“Yes, I am.”
He doesn’t say anything else, and he doesn’t look at me. And again, the weight of our history fills the room, making it impossible to breathe.
“Thank you for coming back, and thank you for offering me your home.”
His eyes land on me, but they aren’t revealing whatever he’s thinking. I’m well versed in reading people—not that that kept me from geting hurt—but with Cammy it’s always been easier. And now it’s not. However, I can decipher what he’s hiding behind that look and silence. He doesn’t want to be here, and he doesn’t want me to invade his house. But he’s a good person who does good deeds, and right now, I’m the good deed.
I fucking hate it, but if it means I get to have Cammy with me, I’ll take it.
“Of course, I can’t let you go back to the streets,” he says.
Even knowing it’s true, I can’t stop the sadness that fills my heart. I would have preferred for him to offer me a place in his house because he wants to keep me with him, but instead, it’s only because he’s a decent human being. I’m a fucker, using my dire situation to take my place back at Cammy’s side. A place I don’t deserve.
This will be my opportunity to face what I did to him and do the right thing.
“I’m so sorry for everything,” I say. The words pour out of my mouth without consent.
Cam looks at me like a deer in the headlights. His eyes are big and full of fear.
Then, as if shaking himself from a bad dream, he moves, walking to the door.
“I need to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” And without waiting for an answer, he’s gone.
Ah, fuck. Is he really going to come back tomorrow?
I look around the small room, searching for an answer that’s not there.
I’m forcing him to do things he doesn’t want to do.
I never change.
Chapter Nine
Cameron
The silence in the car is heavy, and my chest feels like a boulder is sitting on it. I’m reeling, trying to get some air into my lungs, but at the same time, I don’t want to make everything even more awkward.
Yep, good job there.
I glance at Gael and fortunately, or maybe not, he’s looking out the window. Not sure how much he’s seeing, as every time a light shines on his face, his eyes are closed.
Two days have passed since my offer, and I’m still trying to understand what came over me to invite him to stay at my house, at least until Christmas.
Six days. Six fucking days with him. How am I going to survive?
I had a pep talk with myself before going to the hospital, and agreed with myself that I wasn’t going to invite Gael to stay with me.
So, what is he doing in the car?
I squeeze my eyes threateningly, hoping that my brain will behave and let me be.
I glance at Gael again, but then quickly move my gaze back to the road. Heaven forbid I cause an accident because I’m too busy looking at my ex rather than the road.
That’s a cold shower that gets all my attention back on driving, even though I don’t need to look at him to be distracted. His mere presence is doing an amazing job by itself.
He doesn’t seem to have the same problem. It’s as if I don’t exist, as if he’s somewhere alone, and I can’t reach him.
A pressing question keeps buzzing inside my head.