Before You (Before You #1)(22)

“Bre, don’t be condescending. This vacation is really important. Charles would be devastated if I cancelled. He really likes me.”

It was on the tip of Bre’s tongue to respond that Charles must not know her, but she didn’t. “Who’s Charles?”

“My new boyfriend. I don’t want to disappoint him. He’s really successful, and he loves my art.”

“What happened to Edward?”

“Oh, you know.”

“No, I don’t know.”

“He was boring. Besides, Charles is so much better.”

“I’m sure he is,” Bre responded, rolling her eyes.

“Well, I have to go. I’m on my way to the airport. I’ll text you the hospital information. I should be home in a week.”

Bre dropped her phone on the kitchen counter and bent over, bracing her head in her hands.

“Hey, babe, are you okay?” Cam asked as he placed his hands on her shoulders.

Bre cringed. She hated when he called her that. “No, I need to pack. I have to go home. My grandma’s dying.”

“What? When are you leaving?”

Pushing away from the kitchen counter. “In the morning.”

Cam pulled her into a tight hug. “Bre, I’m so sorry. Based on what I could pick up from the conversation, your mom is leaving you to sort out this mess alone.”

“Doesn’t she always?” Bre let her cheek rest against his chest. Breathing in his spicy familiar scent, she felt like they were kids again, when she would run to his house every time her life became so suffocating that she didn’t think she could take it for one more moment.

“Cam,” she mumbled into his worn cotton shirt, now damp from her silent tears. “Can you come with me? I’m scared.”

Cam didn’t answer for a few minutes while his hand absently rubbed her back. “Babe, I wish I could, but I can’t do it right now. It isn’t a good time. I’m so busy with the band and my job.”

Hearing his answer, Bre tensed under his ministrations. With nothing more than a few careless words, the magic comfort she remembered from her childhood died. Pushing away from his chest, she rubbed her tear-stained face with the back of her hand. Her life felt out of control. She was losing her grandmother, Cam seemed emotionally detached, and her mother was as disappointing as ever. At least some things never changed.

“Bre,” Cam said as she reached the entrance to the bedroom. “You know I would go with you if I could, right?”

Bre studied Cam’s sincere blue eyes that had been the source of her comfort for more years than she could remember, and she wanted to feel anger or sadness, but the only feeling she could muster was disillusionment. “Cam, life isn’t about what you can or can’t do, it about what you want to do.”

“What do you mean by that?” Cam questioned, his voice harsh.

“Nothing. I need to pack. Can you bring my luggage to the car when I’m done so I’ll be ready to leave early in the morning?”

“Sure. Do you need any help packing?”

“I’m good. I only have a couple bags.” She rubbed her eyes tiredly.

“Don’t be mad at me. I promise I’ll make it up to you, and I’ll call my mom and dad so they know what’s going on,” Cam said with a faint smile.

“I’m not. Things just seem a little… complicated between us right now.”

“Babe, I don’t want you to feel like that. No matter how complicated our lives get, I’ll always make time for you. I love you. ”

Bre cringed at the pet name again. She didn’t know why Cam thought she liked being called babe rather than her name. In her opinion, the word came across as condescending, almost as if he were trying to placate her irrational behavior.

“I know you love me, but sometimes it doesn’t feel as if that’s enough to keep us together.”

“Bre—” Cam said, drawing out her name.

Bre held up her hand. “I don’t want to get into this right now. I can’t juggle our problems and my grandma at the same time.”

Cam folded his arms across his chest. “Is she really dying or is your mom being dramatic?”

“I don’t know. According to the doctor, she only has a few days, if that.”

“Bre, that sucks. I know your grandma is a hard person, but I know you respect her and care for—no—love her.”

Cam’s words made her eyes burn with tears again. “You’re right. I love her. Do you think you’ll make it to the funeral?”

“If there’s any way to make it work, I’ll be there.”





Chapter Ten



Three days later, Bre sat in a torn gray chair in the hospital waiting room. It was nearly 10:00 AM, and the hospital staff ignored her as they went about their day.

She arrived an hour ago with her best friend, Sara, and Cam’s parents, Todd and Ellen, and immediately requested to speak with the doctor. She hadn’t spoken to Cam since the night before she left LA other than to exchange a few brief texts. However, Cam’s parents were waiting on the porch of her grandmother’s house when she pulled into the driveway late last night.

When she told Sara that her grandma was dying, Sara dropped everything to go to the hospital this morning, despite her protest that she didn’t need any help. The minute Sara walked into her grandma’s house earlier this morning, she had sagged with relief, more thankful than she thought possible to see Sara’s bright, dimpled smile and swaying blonde ponytail.