For Now (Forever Book 1) (17 page)

Camden

              After searching several stores, I finally found the specific kind of chocolate that Elaina wanted. I told her this morning, I would sneak her whatever she wanted. I’m excited to get back to her and tell her about everything that she has missed while she was out and the good news.

              The elevator arrives on her floor and I exit, I hurry down the hallway, anxious to get back to her, though I know Jackson and Karen are with her. I open the door to her room and there’s nothing but an empty bed. I check the room number again, to make sure. I’m in the right spot. Elaina is gone. I check the little cabinet, her bags are gone as well. I turn back to the bed, hoping this is all a mistake and that’s when I see it. A note address to me.

              I sit on the bed to read it because I don’t think my legs can hold me any longer.

             
Cam,

              I’m sorry that I have to do it like this, I just can’t imagine having to look into your eyes as I say goodbye. The last two months have been the best of my life. I’m so grateful for meeting you and for the time that we have spent together. I know that I’m not what’s best for you. You need to focus on your career. I can’t stand in the way of that. I’m going back home with Karen and Jackson. I hope that you’ll be able to forgive me for leaving like this, I’m a coward. Please tell everyone goodbye for me, especially your mom and sister. Please tell Isabel to let me know how she’s doing.

              I’ll never forget the time we spent together and will always think of you with love. I love you

Elaina

              She left to go back to Chicago without saying goodbye because she thinks that that’s what’s best? She doesn’t think she’s right for me? I didn’t even get to tell her that I’m not going on the tour. I wanted her here with me, so I could protect her and take care of her.
 

              I throw my phone across the room and it shatters when it hits the wall.

              “Cam? Where’s Ellie? I wanted to talk to her.”

              I look up and Isabel is standing in the doorway.

              “She’s gone. She thinks she’s doing me a favor by leaving.”

              She comes to sit next to me on the bed. I glace over at her and can tell that she’s been crying.

              “You okay?” I ask her.

              She nods, “Yeah, wanted to come find Ellie and talk to her.”

              “You can talk to me,” I offer. Maybe her problems will be a distraction while I try to figure out what to do about my own.

              She shakes her head, “No it’s a girl thing. You wouldn’t understand.”

              “She wanted me to tell you bye,” I held up the now crumpled letter, “I think she will stay in touch with you. You could always call her.”

              “I guess.”

              “You could also mention the fact that she should come back.” I hang my head and let a few tears escape

              “I knew about you two, you know.”

             
She did?
“How?”

              “Cam, when I came to visit it was obvious. I’m actually surprised that none of the guys noticed. I guess guys are unobservant when it comes to that stuff. Ellie confirmed it. I was so happy for you two.”

              “I’m going to convince her that she’s what’s best for me.”

              “What are you going to do?”

              “I don’t have that part figured out yet.”

Elaina

              The past few months have been agony. Cam has called me every day, I haven’t answered because I can’t face him yet. I kept seeing him at the bar, only to be disappointed when I realized it wasn’t him. 

              I dream of Cam every night. On the plus side, the nightmares about my family have stopped. I think Cam was right, my family wouldn’t want me to live with this guilt; they would want me to be happy. So I’ve decided that I feel strong enough to go back to Iowa and start over. I think it may make me feel closer to them somehow.

              I immediately started looking for teaching positions in Iowa. I knew it was late, but I was hoping for a miracle. I couldn’t be in Chicago anymore and now that Karen’s bills are paid off, I don’t feel so guilty about leaving.

              A month ago, I got a call that a teacher at a small school in Iowa, where I had applied, decided to elope and move to Texas with her husband, so they had an open teaching position. I got the job and moved the next weekend. Karen was sad to see me go, but she told me that she was proud that I was following my dream. When in reality I was being a coward by escaping.

              I’m living in a small apartment in town close to the school and I’ve made friends with a few of the teachers. I love my job, it gives me an escape from missing Cam. The nights are long and give me time to think, that’s when I can’t escape the depression of missing him.

              It’s Saturday and surprisingly warm for late September. I should be happy to go out and run some errands, but I just want to stay inside and mope some more. I hear my phone ping look down at the screen. Isabel. We’ve been texting every day.

             
Isabel: Girl, you leaving the house today?

             
Me: Yes. You’re a nag you know?

             
Isabel: Pot calling the kettle black there.

             
Me: Have you done what I told you to do yet?

             
Isabel: Can’t talk, gotta go. TTYL

              I’m running dangerously low on food, so I scrape up enough energy to at least go to the grocery store. I grab my keys and purse and head out the door. I turn to lock up.

              “Funny running into you here.”

