Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
H appy Holidays
Kayleen
Three months later …
The last three months have been tough, but Cam has been there for me. However, something about him has changed. It’s like he’s putting on a show for everyone else—pretending to be happy when he’s really not.
We haven’t been fighting as much, so I haven’t asked him about the change because I don’t want to trigger an argument. I give him space for practice and homework, but I do spend a lot of time at the apartment. At first, I thought it was another girl, but I know he doesn’t have time for that.
Besides, I’ve been to a few of the parties on campus with him. He’s never shown interest in any of the girls other than to help Caleb hook up for the night. I’ve never gotten in the way of that.
If Caleb is anything like Cameron in the sex department, I consider those girls lucky. As long as they don’t get any ideas to turn back for my man, it doesn’t bother me at all. I mean, I can’t blame them. The twins are hot.
“You want me to make you something to eat?” Caleb asks as I tiptoe into the kitchen.
Cameron is still knocked out in his room. I haven’t wanted to address the change, but it’s starting to become an elephant in the room, and I have an idea of how I can breach the subject.
“No, I’m fine. Hey, listen. Your mama said she and your daddy will be downstairs in about twenty minutes. I thought we could let Cam sleep in a bit, and you can ride up with them. I’ll ride up with him later. I know you wanted to hit the powder early,” I whisper.
While the boys are on vacation, we’re all headed up to the ski resort just before Christmas. My mama will be joining us, but my daddy has other plans. I’m still so confused by everything going on with them.
I could use a break from the two of them, to be honest. Cam and Cal will be heading back for Christmas day to go to a game their daddy bought them tickets to. Cam asked me to join them in the box, but basketball isn’t my thing. I would just be bored.
I plan to return with them, but I have plans with some friends of my own. However, I thought Cam and I could lag behind to spend some time alone before being thrown into all the holiday fuss with our families. This way, we could talk.
Caleb purses his lips and squints. I know this wasn’t the plan, but I’m hoping this doesn’t throw him off too much. Caleb loves to snowboard. I’m hoping that will outweigh everything else.
“I don’t know. Cam and I had plans to board together. I don’t want him to miss out. Are you sure he’ll be okay with this?”
“He should be fine. I’m sure your daddy wouldn’t mind taking Cam’s place. Some time for the two of you alone,” I say.
It’s no secret Mr. Perry wants a closer relationship with Caleb. I know he would love to have this time with his son. Mr. Perry loves both his boys, but he struggles with showing them how much because Mrs. Jemma is always at something.
I love the woman like my own mama, but at times, she can be hard to deal with. However, she’s in on this plan to help me get some time with Cameron, so I can’t complain too much.
“All right, if you think Cam won’t mind. He better not get mad at me, Kayleen. I’m going to blame you,” he says.
He gives me an adorable smile and I can’t help but return it. I love this guy. He’s so darn sweet. I truly hope he gets all he dreams of.
“I’ll take the blame. You have fun up there. I’ll take a trip down with you once we arrive, that cool?”
“Cool. I can’t wait. We’re still on for hot chocolate by the fire, right?”
I smile. “Of course. I’ve never missed a year.”
It’s something we’ve been doing since we were little. Kota, myself, and the guys always have a cup in front of the fire and we exchange one gift. A secret Santa gift. I got Kota this year. I can’t wait to see her face.
“Okay, I’ll see you later,” he says as he cleans up all the food he had out to make breakfast earlier.
I quietly return to Cam’s room. As quietly as I can, I grab his phone and turn off the alarm he set for us to wake. Putting the phone back, I slip back into bed.
A sigh leaves my lips as his warm body heats me up instantly. I always feel so cozy lying next to him. As I lie here, I have no doubts that I could do this for the rest of my life.
I want to belong to Cam. We can make this happen. Some alone time is just what we need.
Cameron
I wake with a sharp breath. Something feels wrong right away. I jump up and grab my phone to check the time.
“What the fuck?” I hiss.
Ah no, no, no. Fuck.
Caleb wanted to hit the powder first thing this morning. We needed to be out of the door four hours ago. How the fuck did I oversleep?
