Love Tap(34)

I open my mouth to protest me wanting to get back with him, but the words don’t come out. Hurt chokes me of a rational explanation. Through all of his games and flirting I thought getting back together might have been a possibility… ‘til now.

Hurt strikes my chest so hard I have to look the other way as a tear manages to escape my left eye.

“I guess so,” I mumble, as my hand searches for the door handle, opening it, I grab my bag and get out. “Thanks for the ride.” Venom drips from my voice as I slam the door.

Rain splinters my skin it’s falling so hard, wind sweeping my hair around my face. I make my way onto the sidewalk and peer up under my wet lashes, I’m several blocks away from home. I should look for a train.

Camden drives beside me and rolls the window down, the rumble of his car barely heard over the storm.

“Damn it, Tate! Get back in the car!”

“Screw off!”

“Get in the f*cking car, Tate!”

Ignoring him I continue walking. “I’m not going to do this, I’ll drive off,” he threatens.

“Then go!” I throw my hand out, gesturing for him to just leave.

He stops the car, and gets out. His feet stomping in the rain as he marches toward me.

“It wasn’t up for you to decide Tate, leaving me here to rot, that should have been left for me to decide!” His hair is soaked, sticking to his forehead as he yells at me.

“I did what I thought was best given the circumstances. When I left, I wasn’t the Tate that you loved. I was a shell of a person, I was lost and scared. I didn’t want to ruin your life while I figured out mine.”

My voice cracks with emotion. This has been weighing heavy on me for four f*cking years. I had my dad in my ear telling me my mom wanted me to go to college, and at that point I would have done anything for my mom. Leaving hurt me more than he’ll ever know, but staying would have killed me. My family was broken, and I was lost.

Both of us pant, as we eye each other. Expelling years of things we’ve wanted to say but never got the chance.

Looking the other way he swipes his wet hair from his face, he can’t even stand to look at me and it hurts more than anything he could say.

A scream sounds from the distance, and my head whips in the direction. It’s close. I look around trying to see where we are, what part of Chicago we’re in.

“We need to go,” Camden’s voice goes serious. His hand pressing on the small of my back in a protective manner.

“No, I’m not getting back in that car with you.” I pull from his hand.

I can’t get back in that car knowing how much Camden dislikes me, knowing that our chances of getting together will never happen. I knew over the years the likelihood of that happening were slim. I thought he’d move on and get married, or at the very least we’d never run into each other again. But seeing him now, I can’t lie-I want to be with him again. I never stopped loving him.

“You get in the car, or I will put you in the car,” he threatens.

I raise a brow, as the scream sounds again. It’s bone chilling, and has me double thinking my stubbornness.

“Fine!” I throw my hands up in defeat and stomp off.

Getting into the car we don’t make eye contact, there’s no stolen glances even. It’s intense, and I’m literally counting down the miles ‘til we get to Chloe’s place. I’ve told him everything. Why I left? Why I came back? It’s up to him if he wants to forgive me, or be angry.

Driving into our neighborhood I point at Chloe’s house.

“Pull in there.”

“Why?” He looks at me with concern, I’m sure he’s curious why I’m not having him drop me off at my dad’s. Though my dad and I not getting along shouldn’t be anything new to Camden because he witnessed how damaged our relationship was before I left. That is one of the reasons I came back to Chicago. I miss what I had with my dad. I want to fix what is broken, I just don’t know how.

“Dad and I aren’t seeing eye to eye, so I’m staying with Chloe.” Not that it’s any of his business. If he’s so done with me, why does he care?

He shakes his head and pulls into Chloe’s driveway, the expensive car purring as it stops.

“Let me guess, he’s pissed you came back. Does he know you’re back in the gym?” he questions. I can’t dive into this with him, I’m emotionally done.

Glancing at Camden I grab my bag, refusing to answer him and get out.

Once inside I watch Camden pull out of the driveway, but instead of turning around, he stops at his parents’ place, and that’s when I notice the moving truck parked out front. My stomach twists. Is he moving in?

My hand touches the glass as I look the familiar scene over.

It looks just like the day he moved into our neighborhood and changed my life.





Chapter Ten


16 Years Old

Camden



Sitting on my front steps I watch the cars leave Tate’s house. Her mom passed away yesterday and family has been there every second of the day.

I left my window open last night in case she needed me, but she never came. I’m trying to give her time to heal, but it’s killing me.

Grabbing my old baseball cap, I slip it on and head toward the train tracks behind our house.