Page 50 of Please Hate Me

“To answer your question—the house ain’t mine. Soph inherited it from her grandad when he passed… She and Luce just had the twins, and he wanted to help ’em out however he could.”

The truck stopped as Cameron pulled in between Sophia’s dinged-up Ford Fiesta and a neon green Jeep I recognized all too well.

When Lucian turned sixteen, his dad began refusing to drive him anywhere. He said Lucian needed to learn independence. But his true motive became clear when he offered to buy Lucian a car if he broke up with me. So, I purchased the Jeep for him instead. Lucian needed it to get back and forth from practice, and he was tired of having to run three blocks to my house when I became a punching bag for one of my mom’s countless drunken suitors.

Lucian’s dad and stepmom always hated me and my family, and after I gave him the car, it got worse.

“Did they also inherit you?” I joked. I didn’t like thinking about my past, and I needed the distraction.

“Actually, that’s a good way of putting it.” Cameron laughed. “I was working for Soph’s grandpa after I moved to Hartwood, and the living arrangements I had weren’t working out… so I moved in, and ol’ Silas told Sophia she couldn’t kick me out. Not that I think she would’ve anyway.”

I yawned, and my eyes stayed closed for just a moment too long. I jerked up with a sharp inhale when I realized I’d started falling asleep again. The truck was warm, and for the first time in years, I felt safe. Which was weird, considering I was in the car with someone who was essentially a stranger.

This is how people get kidnapped.

“Here.” Cameron undid my seat belt and pulled me across the bench seat to lean on him. “I ain’t done talking to you yet.”

With his arm so close, all I could smell was him. Cameron mostly smelled like a man—not in a gross way, either. But, under the scent of testosterone, there were hints of cinnamon, nicotine, and smoke.

“You smell like Christmas.” The words escaped before I could stop them, and my heart stopped. “Sorry.”

“Ain’t never heard that one before… but I like it.” Cameron laughed, jostling me in the process. “I know you said you didn’t want to talk, but can I ask you a few things?”

After making an ass of myself, allowing him a few questions was the least I could do. I nodded.

“Before we start, are you comfortable?”

… He was checking on me? Why?

“Actually, could you move your arm just a little if it’s not a—”

He lifted the arm I was leaning on, and I fell into him, our bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces. I didn’t deserve this feeling.

“Just take my hand and put it wherever you want,” he offered.

My body tensed as I tried to act like thiswasn’ta world-shattering display of kindness. Cameron’s palm was warm as I guided it to my hip.

“Better?”

My throat went tight, but I nodded. How was Cameron being so casual about this?

“So, the first thing I want to know is how you met Lucian and Sophia. I saw a picture of y’all in high school, but obviously, I met you in France. And, not to be rude... you don’t sound like you’re from around here.”

“I’m not,” I admitted. “My mother was from Portland, and she was really good friends with Sophia’s moms. She was startingto get really successful as a model, and she met my father while working in France. And then, I happened.”

I shrugged, pretending that my birth was a happy accident, instead of the catalyst for the destruction of my mother’s career.

Cameron’s brow furrowed as he traced semi-circles on my side. This felt too natural, and it was scaring me.

“So, how’d y’all end up over here?”

A bitter smile masked my sadness. “The rock star life isn’t for everyone, and eventually, Mom wanted to come home. My dad didn’t want to come to America, so we packed our things and did what my mom wanted anyway… just, without my dad.”

“And how’d you go back?”

More questions I didn’t like. I squirmed against him, trying to pretend my heart didn’t hurt.

“What have you heard?”

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