Page 115 of Stolen Bases

“Lia, be reasonable. A relationship with him will never work. You don’t even know him. Sure, it’s exciting right now, but what happens later? When the thrill is gone? When your brother finds out?”

“Are you seriously trying to invalidate my feelings?” After pushing me to get out of the house and have some fun for so long, she’s changing her tune. As soon as I actually find happiness, she’s asking me to throw it all away. “You can’t tell me how to feel.”

“You think you’re in love, but this is just … infatuation.” Her words are like bullets to my chest.

How dare she. She doesn’t know the real Cam. She only knows what Nico tells her, and his words are clouding her judgement.

“No, it’s not.”

“Sneaking around isn’t love, Lia. It’s lust.”

I can’t freaking believe her right now. She is so off base. Now I know why Cam won’t sleep with me. He knew people would use this against him. He was protecting me. Us.

“You don’t know a thing about us. What we have is love. I know it here.” Placing a hand over my chest, I feel my heart steadily beat.

“He had no trouble leaving.” She scoffs, pointing toward the backdoor. I’ve never seen this side of my mom before—callous and jaded.

“I will never forgive you for making Cam leave me. For picking Nico over me and my happiness. You do this all the time.” She’s always backed Nico before me, but this is one step too far. Asking me to give up my happiness? “You say I have a big heart and that I’m so smart. Well, then trust me. I’m an adult. I know what I’m doing.”

“Then act like one. An adult wouldn’t date a man her family despises.”

“Are you for real?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“Forget it. You don’t get it. I can’t even look at you right now.”

“Lia,” she shouts at my back.

I ignore her and head straight to my room. There’s nothing more to say. I’ve just had my heart decimated twice in the last fifteen minutes.

I can’t believe Cam left me so easily. He said he loved me. That it was me and him.Was he lying?

My breath catches in my throat as I step into my room to the sound of three taps on my window. I rush to the window and throw open the curtain. Standing outside my window is all six-foot-five glorious inches on Cameron.

He’s here.

My blood is raging. I’m so freaking mad at him and my mom. Unlocking the window, I pull it open with a growl. “What the hell do you want?”

“You,” he says matter-of-factly.

“What?” My heart trips over his answer. “Me?”

After what he said in the kitchen, I don’t want to let my hope bloom. He walked away, leaving me confused and scared, second-guessing everything.

“I want you.” He stares up at me, his voice resolute.

“You just dumped me. In front of my mom.”

Cam frowns, watching me wipe away the tears running down my cheeks. “I’m sorry I scared you, baby. I only said that garbage for her benefit. It’s you and me. You know this.”

“But…” I look away. He left.

“Baby, look at me please.”

I face him, taking in the soft, hopeful smile.

“Not more than an hour ago, I told you we should work on your last name. What did you think I meant?”

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