Camden
Last night was perfect. I felt so safe and free in his arms, Like I always have. And today, it’s hard to leave. I have to fight with myself to actually pack up my truck, but I do it with his help. And with the help of Phillip, who’s in town.
I like him. Weird, since apparently, he was my dad’s friend, and I hate my dad. But he’s a good guy, and I think I can trust him to take care of my mom.
Lucy wraps her arms around my waist, sobbing already. My heart hurts as I pick her up, hugging her close to me. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. I’ll see you soon.”
She sniffles and leans her little head on my shoulder. “I love you, Cammy.”
I smile and hug her tighter. “I love you too. Call me, okay? All the time.”
She nods, and then I place her down on the ground after kissing the top of her head. My mom, whose belly is starting to really grow, pulls me in for a hug and kisses my cheek. “I’m so proud of you, honey. So damn proud.”
“Ummm, Mommy said a bad word,” Lucy sings, and Phillip scoops her up in his arms. She squeals happily, giggling, and my chest actually swells, watching him with her and my mom. He holds onto Lucy as he holds his hand out for me, and I shake it.
“Have fun, but not too much.” He winks, and it’s such a dad thing to say, it’s kind of fucking weird and cool all at once.
“Thanks, Phillip. Take care of them.”
He gives me a solid nod. “I will.”
I haven’t had too much time to spend with him, but from what I’ve seen, he’s a good dude, and I actually believe him. But even if he doesn’t, I know I need to remember I’m only eighteen, and it’s not my job to take care of them.
I need to keep repeating that every day to convince myself. They all go inside, and I’m left with Kingston. “You better get going. It’s a really long drive.”
I agree, but I don’t move. Neither does he. “I’m going to miss you so damn much.”
He swallows thickly. “I’m going to miss you too. But you have to go.”
I know I do. Shit, I don’t want to. I mean, I do, but not without him. I want to beg him to come with me. But he’s so happy here. He loves his job. He’s talking about getting a house. I can’t do that to him any more than he can ask me to stay, and I know it.
We both know it, so I throw my arms around his neck and pull him into a tight hug I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to end. “Come visit me, okay? Promise?”
He nods, holding onto me. “I promise. I will. First chance I get.”
“Okay. You can stay with me in the dorms. I don’t care. My roommate is cool.”
He nods, and I feel wetness on my shoulder. I know he’s crying, and so am I. Tears fall over my cheeks because he’s my best friend in the world, and I don’t want to let him go.
“I’ll be there, Camden. I promise.”
I pull back, still holding onto his shoulders, and his hands move to my waist. “I still need you in my life. Call too, okay?”
He smiles, brushing his thumb under my eye, wiping away a tear. “I will, but you have to promise me you’ll do everything you ever dreamed of there. You’ll be you and only you. Don’t ever hide who you are.”
Another tear drops from my eye, and I take his hand in mine, kissing his thumb that wiped away my tear. “I promise. And you promise me that you won’t mope. You’ll be happy here, living the life you want.”
His nod is subtle, but he agrees. “Okay. I promise.” He kisses my lips softly, briefly—too damn briefly—and then playfully shoves my chest, releasing me. “Go. You have a long drive ahead of you.”
I shove his shoulder too, grinning. And then I climb behind the wheel of my truck and wave to him before I drive off.
It’s a long drive, and I almost turn around several times.
I can’t believe I’m really doing this. Moving eight hours away.
Only having myself to take care of and worry about.
It doesn’t feel right, but when I pull into my college’s town, suddenly, hope blooms in my chest. The town is big.
There are several stoplights I have to go through to make it to campus.
There are so many restaurants I’ve never been to.
I see coffee shops and bookstores. Retail stores.
It’s full of so many different things, it’s almost overwhelming.
I smile when I pass by a Dairy Queen and consider taking a picture to send to Kingston, but I’m in traffic and driving, so I can’t. Maybe later.
I drive through campus and see so many people my age moving into their dorms and walking around campus. It’s large, with lots of rock buildings with so many possibilities inside them.
Campus is buzzing and busy. The kids my age all seem to have their own style and their own worries on their faces.
They’re laughing and having a good time.
Excitement and nerves flowing through all of them.
Hugging their parents and greeting friends.
It’s a big, different world than I’m used to, but I feel excitement running through my veins to experience all of this.
I realize this is where I’m meant to be.
I did it. I’m here, and I’m not going to waste this opportunity. I’m going to make sure all my dreams come true.
Well, most of them.
Because I think being with Kingston Wells—I mean really being with him—will always be my number one dream.
But this is pretty damn great too.