"To be honest, Cam, I don't know anything at this point. I'm scared all of the time and he's been helping me through it. He's helped me through everything."
Cam nods. "If you two—" he breaks off. "Well, I just want you to be happy and I know I can't give you that."
I sniffle again.
"Can I hug you?" he asks.
I nod.
He wraps his arms around me, loosely, trying so hard not to hurt me though the slightest touch in certain spots sends a stabbing pain through me. I hug him back, breathing him in, thinking of how it felt to be loved by him. I swallow a sob and just cling until he pulls back.
Regret and apology are shining in his eyes along with unshed tears. He waves a hand to get Bash's attention. Bash pulls out an earbud.
"Thanks," Cam says.
Bash nods.
"Talk to you soon, Liv," Cam says to me.
I nod and sniffle. "I'll be here."
He turns and walks out of the bedroom and the front door closes with a soft click.
I carefully turn to look at Bash who's already lying down on his back, his arms open and ready for me. I fall into him and cry. He soothes me and holds me until I fall asleep, not once letting go.
Guess I didn't get the time I needed after all—but Iwasstrong enough.
"I felt bad doing it, but I needed to," I admit to Lex.
She nods. "I totally understand. I'd have dumped his ass a long time ago."
"I thought I'd have more time to figure out how to do it nicely."
She snorts. "Isthere a nice way to break up with someone? If there is, I'm sure you were more than kind."
"I tried to be. Bash didn't leave the room, but he was respectful and put his earbuds in and ignored us."
"And that's another topic right there," Lex states.
"Sebastian?"
Alexa nods and rolls her eyes. "Duh. He's so far gone over you it's crazy."
I wrinkle my nose. "Oh, I don't know about that. He likes me and would like to date me, but I don't think it's all that."
"If you didn't have a concussion I'd smack you on your forehead—hard. You're neither blind nor stupid, Liv. He's always here for you—always. He takes care of you," she tells me.
"Yeah. He also fucks random chicks whenever he feels like it," I retort.
"Oh my God, you've led a sheltered life."
I flip her the bird with my good hand.
"Honestly. I'm not saying that to be hurtful, but it's true. Guys screw around. It's just how it is, and if you think back to when we first got here, Bash was banging a whole lot more girls than he is right now," she reasons.
"True, but still."
"But still nothing. He's not a girl. He doesn’t have the same outlook you did on sex. You and Danny were unique. Most people are okay with casual sex and have it often."
