Darlin'

Chapter Four

The meeting started to sound like background noise to my racing thoughts. I couldn't concentrate. Not with Rhys here. I knew he had suffered the loss of his dad and his brother. He had very valid reasons to be here in Grief Share. But every time he moved a muscle, I noticed. Every time I noticed, I started to overthink. I couldn't help it. I started to wonder about how his dad died, how he was able to process the grief of losing a little brother when he lived a continent away, how long he was planning to live States side? I knew I should be focusing on myself, on my own grief. I was easier though to think about someone else's.

Ronnie had warned me about that on countless occasions. There was a fine line between helping other's process their own grief and avoiding your own. I hadn't been able to process mine at first. I had spent several months going through the motions after Dad had died. I found myself taking the Cam way out of things, drinking at the bar. I would go there after work and usually find Cam already there. We had been friends before this. Casual friends.

I had met Cam the first week I had come to town to visit my Dad after he had moved here. The bar had been packed for a Craw Fish Broil event they were hosting. I had just gotten done moving my dad into his house and was heading back to Commerce for school. I hadn't meant to even stop in for more than a few minutes. I had just wanted one beer.

Cam had been sitting at the bar talking to some of his buddies. His curly brown hair stuck out of his ball cap. He was wearing a T-shirt from the local high school. There had been nothing remarkable about him in that moment.

The only reason I had even noticed him was because of how loud he'd said, "Boy Howdy, it's fuckin' packed in here!"

His country twang made me think he was a redneck idiot. Then again, I had thought anyone in twenty square miles of here was a redneck idiot. I had no clue what had caused Dad to want to retire out this far East. I had rolled my eyes and sat down so that there was a stool in between us. 

I noticed him noticing me. I was sure it was just because I wasn't a local. He had waited for me to order my drink before trying to start a conversation. 

"What brings you out to these parts?"

I knew it would be rude not to answer but I hadn't been sure if I had wanted to be polite.

"Helping my dad move in."

"Did he buy the ol' McKee place?"

"White house off of 2224?"

"Yep, that's the one. I grew up helping Ol' Man Mckee mow his yard."

I nodded, "It's a big yard." I didn't know what else to say.

"My name is Cameron, buddies call me Cam." He'd said while reaching out his hand for a handshake. 

I smiled shyly, "Lennon." I shook his hand tentatively. 

"You headed back to the city Lennon?"

I shook my head no, "I'm from Dallas but I go to school out in Commerce. I'll be back next weekend though."

I wasn't sure why I had divulged that tidbit. It wasn't really his business. I looked up and saw flecks of green in Cameron's blue eyes. The light caught them and highlighted the green. They were the one feature that stood out to me. My own blue eyes were true blue so to speak. There weren't any hints of green or hazel. Cameron's eyes were much more interesting. 

"What are you studying?"

"English and Business. Double major."

Cameron let out a slow whistle. "Those are pretty opposite options."

I shrugged, "I want to go into publishing one day. Figured both of those options could open some doors down the line."

"Makes sense."