Me: Just got back to the apartment. Send my love to Xander, and your mom and dad xo
* * *
Cameron: I will, and thank you Hailee, for everything.
* * *
There was still so much we needed to discuss, questions that needed answering. But they could wait.
They would have to.
My cell phone began vibrating and I hit answer.
“We need to talk.”
“Hello to you too, Jason.”
“What the fuck, Hailee? You were supposed to fight, not walk away.”
“That’s not... I didn’t walk away.” I let him go.
“Cameron is confused. He doesn’t know what the fuck he wants right now. But I’m telling you: He. Needs. You.”
“And I’m here, I am. I’m not going anywhere, Jason, but I’m not going to be an added burden either.”
“I can’t believe he let you leave.” The fight left my stepbrother’s voice.
“Yeah...” My heart ached as if it knew it was missing its other half.
“How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. I just keep thinking nothing I’m feeling matters, not compared to...”
“Yeah,” his voice sobered, “I know. I offered to drive to Rixon, but he wouldn’t even entertain the idea.”
“Cameron needs to do things his way,” I said.
“And if his way isn’t the right way?”
“Then we’ll pick up the pieces.”
“You’ll get through this. It can’t be the end, Sis. It just can’t.”
“Maybe,” I said with little conviction.
“Just don’t write him off, not yet.”
“Jason, I would never do that.” I love him too damn much.
“Do you need anything? I can drive up and—”
“No, I’m okay.” I smiled. Jason was so different, and I was proud of the man he’d become. “Just take care of him, please.”
“I will. He gets a couple of days and then I’m going down there.”
“Good. He’ll need someone to talk to.”
“You’re the best of us, Hailee, you know that, right?”