In Five Years

Chapter 14

What if I want it to escalate though? What if I want him to take me right here, right now?

"I'm happy that things between us seem to be better. It's almost like we're friends again," he says, and just like that, the thoughts moments ago dissipate. "I don't like fighting with you."

"Me either," I tell him. "Thank you again."

"You don't have to thank me, Maddie. I wanted to be there for you. You're not going to get back with this guy though, are you?"

Shrugging my shoulders, I let out a sigh and glance down at the multiple texts from him that I got last night. "I don't know. He seemed sorry. Last night wasn't exactly the best of situations. He had to be around you, which I know must have been tough for him."

"That doesn't give him the right to call you a bitch and a whore, Maddie," Cameron says through gritted teeth. "Please don't give that fucker the time of day."

"I'll think about it. Okay?"

This isn't pleasing him, but rather than get into another argument with me he just shakes his head and pulls open the door. "Come on, Mads. Let's get this over with."

I follow him quietly into the hallway. He gently closes the door to my room. I think Ethan is still sleeping because his door is shut too, but as soon as we reach the bottom of the staircase my whole entire family is in the kitchen cooking breakfast.

Fuck.

"There's my baby girl!" My dad extends his arms out and I gladly accept his hug. This is the first I've seen him since I've been back, and I have so many questions for him, but all of their eyes turn directly to Cameron.

"Good morning, Cameron," my mother says smugly, "would you like some breakfast?"

"Uh, please," he replies. "Thank you."

Ethan is grinning from ear to ear. I can tell he wants to say a lot right now, but thankfully he's withholding his comments because my parents are in the room too.

My mom passes me a plate, and as Cameron and I begin to eat our eggs, everyone still continues to stare at us.

"What?" I ask irritatingly.

"Oh, nothing," my mother replies, but there's still a smile on her face when she starts to run the sink. "It's just nice to see the two of you together again. That's all."

Her comment irritates me. Mainly because there isn't anything going on between Cam and me. We're still friends. Nothing happened between us last night.

"It's about damn time," Ethan says with a mouthful of food.

"We're not—" Cam stops himself, choosing his words wisely. "We're friends again."

"Friends," Ethan repeats. "And does Katie know you're friends again? Friends who have sleepovers with each other?"

Cam shoots him a death stare, insinuating for him to shut up. My dad takes the hint and clears his throat. "So, Maddie. How's college? Tell me everything."

I'm so tired of that same damn question. I hate college. I want it to be over with. I just want to be in my profession and do what I love, not kill myself for hours cramming for a stupid final, or a paper that's due.

 I shrug. "It's fine."

"Fine?" He asks. "Briarwood has to be more than fine."

"Briarwood is fine," I repeat. "It's stressful, it's frustrating, and I am counting down the days until I graduate. That's the honest answer."

The room grows silent, just the sound of forks scraping across our plates until Cameron stands up and brings his plate over to the sink. I didn't even realize he ate it all.

"I'd love to stay, but I really have to get going," he says. "Thank you for the breakfast Mary, and Richard, it was so great to see you."

"It was good to see you too." My mom leans in to give him a peck on the cheek and pats him on the back. "You're welcome any time."

Oh, god.

"Maddie, can you walk me out?" Cam motions to the door and I quickly hop off the barstool to follow him outside. It's chilly out, and I'm still in just my shorts and a tank top. I cross my arms over my chest and wait for him to say something.

"So..." He trails off. "That wasn't awkward at all."

"Ha." I laugh sarcastically. "Very funny."

A part of me wants to ask him if he still plans on being with Katie, but I don't have the courage to do it. He said we were friends again. Last night he was just consoling me. He knew I needed him. That's it.

I have to let him go.

"I guess we'll see each other for Christmas in a few days," he says to break the silence. "Your mom wouldn't let my dad say no. She's making her big holiday dinner."

"Doesn't surprise me," I say. "That's my mom for you. You know how she is."

"I love it though." He smiles, and I can tell he means it. "She reminds me so much of my mom. It's comforting actually. Plus, it'll be nice to have a home-cooked meal not made by my dad. I appreciate the effort he puts in, but he's a horrible cook."

I laugh. "Really?"

"Oh, god. Yeah. The first night I got back he made spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs weren't even cooked through all the way."

I wrinkle my nose up in disgust before I say, "That sounds awful."

"It was. Anyways, let's just say I'll be grateful to have a meal that actually tastes good."

Will Katie be with him? Probably. I can't keep hoping that they'll break up. I know that they aren't going to. It doesn't matter that she was a bitch to me last night. Look at her. She's gorgeous. She's fit and tiny, and I'm...me.

"So, we're okay, right?" He scans my eyes, trying to read what it is I'm feeling right now. "Friends again?"

"Yeah," I reply and send him a fake smile. "Friends."