Page 56 of Can I Tell You Something?
“Ew, stop thinking about it.” Ryan kicks me with his foot. “Are you hurt? I didn’t mean to push you.”
“I’m fine. Listen, can you please keep this to yourself? I don’t want Mum and Dad to know, and I don’t think Cameron would either. It’s mortifying enough that they know I’ve had sex, let alone in this house. I wouldn’t survive a conversation with them about audio porn.”
Ryan bursts out laughing. “Mum would have so many questions.”
“Dad would want to hear some examples.” We both stick our fingers in our mouths and pretend to throw up like we always have, laughing until the tension feels less awkward and heavy. I want to tell him Cameron is a good guy, and what I love about him, but I think it’s best to avoid that subject while this all sinks in.
“What’s going on with you and Kayla? Can I ask?”
“Same old shit,” he says with a weary shrug. “She’s here, I’m there. It never goes anywhere. It’s not that serious.”
I’ve never seen anything more serious than the way these two gravitate towards each other every time they’re in the same location. “I don’t think you’re being honest with yourself. It’s OK if you like her.”
“What’s the point if we’re not in the same place? It’ll be the same for you and Cam, you know? How’s this gonna work when you’re thousands of miles apart? How can he say he loves you? He just met you.”
I sigh heavily and flop back against the covers. “Honestly? I have no idea. This is a very new thing that I didn’t expect to blow up like this. I didn’t know he felt that way about me. I think we have some talking to do ourselves.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt again,” Ryan confesses, and I sit up, the past an unwelcome ghost in the room that we don’t need to acknowledge out loud. He’s the best big brother. Always looking out for me. “I don’t think I will. Cameron isn’t like him. Even if you’re mad at him right now, you know he’s a decent guy. And I know I deserve to have a little fun, even if it doesn’t last.”
“How did you get to be so wise?”
“Actually, those are Dad’s words of wisdom. Oh, shit!” I jump up from the bed to leave. “I’m supposed to be getting him dry socks. Are we good?”
“Yeah, we’re good.”
Hovering by the door, I say my final piece. “Cameron would like to apologise to you.”
He groans loudly and flops back onto the bed. “It’s fine. He has nothing to apologise for.”
“Then you need to apologise to him for trying to beat the shit out of him,” I say. “Honestly, what were you thinking? That’s not like you.”
“I’m just looking out for my little sis. I’d kick anyone’s ass who hurts you.”
“Well, this is one battle you don’t need to fight.”
Ducking into Cameron’s room, I can’t help but smile at the memories we made in that bed while I grab him a fresh pair of socks. Back downstairs, I find him sitting at the table with Mum and Dad. I immediately regret leaving him alone with them, but then I see he has a mug of Dad’s hot chocolate with whipped cream. Whatever conversation they’ve just had must have gone well. Dad doesn’t make his special hot chocolate for just anyone.
I sit down beside him and hand him his socks, an unspoken thanks passing through us when he takes them from me, fingertips tracing my wrist.
Ryan trundles down the stairs a few minutes later, like a sulky teenager.
“You wanna go to Rico’s?” he says.
“Sure, man. Thank you for the hot chocolate, Mr Richmond.” Cameron finishes his drink and takes the empty mug through to the dishwasher, calling back as he goes. “I’ll grab the sledges.”
Ryan and I exchange a soft smile.
“You’re coming too, sis.”
Chapter 32
Cameron
Rico’sisfulloffolks rounding out their day on the hills, but a crowd leaves as we arrive, so Hannah heads for the bar, and Ryan and I grab a table. I’m grateful for a minute alone with him to clear the air.
“Listen man, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I never meant for you to find out like that.”
“I don’t want to talk about this in front of her,” he says, checking over his shoulder and lowering his voice. “What the fuck are you playing at?”
