A Prom to Remember(22)

Otis and Tag turned and glared at the bobblehead on Tag’s dashboard.

Tag pulled up in front of Otis’s house.

“Thanks,” Otis said. “For the ride and the talk.”

“I honestly can’t believe that helped even a little bit.”

“You know, I think it did.”

“In that case, you can repay me by helping me clean out my car this weekend.”

“Not a chance,” Otis said as he slid out of the passenger seat.

“Son of a bitch,” Tag muttered as Otis slammed the door.

Tag pulled away, taking his stinking, rotting stench with him.

The smell was definitely stuck in Otis’s nose. He was definitely going to end up helping his friend try to clean that up someday soon.

Cameron

Cameron had a rare afternoon off from both of his jobs. He really needed the time to study for his upcoming AP biology test. He needed to get maximum points on all his AP exams so he could spend a little less money on college next year. The dream was to get maximum points on bio, history, calculus, and English. If he could place out of those four classes, it was practically like money in the bank and a whole semester that he might be able to skip.

He pulled up in front of Richard’s house, which is all he could ever think of it as; it wasn’t Cameron’s home at all. It was the place he had to live for only a few more months. Maybe weeks if he could find something temporary for the summer. He was eighteen after all. He liked to tell himself that maybe he would make more of an effort if he was going to be here for a while. But the fact that his mom got remarried just before his senior year of high school didn’t give him much time to adjust.

Maybe he would make more of an effort if Richard did.

Maybe.

Cameron was even considering taking a few classes at the community college over the summer but needed to find out how he did on his AP exams first. His whole goal in life these days was to get through college without having to take a dime of Richard’s money.

As he walked in the house, it was cool and dark, but there was a familiar clickety-clack sound coming from the dining room.

He found his mom sitting at the table surrounded by paperwork, gazing glaze-eyed at her laptop as she typed her way through an e-mail. He took the seat closest to her. She looked up a minute later and her eyes went wide.

“How long have you been sitting there?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Like a minute or two.”

“You’re so quiet sometimes,” she said, flipping her hand breezily. “I didn’t even know you were home.”

Cameron smiled.

“What’s up?” she asked, pausing her work and giving him her full attention. It felt like a rarity these days. Like it could be fleeting.

“Um, well, I just wanted to say hi. And to tell you that I’m going to the prom.” He said the last part quickly, and all the words ran together.

His mom clapped her hands together. “That’s excellent. I’m glad, Cameron. All you do is work and study. It’s good for you to have a little fun.”

At a different time in Cameron’s life, his mom would have taken her time and asked for the details, wanting to know who he was going with or if he needed any money or whatever. But now she shook her head and her smile fell a little.

“I have something that I’ve been wanting to tell you.”

Cameron gripped the straps of his backpack a little tighter.

“I’m pregnant!” she said.

Cameron’s mouth dropped open, and he tried to form a couple of words, but it seemed like he was having a delayed reaction to the news. Like it had to course through all the veins in his body before it made its way back up to his brain.

“Aren’t you too old?” was the sentence that finally made it from his brain to his mouth.

She rolled her eyes. “Guess not, because I’m three months along. I didn’t even realize that I was pregnant. I thought maybe, well. You don’t want to hear about this.”

Cameron really, really did not want to hear about this. So he didn’t protest.

“Well, congratulations,” he said. “Do Landon and, um, his dad know?”

“Not yet. I wanted to tell you first. It’s just been you and me for so long, I guess it didn’t feel right to tell anyone else. I only found out this morning. That’s why I’m working from home today.”

“Cool,” he said.

“You still planning on going to college so far away even now that you’re going to be an older brother?” she asked.

“Mom, Ohio isn’t even that far away. And it’s where I got the best scholarship. I’ll see the tiny human sometime.”

“Well, I’m due right around Halloween, so hopefully we can work out a way for you to get home around then. I’m sure Richard will be happy to help pay for your travel.”

Cameron swallowed back all his feelings. He would not ruin his mom’s day with his own negativity.

“Cool,” he said again. Even though it wasn’t cool at all. “I better go study.”

“Cameron. Are you okay with this?” she asked, grabbing his hand as he stood up from the table.

He cleared his throat, willing himself not to sound too emotional.

“Yeah, it’s cool. Great even. I hope it’s…” He paused, searching for the right word or sentiment. “I hope everything is perfect.”