Page 71 of Hard Rock Sin

Maybe Noah was right.

I wasn't ready to be on my own.

I was still just a scared little girl inside.

Chapter Twenty-One

Ihad almost forgottenabout the plans for dinner, until Cameron reminded me, a nervous expression on his face. I wondered why he was so worried. It was just dinner.

It seemed like months since I'd first met Cameron parents. So much had happened since. Cameron and I had confessed our feelings. We'd had sex for the first time. And second time. And many, many more times after that.

When the evening finally arrived and we walked into the restaurant, I immediately felt self-conscious. Everyone was dressed up in suits or at the very least business casual, along with a handful of cocktail dresses and luxurious evening wear. I wasn't one to splurge when it was technically my brother's money. Even the nicest dress I owned had only cost around thirty dollars.

Cameron wore black skinny jeans with chains hanging from the belt and a tight black t-shirt. His wild, bright red hair stood out in stark contrast to the restrained hairstyles of the other restaurant patrons.

At least he wasn't wearing his usual thick eyeliner.

Cameron's parents waited for us in the foyer. They greeted us with hugs and handshakes, dressed in their perfectly tailored business attire.

The hostess didn't blink an eye at our mismatched group, but it seemed to me everyone stopped in the middle of eating to stare as she led us to a table.

I ducked my head as I hurried to sit, avoiding their gazes. When we were seated I snuck a glance at Cameron, expecting him to feel as out of place as I did.

Instead, his expression was blasé, relaxing into his chair, legs spread out as if he hadn't a care in the world. I supposed someone as self assured as Cameron, a rich and famous rock star, wouldn't care if snooty people looked down on him.

Cameron's parents were perfectly pleasant, despite my initial doubts. His dad wasn't too chatty, but his mom was good at small talk. She peppered me with me questions about school, my art, and my experience in France.

I didn't bring up boarding school. It would only lead to questions about why I'd attended high school somewhere so far away. That was an issue I definitely didn't want to get into with Cameron's parents.

"Nice place," Cameron said after our waitress came to take our drink orders and hand out menus.

Normally I would have thought he was making fun, in his usual obnoxious way, but he sounded genuinely impressed.

"The Masons took us here," Sharon explained. "I fell in love with the salmon. You should try it."

"Sure, sounds great," Cameron said earnestly.

This whole exchange was odd. I side-eyed him.

"Although usually I'm more of a burgers and pizza kind of guy," Cameron quipped.

His parents chuckled politely.

I thought it might have only been me who noticed his relieved grin as they laughed.

The four of us were quiet as we perused the selections. I decided to go with the salmon myself, partly because it did sound good, and partly because I wanted to…

I mused to myself for a moment. What exactly was I trying to do? Make Cameron's mom happy? Make her like me? I didn't know why I cared. I barely knew them.

But there was something about the way Sharon kept throwing pleased, almost ecstatic glances my way. It was disconcerting. I looked to Cameron every once in a while, trying to gauge his mood.

He kept looking between his parents with an almost nervous, wavering smile. Like he was trying hard to keep up the polite conversation. Trying hard to impress them.

"I haven't asked yet," Grant said. "How have things been with you? Music industry treating you well?"

"We're just getting ready to release the new album." Cameron gave his father an eager look. "I think this one's gonna be even bigger than the last. We've been doing so much promo shi—"

He cut himself off as his dad gave him a warning look.