Page 102 of Hard Rock Sin

"Go find Jen. She'll know the best place to stand to get a good view." Noah hugged me briefly. "Make sure to stay away from the pit. It can get crazy out there."

Noah walked off, thumbs texting away, not waiting for my response.

My chest deflated. My chance to tell Noah was gone. I'd have to wait until after.

Cameron would have to play through the entire show thinking I'd rejected him.

I was still cursing myself up and down, guilt and self loathing swirling inside me, when my own phone went off.

I checked it half-heartedly.

It was Cameron's mom.

She was texting me the details for the fundraising dinner.

That only set off another wave of shame coursing through me. I was as bad as Cameron's parents.

He'd spent years being ignored in public by his mom and dad. Of course going through the same thing with me would cause him pain. If it hadn't been for them putting him through years of this, maybe he wouldn't have been so upset at my hesitance.

My anger began to turn outward.

If it wasn't for them, Cameron wouldn't have been so upset over the idea of keeping our relationship a secret.

I rapidly typed a string of messages before I could talk myself out of it.

Why did you disinvite Cameron from the fundraising dinner?

Why did you invite me but not him?

Why is he not welcome at your events?

Didn't you think about how that would make him feel?

I didn't get a response for several long minutes. I began to feel a little embarrassed at having gone off on Sharon. It wasn't my place to question their decisions. To pick apart their family dynamic. Maybe I'd be disinvited, just like their son.

When my phone finally buzzed again, I looked at the screen reluctantly.

I frowned as I read the first few replies.

My mouth dropped open as I continued reading.

By the last message, understanding finally dawned on me.

I thought quickly. I thumbed a rapid series of texts, trying to explain everything as fast as I could. The concert would be over in a few hours. I didn't have much time.

When Cameron's mother gave me her last reply, my heart finally felt light with relief.

I'd hurt Cameron tonight with my actions.

Maybe with this I could start mending that wound.

Chapter Thirty-One

Although I feltsome measure of relief after having talked to Cameron's mom, my nerves got the best of me the moment I spotted Jen across the room.

I had a feeling Jen suspected something was going on between me and Cameron at my welcome home party. I hadn't wanted to stick around and have her find out for sure.

But now that I was ready to tell Noah, I supposed I didn't have much more to fear.