Camden's Redemption (Gloves Off #4)(14)

I snorted. “He likes anyone. He’s known for being a womanizer.”

“Maybe, but when you ran off, he was worried about you. Besides, not everyone’s like your ex.” Opening her arms, she folded them around me and squeezed. “Now come on, your date’s waiting for you. You know, talking about her always helps me. It makes me feel like she’s close.”

With her arm around my shoulder, we walked out of the bathroom. “Thanks, Becca. I try to talk about her, but it’s hard. My brother hurts just as bad as I do and he’s all I have. He’s the only one I can talk to.”

“That’s not true. You have me and you have your new friend. Call me anytime.” She nodded toward Camden whose gaze landed on mine. “Take a good look, B. If you can’t see what I see, you’re blind.”

Turning in her arms, I hugged her tight.

“Fear keeps you from taking risks. Those risks are worth taking.”

Closing my eyes, I breathed her in and smiled. “No wonder you were best friends. That’s exactly what Braylen would say.”

“Where do you think I got it from?” she laughed.

When I opened my eyes, I thought everything would finally be okay. At least, until my parents walked through the front door. “No f*cking way,” I hissed low.

Becca looked over her shoulder. “Are you still having problems with them?”

I nodded. “And I don’t think it’s going to get better anytime soon. Here we go.”

At first, my mother’s eyes went teary and wide in surprise. But when realization set in, the light in her eyes died and she grimaced. “It’s good to see you too, mother,” I said.

Her hair was long and mostly gray now. She’d aged a lot in the past few months. Braylen had followed in her footsteps by being in pageants. It was never my thing. My father, on the other hand, was a quiet man and always did my mother’s bidding. He always let her be the center of the conversation and I couldn’t stand it. My mother walked all over him and he let her.

“Your brother told me you were working. I guess I should’ve known better.”

“I’m surprised you even talked to Jason, him being so horrible and all. I guess saving my life wasn’t worth your admiration. It’s not his fault he chose the wrong person.”

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Can we talk about this later? This isn’t the time or place. How about we drop by your house after dinner?”

“No,” I growled low. “I’m not going to be there. In fact, I don’t think I want to see you for a while. Not until you can accept what happened and move on. You still have two kids who love you and are alive. When you begin to comprehend that, give me a call. Until then, don’t bother. I’m done.”

“Brooklyn, what’s going on?” Camden asked, coming up to my side. His arm snaked around my waist and I melted into him. It was the first time he’d touched me.

“This is a family conversation, young man,” my mother spat, noticing his arm around my waist. “I’d appreciate it if you’d see your way out of it.”

The intensity in Camden’s gaze made me tremble. He was about to lose his temper, but I squeezed his hand, snagging his attention. “Let’s just go. We can come back another time. I’ve lost my appetite anyway.” Ignoring my mother, I looked at Becca and smiled. “I’ll call you soon.”

Camden and I walked past my mother without another word, and that pissed her off. She didn’t like being dismissed, so she followed after us. “I’m not done talking to you, young lady. Get back here.”

“Just keep walking,” I said to Camden. He did as I said and helped me into his Jeep before getting in on his side.

“Do you think they’ll show up at your place tonight?”

My house, yes. The condo, most likely not, because they didn’t know I was staying there. “I don’t know.”

Camden sped us out of the parking lot and away from my bitch of a mother. Once we had some distance between us, I could breathe again. I was so glad they didn’t live around here. If they did, I probably would’ve moved already. It had been nice on the coast, not having to worry about anything when I was guarding Camden.

“You can always stay with me,” he suggested. “Or . . . I could stay with you so you don’t have to be alone.” Lifting my brows, I tilted my body toward him and pursed my lips. “And before you get all pissed thinking I’m trying to f*ck you when you’re in a vulnerable position, that’s not what I’m doing.”

“You sure about that? The thought hasn’t crossed your mind?”

He pressed his lips together and kept his attention on the road. When the light turned red, he came to a stop and faced me, his gaze cloaked in darkness. “Brooklyn, let’s get something straight. The thought of f*cking you has crossed my mind on more than one occasion. But the last thing I’m gonna do right now is try to get up your skirt. I can be an inconsiderate dick most of the time, but tonight’s not that night.”

“What makes tonight different from any other night?” Did he really care? Or was he playing with me like he was known to do with others?

His brows furrowed and the light turned green, drawing his attention away from me. “It just is,” he said. “Now, your place or mine?”