just because we’d fucked a night or two. Especially since it clearly meant nothing to her.
But I couldn’t tell Sam. I’d always been careful who I showed my entire self to. I was over being judged for who I was. Only Camden really held no judgments against me. Whether from mutual trust or he just had darker tastes than me… it didn’t matter. Sam was too new. And he lived with Lark. I didn’t want it to get back to her. Not unless English wanted to tell her.
“I’m fine,” I finally muttered. “Just drained from all of this and Jane.”
Sam nodded sympathetically. “That makes sense. Well, the poker game tonight should cheer you up.”
“Me?” I asked, side-eyeing him. “You’re the one who fucking cleans the table now. It’s not even a fair game. I swear you count cards or some bullshit.”
Sam laughed and crossed his arms. “I’ll never reveal my secrets.”
“Whatever. Get back to work, you lazy lawyer.”
“Ass,” Sam said with a chuckle as he stood from his seat.
“I’m not spotting you another ten grand.”
Sam grinned devilishly. “You might ask me to spot you tonight—after I wipe you out.”
“I’ve created a monster.”
“See you tonight,” Sam said with a deep laugh before exiting.
Yeah. Tonight.
Sounded like therapy.
I showed up at Camden’s early. Well, before Gavin or Sam were there. I’d decided that I needed to talk to him about English. At least he wouldn’t judge me for it.
I strode into the living room before I realized my mistake. Katherine’s voice was loud and angry.
“When are you going to get it through your thick skull, I have no interest in Penn Kensington?” she spat. “He’s married.”
“So are you. Doesn’t stop you.”
“You know what, Camden? Just when I think there is something human underneath your skin, you prove me wrong,” she seethed. “Time and time again.”
“That’s right, Katherine. There is nothing human underneath my skin. This is the man you married. You knew what you were doing when you signed on that dotted line.”
Katherine must have said something low that I couldn’t hear, and then she stormed out of the back room. When she saw me, she just sneered.
“He’s all yours.”
“Always a pleasure, Katherine.”
“Fuck off, Kensington,” she snapped and then strode right into the elevator.
What the hell was that all about? Did I even want to know?
I stepped into Camden’s game room. I found him dressed in a three-piece suit and seated in a brother leather chair. He smoked a cigar and stared off darkly. He looked like every quintessential rich bastard who had ever shown up in film.
“Marital strife?” I asked with an arched eyebrow.
He responded by taking another long pull on his cigar.
“I suppose you knew the woman you decided to marry.” I took a seat across from him. “She’s a tad bit headstrong.”
Camden’s eyes flickered to mine. “A tad bit headstrong? That’s how you would describe Katherine Van Pelt?”
A smile crooked my features. “Or the most headstrong woman I have ever met.”
“Person you have ever met,” he corrected.
“Eh. I’ve met you.”
“Well, you didn’t show up early to discuss my obstinate wife, I presume.”
“I did not. Though we could continue if you’d like. Perhaps you could tell me why you decided to get her to marry you,” I said with a grin, knowing he had no intention of ever explaining himself.
“Perhaps,” he said with a wry look. “Though I think you are here about the woman you took to Robert Dawson’s party. You know when I told you to go out and get pussy, I didn’t mean a new complication.”
“You know how I am,” I said. “Always making things complicated.”
“True enough.” Camden assessed me. “Let me guess… it didn’t feel like just fucking with English.”
I shrugged noncommittally. “It didn’t.”
“It should have.”
“Yeah, well, she made it seem like that’s all it was. Said that we were just rebound and that we’d end poorly.”
“She’s right,” Camden said evenly. “I mean… this is just a rebound. And if you don’t think it will end badly for you, you’re delusional, Kensington.”
I hated when Camden was right. Especially when he agreed with English. It wasn’t that I thought we were suddenly going to start dating and all would be well. But having her there had felt nice. It had felt different than before. Like she had seen beyond the bullshit mask I wore. Except that she hadn’t. She’d seen me exactly how everyone else had. So, maybe I was just fooling myself.
“Fuck her all you want,” Camden said. “But you know that’s where it ends. If it’s