              I freeze at the all too familiar voice. I close my eyes and try to find enough courage to turn around. When I do, I’m struck again at just how handsome Cam is. He’s standing with his hands in his pockets, wearing dark blue jeans and a light blue V-neck t-shirt that accentuates his muscles very nicely.

              “Cam, how did you…”

              “I’ve missed you.”

              “How did you know I was here?”

              “Isabel.”

              “Oh,” is all I can think to say in response.
That little traitor.

              “Come for a ride with me.”

              I nod and he leads me to the car.

              “Where are we going?” I ask after a minute of silence. He’s traveling slowly through the streets of the town.

              “I want to show you something.”

              He pulls up to a new-looking house at the edge of town. I hadn’t even noticed this house before.

              “Who lives here?”

              “You’ll see.”

              We get out of the car and walk up to the house and I’m struck by how much it looks like my parent’s old house.  It’s a two-story white house with a large porch and a porch swing.

              “Come with me.” Cam takes my hand and leads me to the front door. He walks right inside without knocking. I gasp. Inside there are hardwood floors and beautiful crown molding.

              “Cam, it’s just like the house I grew up in. What are we doing here?”

              “I wanted to show you your new house.”

              “What?” I sputter.

              “I thought that you might like a home exactly like the one that you grew up in. I found the house and got the new owners to invite me and a construction crew in. I had them build an exact replica. They worked around the clock to finish it.”

              Tears are streaming down my face. “It’s the most amazing thing Cam, but I can’t accept it.”

              “Okay, if you don’t want to live in it now, I can live here by myself for a while. It isn‘t that far of a commute.”

              “I thought you’d still be on tour,” I say, confused.

              “Oh, did I forget to tell you that part? I quit.”

              “You did what?”

              “The day that we had lunch at my parents’ house, I took my dad into the study and asked for some time off, I wanted to spend it with you. When Dad lectured me on the importance of the job, I told him right then and there that I resign. I didn’t have a chance to tell you before you left.”

              “Oh my god, what will you do now?”

              “Now, I’m enrolled in college. I’m an education major. I plan to become a history teacher and coach high school football.”

              “That’s amazing. Is that what you really want? I can‘t ask you to do this for me.”

              “I feel like I’m doing something for myself for the first time in a long time.”

              “You’re in Iowa. Why?”

              “This is where my college is silly.”

              “You live here now?”

              “Yes”

              “Why?”

              “You’re here. I know that you only left because you thought we couldn’t make it work and you would get in the way of my career, but I couldn’t let my career get in the way of you. I love you, Elaina. I can’t be away from you any longer.”

              “Cam,” I wrap my arms around him and sob into his shirt, “I missed you so much. It was agony being away from you. I kept seeing you everywhere. I’m sorry I left, I thought I was doing the right thing for you. I heard you and your dad talking about the importance of the job and didn’t want to cause tension in your family over me. Is your dad still mad about us?”

              “He’s mad that I didn’t tell him and the media found out about it. Luckily, the press feels bad for Ryder after his ‘heartbreak’. I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention, but they’ve mostly forgiven us too. Ryder explained that you two weren’t too serious and it was a mutual decision to end it. Not everyone believes it, but everyone has moved on to other scandals. I think Dad has come to accept my decision and I think my mother couldn‘t be happier for us. She was sad when you left.” I frown at the thought of upsetting Beverly.

              “What about Ryder? Is he mad?”

              “He understands that we didn’t mean to do this to him. I think he was only so upset because deep down he cares what people think about him and we risked that. My sister is now working for him. Their world tour is almost over, so I’m sure she will want to visit when she gets back.”

              “I can’t believe that she didn’t tell me that. I’ve talked to her every day. Are you really here with me? You are actually living here?”

              “Yes, I can’t be without you.”

              “But to move 2,000 miles away from home for me?”

              “Come with me.” He grabs my hand and leads me out into the backyard. It’s kind of strange knowing my way around a house that I’ve never actually been in before.

              Outside, there are woods to the right and a cornfield directly behind the house. Cam directs my attention up. I look up and see a tree house, just like my old one in a large tree at the edge of the property.

              “You painted a wonderful picture, I can see myself here, getting to know our neighbors, lying under the stars talking about everything and nothing and playing football back here with the kids. I want this life with you.”

              “You are the most amazing man that I’ve ever met.” I reach up and kiss his lips softly and he kisses me back.

              “I’m just trying to be the man that you deserve.”

              “And you really want me to live here with you?”

              “I don’t want you to be anywhere, but right by my side forever.”

              “Forever,” I agreed.

The end