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On the other hand, Cameron was his son. If he needed a few days extra, shouldn’t that be okay?
He pushed his glasses up. “I haven’t found a place to stay yet.”
His dad snorted as if he hadn’t expected any less. “You don’t say.”
“I mean, I will, but . . . ” He squared his shoulders. He’d held his ground with John and Isabella. He could do it now too. “I’ll need another week.”
Dad motioned him aside. Cameron refused. He could at least acknowledge him.
“Maybe you’ll see that living with me isn’t so bad.”
Dad set his suitcases down again, muttering as he readjusted his grip. “It’s not a great start. Move, please.”
Cameron’s throat tightened but he lifted his chin. “I-I need you to stop muttering things like that.”
“Would you move out of my way?” Dad said, loudly this time.
“I’m not an obstacle.” The words came out a whisper. “I’m your son. I need you to see me.”
His dad dropped his suitcases and they thunked against the floor. “Need, need, need. When does it ever stop with you? You get everything you want. Look at you, twenty-five and you’ve never paid rent. Your brother gives you a job you barely earned. Fantastic schooling. You’re privileged, Cameron, and all you want is more.”
Cameron absorbed his dad’s frustration like a slap.
His dad moved to pass and Cameron grabbed his elbow. Dad shrugged him off.
A few seconds later, he roared. “What is this mess?”
Cameron passed Isabella and John, who were quiet for once. He felt their eyes on him, tracking him intently.
Heat stained his face; his stomach twisted.
“It’s just paper,” he said.
“Clean it up. I want you out of the house by tomorrow.”
“Three days? I’ll be quiet. You won’t notice I’m there.”
Another mutter.
Cameron froze. “What did you say?”
“Never mind.”
“No, you said I gave her a heart attack.”
His dad picked up the paper angrily. “I’m tired. I just got home, and I haven’t had a drink yet. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“But you did.”
Dad whirled around, and Cameron shrank back, arm hitting the doorframe.
“If you weren’t such a needy toddler, if you’d let your mother goddamn sleep, she would still be here. But no, you needed, needed, needed. Once she was gone, I had none of that, and I won’t start now. You’ve got until tomorrow.”
He stormed past him and out of sight.
Cameron trembled, air sticky in his throat.
In a waft of perfume, Isabella swept to his side and held his hand. “Don’t listen to any of that, Cam. Kids are supposed to need.”
John cleared his throat. “A trip is the last thing you need today.”
A nonsensical laugh bubbled up his throat. He sniffed.
“You can always stay with us,” John said. “My bed is particularly cozy.”
“John,” Isabella warned.
“I’m just lighting the end of the tunnel.”
“We’ll give you some space,” Isabella said. “Call if you need anything—anything at all.” She kissed his cheek.
Cameron slunk to his room, chest so tight he could barely breathe. He couldn’t stay here a moment longer. He’d go to his office and figure things out from there.
He picked up the clothes strewn partially in Isabella’s duffel bag and re-packed them into his own.
Hitching the bag over his shoulder, Cameron walked slowly through the house. He shuffled a little; his dad might hear him, call after him to wait. Say he didn’t mean it.
“Cameron.”
Cameron whisked around, eyes wide. “Yeah, Dad?”
“I need the keys. To the car too.”
Oh.
His eyes stung, and Dad’s features blurred as he tossed the keys down the hall.
“Tell Brandon I’ll pop by tomorrow.” Dad walked away.
Grey clouds shadowed the street, promising thunder soon.
He flipped the hood of Henry’s hoodie up and breathed in the faint bookish scent.
As the gate clunked shut, wheels churred over the damp road, slowing. The sight of Henry grinning at him from his SUV made a sob punch up his throat.
He swallowed thickly and moved toward the car.
Henry leaned over and opened the passenger door, welcoming him in with his usual English cheer. Cameron climbed into the warmed interior richly scented by Henry.
“Planning to stay over?”
Cameron eyed the stuffed duffel bag and saw how it must look. He heated. “No.”
“Did you pack for a picnic? I’m sorry but it looks like rain.”
“Not a picnic.” Cameron tugged down his hood, and Henry’s quizzical expression faltered at what he saw on his face.
A warm hand rested on his thigh and squeezed. “Are you okay?”
“Dad came home and I have to leave.”
“He threw you out?”
“He gave me warning, but I can’t bear being there any longer.”
Henry’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “Shit.”
“I’m an adult, Henry. It’s not so bad.” He located his phone and unlocked the screen. “I missed your call.”
“To tell you I was running fifteen minutes late. Alicia needed my help.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine.”
“I should have been here sooner.”
“Seriously. I’m good. I’m searching for a hotel. Maybe you could drop me off at my office? Kind of lost the car, too.”
