. “After you left the diner last night I cornered her and she told me everything.”

Hayley shakes her head and shrugs. “Talk about one big ass misunderstanding.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“Because I was afraid, okay? I didn’t want you finding out about my past with Kyle, and how Ari came into my life.” Hayley looks away and fiddles with her fingers. “Not that it matters now. You know everything. I have nothing left to hide.”

“I was upset, but not for the reason you think, Hayls. I was mad that instead of talking to me, you avoided me. ”

She looks at me, worry lines marring her forehead. “So you weren’t upset that I never told you about the video?”

I was surprised, but how could I hold something like that against her when I wasn't part of her life back then? It doesn’t matter to me what mistakes Hayley has made in her past, or who she used to be. All I care about is who she is now, and who she will be with me.

“No. I knew you were hiding something, but I figured you’d want to tell me when you were ready. I can’t judge you, or be angry with you, because of who you were. I only want who you’ve become.”

Her eyes glaze over and as she blinks, tears spill over the rims of her eyelids. I brush them away with my thumb, reveling the feel of touching her soft skin again after not being able to for what feels like forever. These last few weeks without Hayley have been torture. I tentatively wrap my arms around her, and hug her close.

“I’m so sorry, Cam,” she murmurs into my chest. “I made a mess of things by not being honest with you. I thought I was doing what was best for Ari. I would rather die than have her suffer for my mistakes.”

I kiss her head and rub my hand up and down her back. Her heart is beating against my chest and I squeeze her tighter, like she could possibly melt into me. “I know, but you can’t forget about what’s best for you either. Ari will be just fine, because she has you for a mom.”

Hayley sniffles and looks up at me, a small smile gracing her features. “I’ve missed you,” she whispers quietly. “And I’m sorry for everything.”

Our lips brush and that connection crackles to life between us, igniting an even stronger need to have Hayley in my life.

“I’ve missed you, too,” I breathe against her lips. “And I missed Ari, too.”

Hayley smiles, and this time there's nothing small about it. “She missed you, too,” she tells me. “She asked about you almost every day that we were apart.”

That makes me sad. I hate knowing that all of this bullshit has affected Ari negatively.

“So what now?” Hayley asks.

My answer comes as naturally to me as breathing, because I know there’s no way I can be without Hayley, or Ari. This is one packaged deal I will never return.

“Now,” I say, pressing a firm kiss to her lips. “We try again.”

** ** ** ** **

Hayley turns onto her side and rests her head on my shoulder. I hear her soft, quiet breathing, listening to the cadence of her breaths. Her eyes move beneath her eyelids and I can tell she’s dreaming. It’s 4am but I haven’t slept yet. I’ve spent most of the day with Hayley, and Ari at my parents' house, watching movies, talking, and laughing. Something about the three of us together just feels so natural, and so right that it frightens me. I’m young, and I have my whole life ahead of me to start a family, but looking down at Hayley now, and knowing that Ari is tacked away safely down the hall, I realize that she is it. They are it. I find myself wanting to be the kind of man they deserve, someone to depend on, and someone to protect them, someone to provide for them. I just haven’t been able to put that into words yet.

Hayley’s eyes flutter open, and seek mine out like magnets drawn to each other. She smiles at me lazily, and stifles a yawn.

“Hey you,” she says, her voice hoarse and laden with sleep. “Why are you awake?”

I kiss her nose and tighten my arm around her. “I couldn’t sleep. You were snoring too loud.”

“I did not!” Her hand comes up to slap my bare chest but I grab it, and place a kiss in the center of her palm. Her breath hitches, and I grin, rolling us over so that her body is covered by mine.

“No, buttercup, you didn’t, but you do make these sexy little breathing noises, like you’re moaning in your sleep,” I breathe into her neck, brushing my lips over her pulse. “And it does crazy things to my imagination.”

Her exhalation is harsh, coming out in a swoosh of air. “Oh, yeah?”

“Hmmm hmmm,” I hum, feeling her heartbeat race faster the lower I drag my lips on her hot skin. Her legs part, wrapping around my hips, and my cock stirs as I press into her.

“Cam,” she whispers. “I want you.”

I smile and meet her heated stare. “You have me.”

My head drops and my hands slide down her waist and under my shirt that she’s wearing. I feel her skin break out in goosebumps, her body quivering under my touch. “Tell me what you want,” I murmur.

Instead of telling me, Hayley sits up, forcing me to move, too, and silently pulls of my shirt. Her hand comes around my neck and she pulls me into her, until our chests are touching. Her nipples pebble with the contact and the feel of them against my skin makes blood rush south. Her mouth captures mine and suddenly it feels like she’s taking control, and I let her.

Her lips part and our tongues brush against each other as I explore her mouth. My hands graze the soft skin under her perfect tits and her response is to dig her nails into my back.

I break our kiss, both of us panting. “Can you be quiet?”

She bites her lip, looking up at me from beneath her lashes, and nods. I kiss her quickly and reach for my bedside table, pulling out a condom. I sit back, and she watches me with curiosity. Her eyes are hungry and full of lust, but I also see the love pooling in their depths. I remove my boxer briefs, toss them aside, and roll the condom on. I settle between Hayley’s legs again, resting my forearms on either side of her head. Our lips brush and I suck in a breath when her hand wraps around my hard length and guides me to her entrance.

“Be gentle,” she says quietly. Her request has me swallowing hard.

Our mouths join as I sink into her tight, heated body and our joint moans fuse. Her hips rock into mine, with mine, and our bodies’ fall into a slow, sensual rhythm, becoming slick with sweat. Threading our fingers together, I stretch her arms above her head and she whimpers. Our kiss breaks, but her eye stay on mine, and we don’t look away. Her little whimpers drive me wild and encourage me to push harder, deeper. I bring my knees up, changing our position so that the backs of her thighs rest on the front of mine.

“Oh, wow,” she cries out. “So deep.”

“So close,” I groan. “Fuck, buttercup, you’re close, too. I can feel it.”

“Faster, Cam, please.”

My hips move faster, and Hayley’s muscles clench around me. “Cam,” she breathes between pants. “I’m going…”