Page 70 of His Team

After getting Cam the necklace, I did squirrel the rest away. I thought about buying a new car, but I don’t know where I’ll land after graduation.

I thought it best not to purchase anything that could track me or hold me down. I’ve been getting around fine without my car since no one was able to bring it back to life. Ubers and rides from friends have done the job just fine.

“Come here,” he says and holds his arms open once he gets the necklace on. I step into his embrace, and he hugs me tight.

He breathes me in. “You have been one of the best things about the last four years. I thought I couldn’t trust you, but you turned out to be one of the few people I could count on. Thanks, Mina. This means a lot to me.”

“I’ll always be here, Cam. If I can, I will always be here when you need me.”

“That’s my line, darlin’. I don’t care what happens. You need me; you call me, and I’ll come running. No one can stop me from having your back or protecting you. No one.”

Tears burn the backs of my eyes and my nose burns from my unshed tears. I believe him. Cam has done nothing but show up for me. It’s a part of who he is.

I pull away before I burst into tears. Looking away from Cam, I busy myself with pulling out my next surprise. I’m able to take a deep breath to hold back my tears before turning back to him.

“Let’s eat this brownie I got you. They didn’t have any cupcakes left, so I went with the brownie.”

We sit on the crates Cam brought up here two years ago and he takes the brownie and unwraps it. I stifle a laugh as he sees it’s a normal brownie. One from the bakery we both like in our neighborhood.

“Shit, you got me excited. I thought you got me a weed brownie instead of some pot.”

I pull a face and look at him. “You’re starting to sound like a pothead. Just eat the damn brownie, Anna Mae.”

He snorts out a laugh as he breaks the brownie in half to share it with me. I take my half and we bite in at the same time. Cam groans and bobs his head.

“I should be bouncing off the walls right now. Nicole baked us cookies and cupcakes. I’m probably going to be sick in the morning. I ate a whole plate of cookies by myself.”

“That’s what you get for being greedy.”

He grabs my hand, holding my half of the brownie up to my lips and pulls it toward him. He then bites most of my half. I sit with my mouth open as I look back at him. He laughs as he chews and watches me.

“Now who’s greedy?”

“I hope you shit yourself,” I mutter.

He laughs harder and holds his half of the brownie up to my lips. I narrow my eyes at him but take as big a bite of his as he took of mine. He winks at me and pops the last piece into his mouth.

“You made my night, sweetheart. Thank you, Mina.”

Cameron

I think I’m crashing from all the sugar as I stumble back into my apartment. When Amina texted me, I was happy to get out of here. Cal and Nicole were getting carried away.

Wanting my brother to enjoy his girl and whatever they were doing in his room, I took off. I was already in my feelings because Kay had been acting weird again.

I’m still not sure if she’s going to show up for the birthday party at my parents’. I’m twenty-one now. This is the year that will change my life forever. I don’t know; I thought my girlfriend would want to be more of a part of that.

Like Nicole is doing for Caleb. Watching my brother’s relationship has shone a light on the delusion I’ve had in my own. I chose to continue with my relationship with Kay because she was safe and knew my situation.

I trusted her. Now, things are so different. I can’t help wondering if things would be different between myself and Amina if she hadn’t lied when we met and she didn’t have a psycho fiancé.

I pull out my phone to see if I have a call or text from Kay. Instead, I find a text from Amina letting me know she’s home safe.

“Go to bed, Cam. Get some rest and deal with your feelings tomorrow,” I mumble to myself as I flop onto my bed.

CHAPTER 28

Not What I Want

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