Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
H appy Birthday
Maribel
I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s probably because I texted Cam in the middle of the night to come meet me on this rooftop. It’s his birthday.
I wanted to give him his birthday gift in person on the day. He once told me he was born at 2:18 a.m. His brother was born at 2:34 a.m. So I texted him an hour ago and asked him to meet me up here at 2:18 a.m.
I know he and his brother have a big party tomorrow at his parents’ house. I figured this would be my shot to give him my gift and still be a part of his day. This might be his last birthday I get to be a part of.
“Hey,” his deep voice rumbles from behind me.
I turn to find him watching me closely. He has a smile on his face, but his eyes aren’t lit up like I’m used to. Concern fills me right away. Maybe I shouldn’t have texted him this late.
“Is everything okay? Did I interrupt you and Kay?”
He snorts. “I spent the day with Cal and Nicole. I haven’t seen Kay in the last two days. Nope. You didn’t interrupt anything. I was in my room alone, thinking. You saved me from my thoughts. What’s up?”
“Happy birthday,” I sing and hold my arms out to hug him.
He scoops me into his arms and holds me tighter than I’m expecting. I’m taken aback when he buries his face in my neck and starts to rock me from side to side.
“Thank you,” he chokes out.
“Hey, Cam? Is everything all right?”
He pulls away and nods his head. “Yeah, I’m good. We lighting up? You have some birthday hash or something?”
“No, but I do have a gift for you. Here,” I say, pulling the box from my pocket and handing it over to him.
He takes the box with a boyish smile on his face. Then he tears into the paper like a little kid. I watch his face as he pulls the box open and pulls out the chain from inside.
He lifts the necklace in the air and studies it. A smile comes to his face and his eyes lock with mine. This time, the smile reaches his eyes.
“A Jodeci chain? Do you know how much I wanted to get one of these? Kay and Kota said it would be corny, so I never did.” He chuckles as he puts down the box and goes to clasp the chain around his neck.
If I didn’t know him and how much he loves the group, I would have thought it corny too. However, knowing the fan he is, it’s perfect for him. I had it iced out and everything.
“You like it?” I ask, hoping he doesn’t think it’s corny now.
“I love it. I’m never taking it off. It will have to turn my neck green first.”
“That’s not going to happen. That thing wasn’t cheap to have made.”
“I bet, but where’d you get the money? Shouldn’t you be saving for whatever the plan ends up being?”
I wave him off. “Don’t worry about it. My dad gave me some money for some shit I wasn’t going to use it for, so I put it to better use.”
I don’t tell him he’s wearing part of my wedding gown budget. I’m not spending a quarter of a million on a gown for someone I want to marry. My father is tripping, thinking I plan to spend that much of anyone’s money to marry Dez.
After getting Cam the necklace, I did squirrel the rest away. I thought about buying a new car, but I don’t know where I’ll land after graduation.
I thought it best not to purchase anything that could track me or hold me down. I’ve been getting around fine without my car since no one was able to bring it back to life. Ubers and rides from friends have done the job just fine.
“Come here,” he says and holds his arms open once he gets the necklace on. I step into his embrace, and he hugs me tight.
He breathes me in. “You have been one of the best things about the last four years. I thought I couldn’t trust you, but you turned out to be one of the few people I could count on. Thanks, Mina. This means a lot to me.”
“I’ll always be here, Cam. If I can, I will always be here when you need me.”
“That’s my line, darlin’. I don’t care what happens. You need me; you call me, and I’ll come running. No one can stop me from having your back or protecting you. No one.”
Tears burn the backs of my eyes and my nose burns from my unshed tears. I believe him. Cam has done nothing but show up for me. It’s a part of who he is.
I pull away before I burst into tears. Looking away from Cam, I busy myself with pulling out my next surprise. I’m able to take a deep breath to hold back my tears before turning back to him.
“Let’s eat this brownie I got you. They didn’t have any cupcakes left, so I went with the brownie.”
We sit on the crates Cam brought up here two years ago and he takes the brownie and unwraps it. I stifle a laugh as he sees it’s a normal brownie. One from the bakery we both like in our neighborhood.
“Shit, you got me excited. I thought you got me a weed brownie instead of some pot.”
I pull a face and look at him. “You’re starting to sound like a pothead. Just eat the damn brownie, Anna Mae.”
He snorts out a laugh as he breaks the brownie in half to share it with me. I take my half and we bite in at the same time. Cam groans and bobs his head.
“I should be bouncing off the walls right now. Nicole baked us cookies and cupcakes. I’m probably going to be sick in the morning. I ate a whole plate of cookies by myself.”
“That’s what you get for being greedy.”
He grabs my hand, holding my half of the brownie up to my lips and pulls it toward him. He then bites most of my half. I sit with my mouth open as I look back at him. He laughs as he chews and watches me.
“Now who’s greedy?”
“I hope you shit yourself,” I mutter.
He laughs harder and holds his half of the brownie up to my lips. I narrow my eyes at him but take as big a bite of his as he took of mine. He winks at me and pops the last piece into his mouth.
“You made my night, sweetheart. Thank you, Mina.”
Cameron
I think I’m crashing from all the sugar as I stumble back into my apartment. When Amina texted me, I was happy to get out of here. Cal and Nicole were getting carried away.
Wanting my brother to enjoy his girl and whatever they were doing in his room, I took off. I was already in my feelings because Kay had been acting weird again.
I’m still not sure if she’s going to show up for the birthday party at my parents’. I’m twenty-one now. This is the year that will change my life forever. I don’t know; I thought my girlfriend would want to be more of a part of that.
Like Nicole is doing for Caleb. Watching my brother’s relationship has shone a light on the delusion I’ve had in my own. I chose to continue with my relationship with Kay because she was safe and knew my situation.
I trusted her. Now, things are so different. I can’t help wondering if things would be different between myself and Amina if she hadn’t lied when we met and she didn’t have a psycho fiancé.
I pull out my phone to see if I have a call or text from Kay. Instead, I find a text from Amina letting me know she’s home safe.
“Go to bed, Cam. Get some rest and deal with your feelings tomorrow,” I mumble to myself as I flop onto my bed.