Chapter 5 Camden
Camden
“Okay, go right in. You’ve got this, kid.” Lucy looks up at me, her hair in pigtails and her eyes wide.
“I don’t want to go to school,” she protests loudly, and I smile, leaning down to look into her sweet eyes and hug her.
She’s had a problem with school since day one, and it hasn’t really gotten easier.
It’s not that she doesn’t want to learn and play with her friends, but she doesn’t like being away from me all day. Or Mom.
“I know. But you’re going to have fun, kiddo.
Just like you always do. And then I’ll be at Ms. Albertson’s after I get out of school to pick you up.
Like always.” Preschool is only half days, and she rides the bus to our neighbor’s house until I can get her after school while Mom works at the distribution plant during the week.
I hate leaving her every morning, though, knowing she isn’t happy. “I don’t want to go, and Ms. Albertson’s house smells funny.”
I try not to laugh and put on my big-brother frown instead because she’s not wrong. Ms. Albertson is almost ninety years old and has six cats. It’s not always pleasant-smelling, but she’s nice, and she takes care of Lucy.
“Be nice.” She huffs, and I hug her little body to mine. “If you’re good, we’ll go to Dairy Queen when I pick you up.”
She lights up at that, her big eyes growing even bigger. “You promise?”
I grin and hug her again before standing up to my full height. “I promise. Go have fun with your friends. Learn something.”
She finally reluctantly agrees, and thank fuck, because I’m almost late.
I wave to the greeters at her school as she goes inside, and then I head for my truck, hauling ass across town to the high school.
I park and run inside, heading to my locker where I’m greeted by Kingston and his wide grin, his arm around Kennedy.
I guess they made up.
“You’re late, man,” he says unhelpfully as I grab my book for first period and slam my locker closed.
“Yeah, Luce wasn’t feeling school today.” I nod hello to Kennedy, and she nods right back, her smile bright and happy.
Kingston, however, frowns with worry. “Why? Is some little shit being an asshole to my girl?”
I chuckle, heading for the homeroom I share with Kingston and Kennedy, so they follow along. “No. She’s fine. She likes being at home with her toys.”
“You sure?” He still sounds worried, and I can’t say that I hate the love he shows for my little sister. He’s her big brother just as much as I am.
“Yeah, she’s fine.” I take my seat, and he takes his, right behind me with Kennedy to his right. “I had to promise her ice cream after school.”
“Hell yeah, I’m in. After practice, right?”
Fuck, I forgot about practice. How the hell did I forget about practice? I mean, Mrs. Albertson will watch her until I get there, regardless, but I can’t believe I forgot I’ll be an hour later today. Although, I guess that’s the way it is on most days.
It’ll be fine.
“Yeah,” I grumble as the teacher starts talking about the chapter I barely read last night before passing out in my bed. My bed which somehow smells more like Kingston than my own cologne or deodorant.
How the hell does he do that?
I think about our conversation late Saturday night about college.
I had to apply. I’m sure I’ll get accepted, but I don’t know if I can get scholarships to cover it.
That’s all I’m really worried about. The money.
Money we don’t have. I know I won’t be going to college without scholarships covering everything.
Kingston loves it here. He loves having a good time and playing football—being the man in high school. And believe me, as quarterback and tight end for the team, we both walk tall down the hallways of the school, but I want more than this.
I know there’s so much more to the world than this tiny town has to offer. I don’t want to work in the oilfield or at the same distribution center my mom works at. I want to move to a bigger city. I want a career where I don’t have to break my back to survive.
I don’t want to have to work so damn hard for so little. That’s all anyone in this town does. It’s their only option. And I feel like a selfish prick for wanting out most of the time, but not one of them can tell me they wouldn’t jump at the chance to get out of here if they could.
I don’t know how Kingston can want this life forever.
I’ve seen his dad, after working in the oilfield for years.
His body is broken and worn down at only forty years old.
He’s tired. So damn tired. And he’s a good man, so he doesn’t complain.
But he’s exhausted, and his body is already giving out.
His mom is the same. She works her ass off at the local café, waiting tables.
I don’t want that for me, and I don’t want that for Kingston either.
But he’s stubborn as hell, and I don’t know if I can ever convince him to leave.
He loves it here too much. Before I know it, he’ll be working at the plant while Kennedy pops out little Kingstons and Kennedys, and I’ll be Uncle Fucking Camden—grumpy as hell because I never got a chance to do anything else.
A wadded-up paper ball hits me in the cheek, and I turn around to glare at Kingston, who’s laughing his ass off while still being quiet. He leans up. “You’re daydreaming again.”
Shit. I was totally zoned out. I look forward, seeing my teacher’s scowl and try like hell to focus on the lesson and not think about college and what my options are if I don’t end up going to school after this.
Because even if I do manage to get my college paid for, even if I can get out of this town and go to college like I desperately want . . .
I don’t know if I can leave him.