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It’s only for a moment and he releases me just as quickly.
It was a decidedly friendly move, dripping with fondness, friendship and nothing more.
And I guess that’s really all it should be.
I point toward the staircase, hesitantly asking, “Do you… right now?”
Camden shakes his head. “I don’t want him thinking I saw something wrong with practice, especially if he wasn’t bothered by anything. Let’s not create problems if we don’t need to.”
He saidlet’s. As in him and me. The two of us. A team.
“Listen… I’ve got to get going. I’m meeting some of the guys for a workout.” He stands from the table and I follow suit. “See if Travis wants to hit the rink again with me on Tuesday. That will be the day after his next practice and I’ll casually bring it up.”
“He’d love to practice again.” My lips twitch at the memory of when Travis came home the last time. “He couldn’t stop talking about you.”
Something shutters in Camden’s eyes and I know I’m not seeing things when his jaw tightens slightly. It has me immediately backtracking, which includes a lot of babbling. “I know it’s a lot, and you don’t have to do this. You’ve already done so much and this isn’t your problem. Plus… it’s your day off.”
“Travis isn’t a problem to me, Danica,” he says softly. “It’s just… I don’t want him to think… I don’t want to…”
“Don’t want to what?” I ask gently.
“I don’t ever want him to think I’m trying to supersede anything he had with Mitch. I’m not trying to replace his wisdom or his advice. I’m only trying to be his friend. I don’t want to make Travis feel like he has to guard his memories of his dad because of me. He’s only a little kid and—”
I step forward, snatching Camden’s hand into mine and holding on tight. His skin is warm, palms calloused as he reflexively squeezes against me. “No, Travis wouldn’t think that. And I wouldn’t think that. What Travis had with Mitch will never be diminished. We keep his memory alive every day. What you’re doing is giving Travis some much-needed guidance in his sport of choice because I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. So please… don’t treat either of us with kid gloves when it comes to the fact that we very much loved a man who died. There are no ghosts here, only good memories.”
I feel Camden’s entire body relax through my grip on his hand. When he nods at me, relief clear in his expression, I slide my hand free.
“Well… I better go.” Camden turns for the door, looking back over his shoulder. “Let Travis know I’ll grab him after school on Tuesday.”
“I will,” I promise.
“Bye,” he says.
“Bye.”
I close the door and lean against it, my heart thudding. Those were some deep things we discussed, and part of me wonders how much I was trying to reassure Camden when it comes to a relationship with Travis, and how much of what I said applies to me as well.
Mitch’s ghost doesn’t haunt me. It’s true he was my soul mate and not a day goes by that I don’t wish for magic so that he could return to me. But I also know that’s not going to happen and my life will go on. That’s all part of the healing I’ve done this past year.
There’s a knock on the door, the vibration running through my body and I propel myself off it. I open it to find Camden standing there looking… distinctly uncomfortable.
Shit. I said all the wrong things.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out. “I’ve made this weird for you, haven’t I?”
Camden frowns. “Weird? No. Why would you say that?”
“Because your expression tells me you’re uneasy about something. I can see it in your eyes.”
Lips twitching, Camden tilts his head side to side with an abashed expression, as if he’s trying to find the best way to tell me exactly why he looks nervous. “I am a little uneasy but about something that’s got nothing to do with anything we’ve talked about.”
Concerned, I sweep an arm. “Come in.”
“No,” he says, shaking his head adamantly. “No need. I’m just going to say this, and if it’s stupid, tell me, okay?”
“Oh-kay,” I drawl, having no idea what could be bothering him.
Camden scrubs his hands over his face before his eyes pin on me resolutely. “Can I take you out on a date?”
