Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
S mile
Maribel
Two weeks later …
Cam and I have been texting back and forth since the night I gave him my number. I spent most of that first Sunday smiling at my phone while answering his texts. I’ve felt like my face is going to crack from smiling so much.
Not only have the texts continued, but he calls me in the evenings as well, even though he had to deal with hell week and his conflicting schedule. They still haven’t fixed one of his classes.
He won’t tell me which course it is, stating he doesn’t want me to see him for the true nerd he is. Cam, a nerd? Never that. I can call him a lot of things, but a nerd isn’t one of them.
If nothing else, I can always count on him for a good laugh. Our sarcasm makes for fun conversations. He’s been helping me keep my mind off the drama going on back home.
My father keeps calling, trying to get me to come home for an engagement party. An engagement party I never plan to have. As far as I’m concerned, no one ever needs to know about what they’re trying to force on me.
When my father isn’t calling, Dez is. It seems I haven’t run away far enough. I should’ve gone to school overseas or something.
“You still have that goofy smile on your face,” Taylor teases, pulling me from the fog I’m in as we walk the campus, heading to class.
The sun is beaming down on us, but there’s a chill in the air. I’m glad I put a hoodie on this morning. This beanie has been working miracles as well.
“Whatever, I’ll see you after class.” I laugh her off and shake my head.
She’s been teasing me since the texts between me and Cam started. I’m glad she hasn’t pried or tried to get me to tell her who they’re coming from. Although I can tell she wants to.
“Are we still heading to see a movie?”
I chew on my lip. Cam asked me to hang out tonight. I haven’t committed to anything yet, but I’m so tempted. It might be fun.
The only reason I haven’t agreed is because that kiss from the party has been living rent-free in my mind. My toes curl in my shoes from just thinking about it.
With Dez breathing down my neck, insisting I come home for the holidays, I can’t bring myself to give in to my feelings for Cam. I shouldn’t even be allowing them to grow. Thankfully, Cam has respected our friendship over the phone.
“I’m not sure yet. Can I think about it and let you know after class?”
“Sure. I’ll see you.” She waves as I turn off for the science building.
I’m lost in thought as I make my way to class. My morning chemistry class is the only one I have on Fridays. It’s actually one of my favorites so far. The professor has a great personality and makes the lectures fun.
I’m startled as someone wraps an arm around my head and I’m tugged into a strong side. I look up at Cameron in shock. When I look around me, I see his brother and cousin a few feet away.
I look back up at Cam as my chest heaves. He smiles back at me as he grabs my face and turns my head from side to side, pushing my hoodie back slightly. I stare back at him curiously.
“I thought you had headphones on or earbuds in or something. I was shouting your name, but you kept walking and ignoring me,” he says as he knits his brows.
“Oh, I was running through my notes for class in my head. I didn’t hear you. I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Cool, got you. You on your way to class now?”
“Yeah, you guys on a run?” I ask as I nod toward his brother and cousin.
“We were. I’m starving now, so we’re heading to get something to eat. Too bad you’re a good girl. I’d try to talk you into skipping class to join us.”
I smile back at him. “I would like to meet them both. Maybe this once I could make the exception.”
The smile drops from his face as I look over at the two waiting for him. I’m not sure what just changed, but it’s clear something has. I tug my hoodie back in place.
“You know what, on second thought. I already had breakfast, and we’re secret friends, so that’s a bad idea.”
Seeming to relax, he reaches for my hand. “Are we on for tonight? It will be fun, I promise.”
“I don’t know.”
“Come on, Amina. You said we could be friends. Friends hang out all the time. We’re just going for a bite to eat and bowling or something.”
“I don’t know. Taylor wants to go to the movies.”
“What time is the movie over? We can meet up after. It’s Friday. You don’t have class tomorrow morning.”
I think about it and almost tell him no. However, he gives me that smile and those dimples pop and I can’t deny him. When he wraps his arms around my head and pulls me into him as he rocks my body from side to side and buries his face in the top of my head, my restraint breaks.
