“Pull in there.”
“Why?” He looks at me with concern, I’m sure he’s curious why I’m not having him drop me off at my dad’s. Though my dad and I not getting along shouldn’t be anything new to Camden because he witnessed how damaged our relationship was before I left. That is one of the reasons I came back to Chicago. I miss what I had with my dad. I want to fix what is broken, I just don’t know how.
“Dad and I aren’t seeing eye to eye, so I’m staying with Chloe.” Not that it’s any of his business. If he’s so done with me, why does he care?
He shakes his head and pulls into Chloe’s driveway, the expensive car purring as it stops.
“Let me guess, he’s pissed you came back. Does he know you’re back in the gym?” he questions. I can’t dive into this with him, I’m emotionally done.
Glancing at Camden I grab my bag, refusing to answer him and get out.
Once inside I watch Camden pull out of the driveway, but instead of turning around, he stops at his parents’ place, and that’s when I notice the moving truck parked out front. My stomach twists. Is he moving in?
My hand touches the glass as I look the familiar scene over.
It looks just like the day he moved into our neighborhood and changed my life.
Chapter Ten
16 Years Old
Camden
Sitting on my front steps I watch the cars leave Tate’s house. Her mom passed away yesterday and family has been there every second of the day.
I left my window open last night in case she needed me, but she never came. I’m trying to give her time to heal, but it’s killing me.
Grabbing my old baseball cap, I slip it on and head toward the train tracks behind our house.
“Hey Camden!” Stopping, I turn and find Felicia with some other girls.
“Oh, hey.” I give a wave.
“My parents are gone tonight, you want to come over?” She twirls her hair, and bats her eyelashes. She knows Tate is my girl, she also knows Tate is going through a lot. It’s no secret around school she puts out, and I would be a liar if the idea of getting laid hasn’t crossed my mind. But I want Tate, she’s making me work for it. But she’s worth it.
“Nah, I got plans.” Tugging my cap down, I continue toward the tracks.
Pushing past the brush, I spot Tate propped up against the large tree that sits close to the tracks. She’s rifling through the crate of magazines I pulled from the garbage for her last year. Everything else was ruined from being inside the garbage can, but her dad just set those beside it.
When I showed her I saved them, she let me touch her boobs. Let’s just say sex has been on my mind since then.
“Hey.” I sit down next to her.
Her sad eyes find mine, and my chest squeezes. She’s beautiful. Her hair is in a beautiful braid, and she’s wearing a tight black dress.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress before.”
She looks down at herself, and giggles. Her soft laugh turning into a downright cry.
Oh shit, what do I do?
“I hate it!” Her fingers tense as if she wants to wring someone’s neck, she’s angry. She’s hurt and angry and I wish I could take her pain away. “People who never even talked to my mother have been here for weeks. My dad forced me to style my hair like this and wear this stupid dress.” Makeup I’ve never seen Tate wear smears down her cheeks. She may not dress like this on any other day, but one thing is clear. Tate is not a little girl anymore. She’s becoming a woman. She stands and starts tearing at the fabric and my eyes watch her closely. “My mother knows I hate dresses, she wouldn’t make me do this. She wouldn’t want this!” Before I can think about the words coming out of her mouth, she has stripped down to a tan strapless bra, and matching panties.
My penis instantly goes hard.
“I’m just…” She falls to the ground, her knees smashing into the rocks. “I’m so tired of being sad.” Her eyes slowly find mine.
“Camden.” Her words come out sultry, and I have to wipe my eyes to make sure I’m hearing her right, that this isn’t a dream.
“Yeah?”
“Make me feel something, make me feel good, make me feel pain, just something besides this numbness that has taken root in my chest.” Her hand fists right above her tits.
She crawls over me, her knees straddling my lap. I rub at the back of my neck anxiously, not sure what to say or do.
“I’m ready,” she whispers.
Cupping her cheek, I thumb her bottom lip.
“Are you sure you want to do this now?”
Her eyes fall as she thinks it through. Then bright green eyes flick to mine.
“Yes.” She sounds so sure.
Scooting back, I find a patch of grass and situate us to where she’s under me. Her braided hair starts to dishevel with the cut grass sticking to it, and her cheeks flush.