Page 64 of Kiss Me in the Dark
He finally looks up, his gaze lingering on me a bit too long before he shifts his focus back to his laptop.“I don’t go through other people’s stuff.Wasn’t going to start with yours.”
I nod, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration.I force a spoonful of cereal into my mouth, trying to shake the tension building up between us.
“Thanks,” I mumble, trying to sound casual.“Last night was… crazy.”
“Yeah,” he says, flicking ash from his cigarette.“Like you going around kissing random strangers.”
“What’s your problem?Can’t you just be normal for once?”I snap, glaring at him.
“Normal?”
“Yes, normal,” I hiss, my frustration boiling over.“You kissed me and then acted like it was nothing.You even told me not to tell anyone.You think I’m just dying to tell the world about it?”
“Oh, you were planning on telling your boyfriend, Landon?”His tone is biting, and I clench my fists, fighting the urge to throw something at him.
“You still haven’t told me why you kissed me,” I say, hoping for an answer that would make sense.
He pauses, his face hardening.“We’re never doing it again.”
“You said that yesterday,” I retort, “and then you kissed me again when we got home.If it meant nothing, why were you mad when I was about to kiss someone else?”
“Who said I was mad?I wasn’t the one about to contact something from a stranger,” he replies coldly, standing up to pack up his stuff.
“Oh, right.Because you’re so concerned about me,” I snap.“Why don’t you just admit it?You kissed me, and it threw you off.And now you’re just being an ass because you don’t want to deal with what that means.”
“Forget I kissed you.It won’t happen again,” he says, his voice edged with finality.“I’m straight, Cam.Or do you want me to spell it out for you?”His words hit like a slap, and the humiliation stings.“And what the hell were you expecting?So because we kissed something magical is going to happen between the two of us?Grow the fuck up, Cameron.”
I glare at him, my voice shaking with anger.“Oh, to hell with you, Fox.You are so full of shit.The fact that you think I want something to happen between us is just laughable.Who the hell do you even think you are?Elias might be a stranger but he’s better than you.At least he knows what he wants.So stay the fuck away from me and don’t drag me into your mess, asshole.”
The silence that follows is thick with resentment.After a long pause, he finally responds, “Alright.”He gathers his stuff and walks out, leaving me standing there with my fists clenched, heart pounding.
Watching him leave, I feel a mix of anger and something deeper I can’t quite shake.Why does he have to mess with my head like this?I drop my cereal bowl into the sink, unable to shake the lingering ache of wanting something I know I shouldn’t.
I walk down the sidewalk, heading to the bus stop for the ride to Gio’s Burger.It’s a bit far from my apartment, so taking the bus makes sense.I pull out my phone and dial my mom’s number, and she picks up on the third ring.
“Cameron, honey!How have you been?Are you okay?Did you go to church today?Is your roommate giving you trouble?Are you drinking plenty of water?Is school stressing you out?”She fires off questions faster than I can process.
“Mom!”I groan, already feeling overwhelmed.
“Cameron, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, just… a little tired.”
“Tired?”There’s a pause on the line before her voice gets more pointed.“Did you go to a party?”How does she even know?Did Fox somehow tip her off after I passed out last night?
“Mom, no!Of course not.”I sigh, sinking onto the bench as I wait for the bus.“It’s just schoolwork and, you know, my… job.”I run a hand through my hair, adjusting my glasses nervously.
“Job?What job, Cameron?”Oh shit, I totally forgot I hadn’t mentioned it to her.
“Um…”
“Cameron, don’t you dare lie to me.”
“Mom, it’s nothing serious, alright?I’m just helping out at the library after classes, since I don’t have much else going on,” I say quickly, hoping that explanation will pacify her.
“That’s wonderful, honey.I’m proud of you for helping out.”She sounds relieved, at least.
“How’s Dad?Sorry I haven’t been answering your calls.College has been pretty busy with exams coming up soon.”
