He's Not Perfect {Hayes Grier Fanfic}

-43- Birthday

*3 Months Later*

Amber POV 

"Jill!" Cam says grabbing Jill and placing her on his hip after she had ran her little finger through the frosting on the cake. "You can't do that babe." She just laughs and licks the frosting off of her finger. 

"Nah I'm with her," Olivia says also running her finger through the cake and licking the frosting. "If you could politely hurry up this candle lighting process." Olivia says to me as I struggle with the lighter. 

"It's not working." I inform her trying to click it on and it not being able to hold a flame. "And stop touching the ducking cake." There were little ones around, gotta keep it clean. 

"Let me do it." Cam says snatching the lighter from me. 

"With an 18 month old in your arms, why not?" I ask rolling my eyes and snatching it back. 

I finally get the flame to hold and I light the single candle on top of the huge cake. "There we go." I say smiling. "Will, get the lights." He flicks down the switch making the room dark except for the glow of the candle. "

"Well, shall we sing?" Lia asks from the end of the table where she sits with Aidan. 

"Happy-" Olivia starts and we all join in. 

"Happy Birthday to Kalin!" I sing bending down to kiss Kalin on his forehead as he smiles from his high chair. "Happy Birthday to you!" 

Everyone cheers and Kalin laughs. "Blow out your candle bud." Will says to Kalin who leans forward trying, me holding him to the cake without him falling into it. He takes a deep breath and tries to blow it out, but doesn't have the power to. He tries again multiple times and we all laugh.  

"I gotchu." Olivia says picking up Kalin and blowing out the candle for him. "Let's eat!" 

Lia cuts the cake, half chocolate half vanilla, and we all get slices fighting for the corner pieces. I give Kalin his piece of cake and he immediately grabs it with his hand and stuffs it into his mouth. "Sam Kalin, same." I say laughing, taking a bite of my own. 

It's a few hours later and I sit in my room, hearing the others talking and laughing loudly in the living room.  I on the other hand, sit on my floor, my back against my bed and facing the wall, with a tear running down my face. It's my son's first birthday and I'm sitting in my room crying. What is my problem?

I hear a knock on the door and then it swings open. 

"Hey," I hear Cam say. "Amber, you okay?" I quickly wipe the tears off my face and stand up, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I say quickly. "Just needed a breather." 

Cam rolls his eyes and steps into my room, pushing the door closed behind him. "Shut up." He says looking at me and rolling his eyes. "Tell me why you're really in here while Olivia is trying to teach Kalin and Olivia how to twerk." 

I shake my head and he gives me a half smile. I collapse on my bed, laying on my back and I sigh. Cam sits next to me and I whisper, "Is she really teaching them how to twerk?" 

"Have you met your sister?" 

"Oh my god." I groan putting my hands over my eyes. 

"Bro, stop stalling. Tell me what's bothering you." 

I hesitate for a moment before telling him the truth. "I miss him so much." I say. "I know I haven't talked about him in a while, but it's Kalin's first birthday and it-" My voice cracks. "It just hit me. He's gone, he's actually gone."

"I know how you feel," He says to me softly. "It took me a while to realize that Reb wasn't coming back." I realize how selfish I'm being, crying about Hayes who's still alive while Cam is here who lost Reb. 

"I'm sorry Cam, I'm being really-" 

"No you're not." Cam interrupts laying down next to me also on his back. "You were there for me, now I'm here for you." He turns his head to face me. "I know you're hurting Amber. And I can't tell you it's not going to hurt, cause I know damn well that it's going to hurt."

"Thanks for that." 

"What I'm saying is that you don't have to bare that pain alone." He tells me. 

I sit up and put my hands over my face. "Everything was so perfect, and then it all came crashing down." 

"I guess that's just what life does," Cam says sitting up next to me. "Just throws us some speedbumps to see how we're going to recover. To see if we get back up on our feet or fall on our butts." I drop my head onto his shoulder. He swings his arm around my shoulder and I turn my head into his shoulder, not even caring that my tears are soaking his sleeve. "But Amber Rhodes," He continues. "I know you. And I know that you are not one to fall on your bum." 

I laugh softly. "Thank you Cam." 

"Are you okay?" 

"No." 

"I know." He says wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug. "I know."