Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
G oing On a Date
Kayleen
“Stand strong, Kay. Don’t you go calling that boy,” I chide myself as I sit in my bedroom in my parents’ house.
I’ve been sitting in the middle of my bed, warring with my thoughts and decisions since this morning when I came home. I did what I thought was the right thing. Cameron needs some space. Time to miss me and remember what he has. My mama was right.
“She better be right,” I grumble to myself.
When Mama found out how poorly Mrs. Jemma’s plan went, she gave me some advice of her own. She thinks I need to give Cam room to breathe, some space to miss what’s been by his side all along.
I’m not going to lose Cameron. Not without a fight. This is me fighting—at least, I think it is. That’s what it’s supposed to be.
I followed Mama’s advice and left Cam with something on his mind. Me. I made sure to sleep with him before giving him this break.
I do feel bad about Caleb. I get that I fucked up, but in the end, not going to college with my star athlete boyfriend will be a problem. Girls see Cam and they swoon. When they find out he’s a talented baseball player; they pounce.
I’m only setting up my insurance plan. No one knows Cam like I do when it comes to sex. That’s where I’ll always win.
“Look, he’s calling already,” I sing and smile to myself.
I knew I took a gamble this morning. When I left and left that note behind, I took the risk he would call. Cam can be stubborn and petty when he wants to be.
However, I knew things would go my way. They have to. We’re going to get married someday.
This call had to come … I freeze and frown when it’s a number I don’t recognize. It’s not Cam. Crap, he still hasn’t called.
“Hello,” I answer, confused and wondering what Cam is doing that he hasn’t called yet.
Caleb was released from the hospital. He has to be with him. That’s it.
“What’s up, Kayleen?” A deep voice comes from the other line.
I knit my brows. “JR?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, my cousin gave me your number.”
“Your cousin?”
“Yeah, Simone. That’s who invited me the other night.”
I palm my forehead. How could I have forgotten that they’re cousins? Simone was on the cheer squad with me. I think she had a crush on Caleb, but he wasn’t ready for something like that.
I pout as I think of how easy high school had been. I knew my role and played it. I was a part of the team and always thought I would be.
“What’s up? What can I do for you?” I say as I shake myself from my thoughts.
“I’m heading out first thing in the morning. I wanted to see if you’d have dinner with me. Maybe catch a movie.”
I bite my lip and try to think of a way out of this. I’m attracted to Jareil, but I don’t know if I want to date anyone else. It’s always been Cam.
“Come on. I read the energy. There’s trouble in paradise.
“At least see what else is out there. If it doesn’t work out, you can say you tried. You won’t have any what-ifs,” he coaxes smoothly.
I start to blush and I’m happy he’s not in front of me. Not once have I ever thought he was interested in me. Although, I doubt I ever would have noticed because Cam has always been my world.
I still remember the day Mrs. Jemma and my mama talked me into breaking Cam and his girlfriend up. I didn’t think twice about it. Cam was my boyfriend a week later.
“If I say yes, it’s just as friends, right?”
He gives a deep, rich chuckle. “If that’s how you want to start. Sure. What time should I pick you up?”
I blow out a breath and run my hand through my hair. It’s not like I’m cheating on Cam. We’re on a break.
I’ve given him a hall pass. Why shouldn’t I take mine? We will be together in the end.
“I’ll be ready by seven. Is that okay?”
“See you at seven,” he says with a smile in his voice.
I hang up with a huge smile on my face. I’m going on a date. A date with someone other than Cameron Perry.
I never in my life thought I would ever say those words. I know nothing other than Cameron. I’ve been told all my life he’s who I’m meant to be with, but here I am going on a date with someone else.
Now ain’t that something?
Cameron
I look in the mirror and give myself a wink. I’ll admit I put a little more effort into getting ready tonight. The guy looking back at me is single after all.
I haven’t been single since junior high school. I was fourteen the last time I could say I wasn’t in a relationship. Kay may have done me a favor.
However, I’m not going to give much thought to that tonight. Tonight, I’ll enjoy myself. I’m going to have a few beers, hang with some new friends, and maybe I’ll find someone worth hooking up with at the end of it all, but that’s a big maybe.
“Live your life, Cam,” I say to my reflection.
Before I head out, I straighten my white button-up and tuck the front in, leaving the back hanging out of my blue jeans. Then I fix my belt buckle.
One more look over my outfit and I nod at my brown flat lace-up boots. Not sure about my shirt, I try rolling up the sleeves. I get one rolled up and sort of like the look of one rolled and the other down.
I push a hand through my hair, and it falls right back into my face. I’ll go for a cut soon. I tend to keep mine shorter than my brother’s.
“Time to go,” I huff and turn to head out of the bathroom.
Thomas is sitting on the couch scoffing down a burger, already dressed and ready to go. Caleb still hasn’t moved from his spot on the couch. I walk over to him and kiss the top of his head.
He flinches away at first but looks up at me and smiles. I don’t take offense; my brother has his aversions. But since we were little, he has come to me for hugs and affection when he needs them. The flinching is almost reflexive at this point when it comes to me.
He always smiles it off to let me know he’s okay with my displays of affection. I respect when he lets me know it’s too much. Caleb is very vocal when he’s having a bad day or he’s overwhelmed.
“Have a good time. I’ll try to come along next time. I want to go to my first college party. I just need more time to prepare.
“Tonight is too soon. I’m not ready for that,” he says while searching my face as if to read my reaction.
In fact, I know that’s what he’s doing. I give him a smile. “I’m not going to rush you to do anything. Rest up. Next week will be the first full week of baseball and classes. The rest can wait.”
“Thanks, Cam.”
“I love you, bro. Let Kota know if you start to feel sick.”
“I’m cool. Don’t worry about me. Be you, Cam. Tonight, just be you. Not Cam and Cal, just Cam.”
I can’t help smiling at my brother. He’s the only one who gets it. He has lived it with me. It is rare that we get to be just one person.
Not that I regret anything I do for Caleb. I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s just hard sometimes always having to be on because everyone expects me to answer for Caleb like he can’t answer for himself.
It gets exhausting for the both of us. The brother who is always seen and the one who only wants to be seen. I work twice as hard for my brother to get to be treated the same as me—he knows and understands that.
I nod and head for the door before I get in my emotions. Thomas pounds his chest and releases a loud burp before he hops up to follow me. Kota meets me at the door to pull me into a hug and kisses my cheek.
“You’re the best. Have fun, I’ve got him.”
“Thanks, darlin’. Love you.”
“Love you more.”
I kiss her forehead and head out. I inhale deeply as I step out of the door. For once, I shut my brain off. Tonight, I’m going to go with the flow.