His arms feel so comforting. Cam has this way of making me feel safe so effortlessly. I wrap my arms around him and inhale deeply.
He’s sweaty, but his cologne still clings to him. It should be illegal for a guy to be this manly in every way. I nearly cream my panties when he begins to speak.
“You know you want to hang with me. Stop overthinking things. If we’re friends, spending time together isn’t a big deal. Come on, darlin’. Hang with me tonight,” he says.
“Okay,” I murmur into his chest.
He releases me and has a huge smile on his face. I’m in so much trouble when it comes to Cam. That smile alone is a problem.
“I have to get to class. I’ll text you later,” I say as I look at the time.
“Cool. Have a good morning, friend.” He winks and turns to jog away.
I feel guilty as I watch him go. I need to tell him my first name and soon. There is something that keeps pulling us together and I don’t want something like a lie to get in the way of whatever is happening.
Maybe I’ll figure out a way out of my situation and Cam can be an option. That’s a big maybe, but I’m holding onto it for now. Cameron Perry is going to cause me to risk it all.
Cameron
It’s so easy for me to forget when it comes to Amina. I wasn’t thinking when I asked her to skip class to come with me, Kota, and Cal for breakfast. Seeing that smile only made me want to be near her.
Today wouldn’t be the best day to introduce her to Caleb. He’s still adjusting, and the last two weeks have been hard. We were out running so he could settle some of the extra he had going on today.
Her reminder that we’re secret friends brought me back down to earth. I have my own secrets I can’t share. I’m accepting this distance between us because of those secrets.
“Who was that?” Caleb asks as we make our way to go grab a bite.
“A friend.”
“Does Kay know about your friend?”
“Kay and I are taking a break. She doesn’t need to know anything about her. Besides, she’s a friend.”
“So that was a girl,” Caleb says, sounding more curious than anything else.
“Gah, do frogs hop?” I grumble, frustrated with myself for chasing her down in front of him.
Caleb is silent for a moment. I foolishly believe that’s the end of it from his silence. I should know better.
“Actually, no, not all do. Some walk instead of hopping. There are four species with modified hind legs that allow them to reach places by walking. If I’m annoying you, just say so.”
I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. That’s such a Caleb response. I’m still working on sarcasm with him.
Sometimes, he can filter through my sarcasm. Sometimes, he can’t. Especially when he’s not looking me right in the face. He’s not annoying me, but I don’t want to talk about this.
“So we’re in the business of running friends down? Sure looked like more than a friend to me,” Dakota sings, saving me from having to explain to Caleb that I’m not annoyed with him.
“I said she’s a friend and it’s my business.”
“What happened with Kayleen?” Caleb asks, changing the subject. “She hasn’t been around since the party. Did I do something to make her go away?”
I clench my fists. I don’t want him thinking he’s the reason we broke up. All of that is on Kay.
She started calling me a few days ago, but I’m not ready to talk to her. It’s dawned on me that I’ve been with the same girl since I was fourteen. I mean, that shit has set in heavy.
Talking to Amina has allowed me to see there’s more out there. I haven’t had a single fight with her. In two weeks, Kay and I would have had at least a dozen by now.
That shit is toxic. It’s exhausting. I’ve been able to think clearly since we’ve broken up.
Being single isn’t so bad. I miss having sex, but that’s even something that’s made a difference in my life. I don’t think I would have made it through hell week if I had been fucking all the time like I do when Kay and I are together.
“No, it had nothing to do with you. Things are changing and we needed to give each other some room to breathe,” I say.
My brother will never be made to feel guilty about my relationships. My mind goes back to Amina. I don’t know if I can trust her with our secret.
I need to do better about keeping her from finding out. Anyone I bring into my life has to be a part of the team. If I can’t trust them, they can’t come in close.
God, I hope I can trust her.