“I gotta go, man,” I tell him, ending the call before he can say anything else.
I sit there for a moment, elbows resting on the counter, my fingers running through my hair.I grab the packet of cigarettes and a lighter, along with a bottle of water, and step out onto the porch.The night air is chilly, and the stars are scattered across the sky like a million tiny lights.
Lighting a cigarette, I take a deep drag, letting the smoke fill my lungs before exhaling slowly.Cam hates it when I smoke.He always says it’s bad for me, but I try not to do it when he’s around.I smile at the memory of him scolding me, his brows furrowed in that adorable way.God, I love him.
Pulling out my phone, I frown at the notifications on the screen.Fifteen missed calls.Dad: three.Mom: two.Lexi: six.The rest are from the frat guys.
I should probably call Dad back, and maybe Mom.As for Lexi…why the hell haven’t I blocked her yet?
Lexi.Just thinking about her makes my jaw clench.We used to be close—friends with benefits, nothing serious.But she took it too far.Started calling herself my girlfriend, scaring off anyone else I was interested in.At first, I liked the attention.I liked what she offered.But then she became possessive, desperate.It was suffocating.
She still doesn’t get it.We’re done.For good.
Taking another drag from my cigarette, I look out at the dark woods surrounding the cabin.Cam is still asleep inside, peaceful and beautiful.
He’s all that matters now.And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect him, even if that means facing the world head-on.Because I love him.And I’ll never let him go.
I sigh and toss my phone aside, pulling out a half-smoked cigarette from the ashtray.I inhale deeply, the smoke filling my lungs, and exhale slowly, watching it dissolve into the night.
“What are you doing out here?”a familiar voice calls softly from behind me.
I turn to see Cameron standing at the doorway, wearing my shirt and a pair of my oversized sweats.They hang off his frame in the most adorable way, and I can’t help but smile.
“Hey,” I greet, stubbing out the cigarette on the edge of the porch railing before flicking it into the ashtray.
Cam approaches me slowly, wrapping his arms around my shoulders before pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.
“Come here,” I murmur, pulling him closer by his arm.
He settles between my legs, his back against my chest, and I bury my nose in his neck.He smells faintly of me—my shampoo, my cologne—and something uniquely his.
“Can’t sleep?”he asks, absentmindedly running his fingers along my thigh.
“Not really,” I reply, smirking as I rest my chin on his shoulder.“Especially not with your naked ass rubbing against me all night.”
“What?”He laughs, smacking my arm lightly.
“You heard me.”
“I didn’t do that.”
“Of course, you did,” I tease.“You were asleep, so I’ll let it slide this time.”
He chuckles, leaning back further into my chest.“I was worried when I didn’t see you in bed.”
“I just needed some air,” I admit, wrapping my arms around his waist.
We sit in comfortable silence for a while, the cool night air brushing against our skin.Eventually, I break the quiet.
“You know, I’ve been thinking…”
“About what?”
“What’s going to happen when your parents find out about us?You can’t keep it a secret from them forever.”
Cameron stiffens slightly, then sighs.“I know.They won’t take it well.Mom will probably start yelling at me, telling me I can’t be her son if I’m gay.And Dad?He’ll just look at me like I’ve failed him.”
“Shit,” I mutter, tightening my hold around him.
