He smiles to himself and turns to look out the windshield. “So my house, then?”
“Yeah.” And that’s it. I suddenly have a friend, one with a fresh slate. I like it. I like the possibility. And I like him.
***
“I have to be home by three,” I say as we walk in his front door. I slip off my shoes, proud that my socks actually match today.
“Why by three?” Cameron asks.
“Because that’s when my brother’s bus gets there. I can’t be late.” I peek around the house, half-expecting to see some remnants of a party.
“Can I meet him?” Cameron asks.
“Who?” I swing to face him. “My brother?” Evan isn’t some pet that I take out for people to play with.
Cameron looks confused. “Yeah . . . I don’t know. I want to meet him. Is that bad?”
“You can’t meet him,” I murmur, turning away. I shouldn’t have come here, shouldn’t have told him about Travis, because now he thinks we can share things like this. But we can’t. Look what Patrick said about my brother. I can’t handle that happening with Cameron.
“Hey,” Cameron says, touching my shoulder. I jump, and he quickly steps back and apologizes.
This isn’t going well. I know I’m being difficult, but I’m not sure how to be any other way. I watch him, unable to explain that. I don’t want to disappoint him. I don’t want him to disappoint me.
“Breakfast?” he asks, like he’s trying to change the subject.
“No thanks.”
“But it’s Lucky Charms.” He still looks uncomfortable, as if my not letting him meet my brother has screwed him up. “Who doesn’t like Lucky Charms?”
“I don’t,” I say. “But knock yourself out.”
“And what? You’re just going to sit there?”
“Yes.” I roll my eyes. “I want nothing more than to just sit there and watch.”
“Wow, Savannah,” he says, pushing his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “That sounds kind of pervy.”
“Oh my God. Shut up.”
“What else do you like to watch?”
“I hope you drop dead.” I’m laughing, embarrassed, but also enjoying his sense of humor. He doesn’t let me take myself too seriously.
“Well, then let me go put on a show for you,” Cameron says, motioning toward the kitchen. I slap his shoulder and follow behind him.
***
We end up having Lucky Charms because he’s right, who passes on Lucky Charms? Cameron eats two bowls, and we sit across the table from each other, not talking. When he finishes, he pushes his bowl away and leans back in his chair, looking at me.
“What?” I ask.
“Do you want to talk more about Retha and Travis?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I can’t,” I say, and immediately pause. It’s too new. It hurts too much. I’ll save the pain for later. Otherwise I’ll fall apart right here.
“Okay,” Cameron says. “What about your family? What are they like?”
“Jesus, Cameron. You ask a lot of questions.”
