Can I Ask You a Question?

7

"Why did you keep it a secret from us you were seeing him?"

I sat there in front of Adam with tears running down my face, letting them hit my ankles. I was curled up on his bed, hunched over like a crazy person. My eyes were red, and my skin was blotchy from sobbing.

"Cami?" He asked softly. I finally looked at him.

"I didn't know where it would go or how it would turn out. I mean, I'm just embarrassed." I shake my head. More tears drip down my face, and I can't help but cry harder as I finally admit it. He scoots closer and puts his arm around me. It doesn't help, not this time. I lean into him and cry on his shoulder as he delicately places his fingers on the top of my head.

"He always got so mad at me, Adam. I didn't know what to do about it." I was choking on my sobs while Adam tried his hardest to calm me down. He pulled a new water bottle off his bedside table and offered it to me. Everything felt like a haze. I took it from him and drank half of it. My throat was dry, and I knew if I spoke, I wouldn't sound like me.

"About what, Cami?" Adam asked soothingly, still rubbing my back.

"Everything." I croaked the word out, and he just nodded.

"I'll talk with him about moving out if you'd feel more comfortable?" He offered, and I just shook my head.

"No. It's fine, Dean's your best friend. He doesn't have to be punished because of a stupid relationship." I grumble. Was it a relationship?

"First of all, Benji is my best friend. From what you told me, Dean wasn't treating you right. Don't let my feelings get in the way of your comfort." He says, pulling my body closer to him.

"You're okay." He whispers, and I nod, the tears stopping.

"I know," There's a long pause before I lift my head and meet his eyes. "I'm okay," I repeat.

My heart aches being right here next to him, so close. He only watches me, concern twitching on his lips. Do you feel it, too? I want to say, but I don't.

His hand snakes around the small of my back, and he brings me in even closer for a hug, and I hug him back tighter. I love being this close to him. He looks like he's about to say something, but he inhales through his mouth and then lets it go instead. I pull back from him.

"Thank you," I say softly.

"We need to talk more." He says, and I force my feet to move and go out the door.

I sit on the couch like nothing happened and finish up the rest of the movie with Benji and a sleeping Leo.

Sleeping on the couch again was starting to get bad for my back. Sunday morning, I hauled my ass up and knocked on Dean's door.

"Dean?" I called softly.

A couple of minutes later, he unlocked and opened his door. I put my hair up into a low bun, and he sleepily stared at me.

"Hey, baby."

It broke my heart and filled me with rage at the same time.

"Can I come in?"

He moved aside, and I took the liberty of sitting in his desk chair while he closed the door.

"Is everything okay?" He scrunched up his nose, and I just shook my head. Suddenly, the carpet looked very interesting.

"No, it's not." I took a shaky breath, and he looked at me to continue.