Chasing Astrid Malone

23. BREAKING POINT

Pulling down my street, I saw Josh's car pass us going towards my house. I should text him and let him know I'm going out for a bit.

Me: Hey. I just passed you I'm with Cameron, but I'll be back in an hour.

Josh: Where are you going? Tristan said he talked to you. He's picking up food to have dinner with us.

Me: I know... Eat without me. Cameron offered Chinese and it's the only thing my stomach is willing to eat. I'll be home after.

Josh: Fine. Be home in an hour.

"Everything ok?" Cameron placed his hand on my bare thigh and gave a squeeze.

"Yeah, I need to be home in an hour. I still have school work to catch up on from the two days I skipped."

"No problem, I thought we could eat at my house with my Pops. He keeps asking about you." I hadn't thought about where he would take us to eat. Im still wearing Brenda's Pajama shorts and T-shirt.

"I should have changed" I literally rolled out of bed in this.

"No way, you look cute in your pajamas. If you want we could go to my room and I'll take them off for you?" My face blushed and my heartbeat quickened.

We pulled up to Cameron's house, and in typical Cameron fashion, he ran around the truck to open the door and help me out. Just as I got out of the truck, it started to rain. We ran in the house laughing, and I left my flip flops by the door.

"Cam? You're home early, and you brought dinner I see." Cameron's grandfather's eyes moved from the bag in Cameron's hand, to me. "Ah, I was wondering when I'd see your pretty face around here again. It's Astrid, right? Im Ted Beck."

"Yes, Sir. It's nice to see you again." Cameron was setting up folding tables in front of the couch.

"So tell me Astrid, is this punk being good to you?" I smiled, nodding in reply.

"You make sure to tell me if he's not, I'll set him straight. He's never brought a girl home, I was beginning to wonder if he's embarrassed by me."

Cameron had just set up a plate for me and signaled for me to sit. "Im not embarrassed Pop, I just don't date. Or I didn't until now." He handed his Grandfather a plate and sat down with his own.

"When my daughter was pregnant with him, she said something once about scaring off his girlfriends when he was older. I always thought I'd have to do it for her, but then he never had girlfriends." I didn't know anything about Cameron's parents, just that he lived with his grandfather.

"Where is she now?" I looked to Cameron, who lowered his face and didn't say anything.

"My daughter had complications during labor, she didn't make it. Cam's dad moved in here with this guy and I've always done my best to raise him." So, where is his dad?

"Pop's please, I don't want to talk about any of this. She doesn't want to hear about my dead parents." I was taking small bites, letting my stomach adjust to the feeling of adding food. Maybe he would feel better if I told him about my Dad.

"My Dad died two years ago. He was hit by a drunk driver on his way home." Cameron started shoveling food in. He was clearly uncomfortable with this conversation. Ted looked at me with wide eyes, I was used to this reaction from people by now.

"Im so sorry for your loss. What was your father's name?" Cameron was shaking his head at his grandfather, apparently not wanting to make me sad.

"His name was, James Malone." His fork fell from his hands onto his plate. He was shooting daggers at Cameron with his eyes. What is going on? Did he know my father?