This is all he’s been talking about for the last three weeks. Why didn’t he come in here and wake me up? As that thought floats through my head, my heart begins to race.
I jump up and race out of the room. When I get to Cal’s room, he’s not there. I knit my brows and turn for the living room and kitchen area. However, I don’t find him there either.
“What the fuck is going on?” I mutter.
I race back for my phone and call Cal. I have so many scenarios going through my mind. My alarm was set. It should have woken me up. If not the alarm, then I know Cal, and he would have woken me up.
“Hello,” Cal answers his phone.
“Yo, bro. Where the fuck are you?”
“I’m at the resort having lunch with Daddy. Did you and Kay leave yet?”
“You’re at the resort?”
“Yeah, I rode with Mama and Daddy like Kay asked me to. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, everything is fine. I’ll see you when I get there.”
“Okay. I love you, Cam. Snowboarding with Daddy was fun. We have to get him to join us next time. Be safe; it’s been snowing up here.”
“I love you too, bro. I’m glad you’re having a good time. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I hang up and I’m fuming. I storm back to my room and find Kay sitting up from the spot where she had lain beside me. If looks could kill, she would be finished.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?” I snarl.
“What? What did I do wrong?”
“You sent my brother to the resort with my mama without me? Did you bump your fucking head, Kay? How could you?”
I chew her out while tugging on sweats. I need to get there before my mother causes a disaster. There’s no telling what could happen if she triggers him.
“Cam, slow down. I thought we could spend some time together and your mama suggested Cal ride up with her and your daddy. Caleb seemed excited to go. Why are you overreacting?”
“Overreacting? Overreacting? Why are you acting like you didn’t grow up around my family?
“That time Cal broke his arm after losing his shit? Who set him off?”
“Your mama, but?—”
“That time on the boat when he cracked his fucking head, what happened before he freaked out and I tried to get him below deck?”
“Your mama had?—”
“I blinked for a fucking second to take pictures with you for prom. Cal ended up having a seizure right there on the front porch. Who stressed him the fuck out and caused it?”
“Your mama was only trying to?—”
“My mama, my mama, my mama. Do you see the problem here? That woman is a trigger whether she knows it or not.
“I’m the buffer. I’m the shield. You took my brother’s safety away. Once again, you’ve placed him in a fucked-up situation.”
“Shit, I wasn’t thinking. I figured we’d be right behind them. I just wanted to give us a chance to talk,” she says.
I ignore her and pull up the app to check the weather. We all had planned to leave early this morning because a storm was supposed to come in.
Rage fills me as I look down at my phone. This can’t be happening. I’m fucking sick to my stomach.
“Fuck,” I bellow.
“What? What is it?”
“They’re closing the roads up there. The storm already hit. We’re not going to get through.”
“Oh no, I’m so sorry, Cam.”
“Why?” I demand.
“Why what?”
“Why do you keep allowing her to manipulate you? My mama uses you to get her way. You’re such an easy target for her.”
“How did she manipulate me? I didn’t think anything was wrong with spending a little extra alone time with my boyfriend. We needed some time to talk.”
“Then talk to me. Don’t go doing shit behind my back that fucks with my brother’s well-being.”
“You say that now, but you’ve been … ugh. I can’t explain it. It feels like we’re drifting apart.”
“Kay, for once, we haven’t been fighting. Things have been good. If you had talked to me, you would have known I worked things out with Kota so we could share a cabin alone. She and Cal were going to take the girls’ cabin this year,” I bite out.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. Now I’m not going to be with my family for Christmas and my brother is trapped with my crazy-ass mama with no me to back her down.”
“We can try in the morning. I really am sorry.”
I stand and head for the door. I’m done talking to her. I swear, she’s turning into my mama and it’s getting on my last nerve.
“Where are you going?”
“To take a shower. Don’t be here when I get out. I’ll pick you up in the morning if they open the roads.”
“You’d rather be here alone? I said I’m sorry.”
“I might change my mind later, but right now, I need you to go.”
“Okay, I’m sorry, Cam.”