Wild Heart | Jiara

Chapter 22

Thirty minutes later I hear a knock on the door and feel my heart skip a beat. I don't know why I'm suddenly so nervous, but I take a deep breath and go answer the door. I'm met with those tight brown curls I remember all too well from our encounter at the club. He flashes me that charming smile of his he no doubt uses to get all the girls drooling over him. Despite myself, I smile right back at him. Not wanting him to be outside for much longer, I stop staring at him to step aside and let him in. I shake my head as I close the door and lead Cam to the living room. We both sit down on the couch, and I make sure to leave plenty of room between us, mainly for my sake. I'm sure I made it clear that we are friends but thinking about what Sarah told me earlier, I don't want to get caught up and do something I'll regret later.

He sets his feet atop the coffee table in front of us and gives me a look arching his brow. "What?" I ask oblivious to what he's getting at.

"I'm surprised you invited me over when you have a boyfriend and all." He drapes his arm over the couch not breaking eye contact.

I look down for a split second and shuffle my legs under my butt, effectively turning my body towards him. "Technically we aren't together right now because we're on a break. And I can have friends there's nothing wrong with that." I bite my lip and meet his eyes again. "It's not like you had to come over. You could have said no."

His eyes move down to my lips and back up to my eyes. "I don't think that anyone can say no to you and I'm not any different."

That makes me smile. I look back at the tv that I've barely been paying attention to and wonder why I invited him over. To prove a point? I don't even know anymore. "What do you usually do here in the summer Cam?"

"My mom sends me here every summer so that she won't feel as bad for being so focused on her work all the time. She's hardly around and when she is we don't really talk much. My aunt is the complete opposite. She wants to know everything that I get into at school and my interests. I'm the captain of the basketball team and my aunt comes to all my home games. She drives two hours to watch me on the court, so I make sure to make her feel special when I'm down for the summer. It feels like she's the only person that cares about me most days. But to answer your question, I just surf and help my aunt around the house. I always make time to entertain cute girls though, don't worry." He sends me a wink and I roll my eyes.

"What about your dad?" As soon as the words leave my mouth, I notice the light leave his eyes. His smile disappears and the mood has shifted. I feel bad for bringing it up and I'm about to tell him as much when he speaks up.

"I don't have a dad. He left me and mom when I was little, and we haven't heard from him since. My mom and my aunt are the only family I have." He looks to the tv, and I watch him for a few minutes.

"I'm sorry for bringing it up. I know a thing or two about shitty parents. My mom cheated on my dad a year ago and it completely tore our family apart. I haven't seen my mom since she moved out and reject her calls most of the time. My dad did everything for us and she just goes and does some stupid shit like that. My dad loved her. He still loves her. She had no reason to fool around with someone behind his back. It pisses me off every time I think about it." I feel my eyes get watery and look up to find him staring back at me. All of a sudden, he scoots closer to me and wraps his arm around my shoulder. I rest my head on his shoulder and wipe my eyes before any tears can escape. "I'm sorry for getting emotional. I just really hate her right now."

"Don't apologize to me. I know exactly how you're feeling, Kie. If you ever get the urge to egg her house I'm down." That makes me giggle and I feel slightly better.