Page 234 of Story of My Life
“Trouble, I’m begging you. Please put some food in them before I end up digging graves in the backyard,” he pleaded. “They’ve been like this since we left New York.”
“Why were you all in the city? What’s going on?” I asked.
“We’re celebraling!” Zoey said, shooting her arms up in the air.
“Yay!” Gage said.
Levi waved tipsily and smiled.
A yip echoed from the crate under Cam’s left arm. A little wet nose and one brown eye peered out at me.
“Please tell me that’s not another raccoon,” I whispered.
“I wanna tell her,” Zoey insisted.
“No, Cam should tell her,” Gage said, leaning in to look Zoey in the eye. He put his forehead against hers and closed one eye. “It’s important that he gets all the credit.”
Zoey pouted. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense. But we helped.”
“We were the best helpers,” Levi said, poking himself in the cheek with his finger. “I can’t feel my face. Is that normal?”
“Larry, get them out of here,” Cam said, sounding like he was five seconds away from throwing punches.
“On it, Cammie. Come on, kiddos. Who wants some grown-up Lunchables and some more alcohol?” she said.
“Meeeeee!” The drunken band of friends and family followed her toward the kitchen.
“But I wanted to see her face when he tells her about Jim the Dim,” Zoey complained.
I closed my eyes. “What did you do to Jim the Dim?”
“Let’s go talk in your office,” he suggested.
I gripped my wine and followed him, wondering exactly how deep a shallow grave had to be.
There were new curtains in here too. Thick velvet ones. The glass doors only managed to shut out some of the chaos, but Cam had my full attention.
“Okay. Here we go,” he said, setting the crates down inside the door. He took my hands. “Hazel Hart.”
“Yes?” I squeaked.
“I fucked up.”
“I’m aware of that. Unless you did some new fucking up in the last three days.”
“I’m going to fuck up again,” he pressed on. “Probably a lot. Bishops aren’t known for talking about anything. So you’re gonna have to be patient, but just know I’m trying.”
“Okay. Should we let whatever’s in the crates out?”
“Not yet. First, I need you to know that I love you.”
“Aww!”
I looked past Cam to see Zoey, Gage, and Levi smushed up against the glass doors.
“Guys, give them some privacy,” Laura said sternly.
“You do?” I asked, returning my attention to Cam.
