Not So Broken (West Coast College Book 3)

Chapter 33

Ava

"You okay, Sweetie? You've seemed down these past few days and it's breaking my heart." Delilah signs, frowning at me as she adjusts her glasses on her nose, her eyebrows scrunched with worry.

I force a smile, concentrating back on shelving the books back in their proper place. "Of course. Just stressed about the end of school and everything."

Lies. Lies. Lies.

Delilah searches my face for a moment before smiling in understanding, nodding. "Don't worry about school, Ava. Your top of your class and summer is just a few weeks away. Cooper and I are proud of you no matter what, you know that?"

My eyes water before I sign, "I know that. I love you, Delilah."

"Good." She pecks my cheek, "Love you too, my little bookworm. Now go home, your shift ended an hour ago. Bet Cameron is wondering where you are."

That's a stab to the heart because we haven't spoken in days but I just nod, placing the last of the books on the shelf before grabbing my things from behind the front counter and clocking out. "He's an adult. He should be able to entertain himself for an hour or two."

Delilah cocks her head, raising an eyebrow as she glances behind me at the door. "Are you sure about that?" She signs, jutting her chin over my shoulder.

Face screwed up, I turn towards the door only to see Cameron standing there with a sheepish smile on his face, hands shoved in his pockets as he looks at me with worry in his eyes.

He looks a lot better compared to the paint shop from a few days ago, even better when I saw him quickly in the kitchen this morning. He hasn't said a single word to me though, and I think that's hurt the most.

I look away from him, feeling my teeth clench together. Cameron steps forward and silently takes my tote bag, slipping it from my shoulder before saying a few short words with Delilah that I translate.

"Hey, Sunshine. Got worried when you didn't come home." Cameron says softly but I can tell by his expression that it really bothered him. I just nod, stepping onto the sidewalk as I wring my hands in front of me.

I glance up at him, noting the slight bags under his eyes that match mine. It's been a sucky few days of giving him space to process but that also means I haven't been sleeping as well without him right beside me.

Maybe tonight.

"Are you ready to talk about it? What happened?" I ask, voice shaking, but I keep my gaze ahead, still amazed it's still light outside for ten PM.

"I am. But I would like to be holding you when I do." He replies, smiling at my surprised expression. Grabbing my hand, he pauses when he sees the extra band aids around my finger nails but doesn't say anything as we approach our building.

Cameron

The last couple of days have been tough. Practice has been the shits, my mind somewhere far away no matter how hard I try to concentrate and reel it back. God, is this what it feels like for Ava? I hope not.

I don't blame Ava one bit for what happened, something it looks like she's been doing. How could I?

She doesn't know about my problems with needles because I'm the one who hasn't opened up about it and it's not because I don't trust Ava-I trust her with everything I have- guess I just buried it so far down that it took one single word for it to all come rushing back.

And I hate how much I've pushed her away, when in reality she probably could have taken away some of or most of the pain I've been feeling.

When we step inside, it's clear Ava was headed right for bed but she hesitates, glancing back at me. I shake my head, ushering her down the hall because as much as she tried to hide it on our short walk, she's exhausted and I know her mind has been working in overdrive because of her fingers.