He smiles and looks up, as if flattered that I’m jealous. I’m not. I mean, not really. “She was probably hoping I was here with Marcus,” he says. “You’re the only one trying to pick me up, Sutton.”
I laugh. “You’re a terrible person,” I say.
A server appears at the end of the table, a guy with buzzed black hair and sauce stains on his apron. He pulls out a notepad. “What can I get you?” he asks impatiently. He notices Cameron and holds out his hand. “Oh, shit. What’s up, man?”
Cameron slaps his hand, and the two of them laugh. I keep my head down, assuming Cameron is embarrassed to be seen with me, but instead he calls my name. Terrified, I slowly look up.
“Savannah,” he says, hiking his thumb at the server. “This is Reggie. We went to school together.”
“Yeah, until this fucker got his ticket out,” Reggie says, smiling. “Hate you, man. Captain Douchebag has been unbearable since you left. Heard they’re renaming the library.”
“Good,” Cameron says.
Reggie says it’s nice to meet me—he even sounds like he means it. As he and Cameron catch up, I glance around the room again. I watch these people and try to imagine Cameron here with them, eating pizza and wings. Playing darts. I can’t help but think he doesn’t fit, though. Maybe he used to.
“All right,” Reggie says. “I’ll be back with some wings for you guys.” He slaps Cameron’s hand again and leaves. When he’s gone, I check out Cameron.
“Why’d you bring me here?” I ask.
“For pizza.”
“You wanted to prove your friends aren’t assholes,” I say.
“Not true. I didn’t know any of my friends would be here tonight. I haven’t been back since I left school.”
“Kicked out,” I correct.
“Hey! What happened to you being nice to me?” he asks.
“I said thatmaybeI’d start being nice to you.”
“That’s right.”
Reggie drops off two sodas, and as I dip my straw in and take a sip, Cameron leans his elbows on the table. He moves in closer and studies my face. “Would your friends like it here?”
The mention of my friends hits me hard in the chest. I’m not quite sure how to exist without them—don’t know how to keep it together until they get back. But I have to. It’s not like I have another choice.
“Yeah,” I say to Cameron. “They probably would. Although Retha would get in a fight.”
Cameron continues watching me. “I can get Evan another Xbox if you want,” he says casually, as if I won’t notice his charity. I bet he’s been waiting to ask this since I got to his house.
“No,” I tell him. “Besides, my dad will just sell it again.”
Cameron clenches his jaw, but he doesn’t push the issue. I can’t let him get us another video game system, not even for my brother.
“Does your dad . . .” He pauses. “He doesn’t hit you or anything, right?”
I hold his eyes. He’s so concerned for me. Only Retha and Travis love me like this. Why does he?
“No.” I shake my head. “I’d stab him if he did.”
Cameron smiles softly. “I guess you would.”
“My dad is tired,” I say. “He’s tired of life. He’s tired of Evan. He’s tired of me. He thinks that if Evan weren’t born, my mom wouldn’t have left.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t really blame him,” Cameron says.
“No,” I say. “He does. And when I get home tonight, he’ll still be drunk.”
