Page 68 of Bending Under Pressure

Mom and Dad both are waiting in the kitchen when I get home. Even though I just ate a bunch of good food, my stomach growls when I see a platter of freshly baked cookies. I grab one, take a large bite, and sit down.

“Did she apologize or explain why she mislead you?” Mom asks, not waiting f

or me to finish my cookie.

I shake my head and swallow. “Didn’t even mention it.”

“How was everything else?” Dad asks.

“Fine. I did meet my aunt, Frances, and I tried to hang out with her and Kiera, but Natalie kept dragging me around the room and calling me her son. How’d I come back and it truly was a reunion. Then she wanted me to stay longer. When I told Kiera I would ask if she could come spend a weekend with us, she jumped in and said I could stay with them. Did you call her?”

“No,” Mom answers. “I decided to wait until you came home, to see if she apologized or anything. Do you want me to call her?”

“Someone needs to put her in her place.” I pause and try to joke, “And you are the mom here, so be the parent looking out for her son, please.”

They both give me a small smile. “Okay, I’ll call her,” Mom says.

“Thanks. I’m going to my room for a bit. Thanks for the cookie, too.”

I stand and falter in my steps when I see Cameron sitting about midway up the staircase. He looks pissed, but then that’s nothing new lately. He shakes his head at me as I begin my way up.

“You’re unbelievable,” he mutters when I walk past him.

“What?”

He stands and brushes my shoulder hard as he starts to pass me. “I said you’re unbelievable,” he repeats as I rush to catch up. “You have your real mom find you, who is dying to be a part of your life, and you keep finding reasons to hate her.”

“She’s not my real mom,” I argue back, going into his room with him. “Mine is downstairs. She raised me. Not Natalie. Don’t be pissed off at me because I don’t like her.”

“I will because you can’t appreciate what you have!” he shouts.

“Says the guy who won’t talk to his girlfriend!”

Cameron shoves me. “Don’t bring her into this,” he warns, his voice filled with more vehemence than I’ve ever heard. “Your mom actually wants you and you want to throw it all away because she’s trying too hard? Are you kidding me? You’re so fucking selfish!” He pushes me again, and I step forward to retaliate.

“That’s enough,” Dad’s authoritative voice stops me. “Keelan, go to your room or anywhere else but here.” I turn to leave and hear him add, “Cam, you have two choices. Me or your mom, but you’re talking to one of us.”

I hear Cameron huff and mutter under his breath, but don’t catch more than that as I go into my room and close the door.

My heart and spirit are soaring high. I get to see Keelan tonight and Dad called, wanting to spend the day with me tomorrow. I even had a good day shopping with Mom today. I thought nothing could bring me down from my high.

Until I slide into the passenger seat next to Keelan.

“What happened?” I blurt out.

He told me his meeting with his aunt today was a long story, but I didn’t think it went as bad as he looks right now. He looks forlorn, upset, and the frown on his face seems as permanent as the pinch of his eyebrows. Keelan simply shakes his head and says, “Let’s get to the water tower, Hales.”

We’re quiet as we drive into town. Like before, we park and then walk over to the water tower. I keep glancing over at the police station, feeling more anxious about being caught now that it’s the two of us. When Keelan chuckles, I’m filled with a bit of relief. He’s still in there somewhere; he isn’t of lost in whatever’s bothering him.

“I got you, Hales. Stop forgetting it.”

“Sorry. Help me up,” I say as I lift my arms above my head.

Keelan grabs my hips and lifts me up. I begin to climb, hearing him following behind me shortly after. I keep thinking of what could’ve gone wrong. My mouth opens; ready to fire the questions his way, when he joins me at the top of the water tower. He was a few paces behind me, so I sat down already. Keelan sits behind me, much like before.

“Let’s not talk, okay?” he interrupts all of my unspoken questions.

My mouth closes, and I nod. I don’t want to push him. He wraps his arms around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder, our legs dangling over the edge with the view of the station, and trees beyond ahead of us.

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