I blinked away the fresh tears.
“That’s all the more reason to tell him. God knows, that family needs some good news.”
“I’ll think about it. But please, don’t tell Asher or Jason yet. I need time.”
“Hailee—”
“No, Fee, I mean it. I told you in confidence. This is my business. Please respect that.”
She let out a little huff, but nodded. “My lips are sealed.”
“Good.” Because this wasn’t some salacious secret that would cause a scandal. It was the kind of secret that changed lives.
I knew Cameron deserved to know, but I’d walked away to unburden him. If I told him now, I’d only be adding more responsibility to his shoulders.
At least that’s what I kept telling myself, as I followed my friends into Asher and Mya’s apartment.
Cameron
“What will happen to me when Mom dies?” Xander’s words were like a punch to the stomach. I hugged him tighter, running my nose over his hair as I tried to swallow the ball of emotion lodged in my throat.
“You’ll have me and Dad.”
“What about Hailee?”
Fuck. He was really hitting me where it hurt today.
“Hailee and I are...” The truth was, I didn’t know what we were anymore.
We talked and texted occasionally, and she sent Xander these cute little care packages. But we didn’t talk about the elephant in the room.
Us.
When I’d found out Mom was sick again, I hadn’t turned to Hailee. I couldn’t. Instead, I’d steeled myself to be there for my family. Hailee needed to graduate. She needed to chase her dreams, and figure out what she wanted.
I’d always imagined that our life would end up back in Rixon one day. But not like this. Not because Mom was... I still couldn’t say it.
“Did she go back to Michigan because of me?”
I pushed Xander out of my arms and lowered my face to his. “Hailee loves you, squirt. She loves you so much. But I need to be here with you, and Mom and Dad. And Hailee’s life is in Michigan right now.”
“But after college, she’ll come back, right?”
I couldn’t answer him, because I didn’t have one.
I hadn’t asked anything of Hailee since she’d gone back to Michigan, and she’d given me the space I needed.
But nothing about it felt right. I missed her every second of every day. I missed her so much, my soul ached for her.
“Hey, boys,” one of the nurses came out of Mom’s room. “She’s all yours.”
“Thanks,” I said, pulling Xander up with me.
“Don’t get too rowdy, okay? She’s tired.”
“We’ll behave.” I gave the nurse a weak smile.
Xander hesitated when we reached her door, but I gave him a gentle nudge. He was doing better. Since I made the decision to stay in Rixon, my little brother no longer seemed so lost.