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I SIT IN THEdriveway of my childhood home. The place I spoke my first words and took my first steps. And yet, now I’m afraid to go inside. Even with Cam’s Jeep right out front, showing me he’s here like he promised he would be, I feel like I might throw up.
Barely speaking to my parents has been difficult to say the least. It’s crazy how when you live with them, they drive you nuts. But when you’re out living on your own, you wish they were with you. I think during the time I spent living with Hayes, before everything went to shit, I called my mom at least four times a day. Sometimes for the most meaningless things.
And then chaos struck.
Cam had a point, though. If they find out I was in town and I didn’t come to see them, they’ll be really hurt. And it’s not like I don’t want to see them. I’m just afraid of the judgment I know is coming.
For the second time today, I give myself a pep talk and force myself out of the car. As I walk up the driveway and see the detached garage, I remember when I stood here and watched Hayes storm past me—determined to tell Cam about us and show me that I’m the one he wanted.
I would give anything to go back to that.
Getting up the courage, I raise my fist and knock on the door. My heart pounds against my ribcage as footsteps come toward the door, but I relax when it opens and Cam stands on the other side.
“You actually showed up,” he says, a little surprised.
“I told you I would.”
“Yeah, I know. But I wasn’t sure if you’d go all Houdini on me again.” He opens the door further and I walk in, waiting for him to shut it behind me. “Mom, Dad! I have a surprise for you,” he sings.
My eyes widen and I turn around to face him in a panic. “You didn’t tell them?”
He smirks. “What’s the fun in that?”
Ugh, fucking asshole. I should’ve known better. I very well may have walked into a damn ambush. Do I think Cam would let any harm be done to me? Of course not. But do I also know he’s mad and wouldn’t mind seeing me in an uncomfortable situation? Absolutely.
“Cameron, we love you, but we don’t need another—”
My mom’s voice cuts off as she gasps behind me. I turn around to find her hand over her mouth, tears already starting to slide down her cheeks. She looks at me in disbelief and shock all at once.
“Hi, Mom,” I murmur quietly.
Her breath hitches, realizing I’m actually here and she’s not seeing things, and comes toward me with open arms. I step into them willingly. Finding out Hayes’s mom doesn’t hate me earlier, when she has every right to—it helped. But finding out my own mom doesn’t hate me either, that’s a level of relief I didn’t expect.
Maybe Cam was right.
My dad comes into view, with his jaw tense and an angry glint in his eyes.
Okay, half right.
“Laiken,” he says sternly.
Dad was always the disciplinarian out of our parents, and I’ve spent my fair share of time being on the receiving end of it. But I don’t think he’s ever looked at me with this much disappointment before. It makes the little girl in me want to cower.
“You think you can just waltz back in here and expect everything to be fine?” he asks with brows raised.
“Dad!” Cam protests.
“No, it’s fine,” I tell my brother. “That’s not at all what I expect. I know that leaving the way I did wasn’t okay, and I’m sorry for that. If you want me to leave, I’ll go.”
His gaze stays locked with mine, as if he’s actually considering taking me up on my offer, until my mom’s voice cuts through the uncomfortable silence
“Andrew,” she scolds him. “Give your daughter a hug.”
He glares at her for a second, but everyone in this room knows she has him wrapped around her finger. So it’s no surprise when he sighs and pulls me into him.
“I missed you, kid,” he tells me. “Still don’t agree with what you did, but I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
