Page 97 of Hard Rock Sin

"Is it official, then?" Cameron asked.

"It is." She straightened her shoulders. Her expression was one of slight nerves underneath a steely sort of resolve. "I've put my name in to run for mayor."

Cameron and I gave his mother a round of congratulations.

"Your father and I are going to be working very hard with my campaign stuff over the next few months," Sharon said. "Unfortunately, that means that we'll be very busy for the foreseeable future."

Cameron nodded. "I get it. No more impromptu dinners."

"There will also be quite a few events to attend, fundraising and such. That's not to mention when we actually start campaigning and doing town hall meetings and debates."

"We've got a fundraising dinner coming up next week," Grant said. "Just for close friends and family."

Cameron brightened.

"You won't be there, of course," Grant continued blithely.

Cameron stilled. The look on his face nearly shattered my heart. He clenched his fist, his eyes going flat, his expression blank.

"But Lily is more than welcome to come," Sharon added, oblivious. She turned to me with a smile. "I'll text you the details, sweetie. Just let me know if you're free."

I was too shocked to answer.

I had thought Cameron was just mistaken when he told me his parents didn't want him anywhere near their colleagues. When he told me Sharon and Grant were ashamed of him and kept him from the public eye.

But they had disinvited him from a family event right in front of me.

His parents talked through a few more details about his mother's campaign. I listened with half an ear. My attention was on Cameron.

He nodded and agreed and chuckled at all the right times, but that emotionless look was still on his face.

Only I caught the pain behind that blank gaze.

Immediately after his parents left, the strained smile left Cameron's face. It was replaced with a twist of his lips. His dark blue eyes turned almost obsidian.

"I'm gonna go work out."

I grabbed for his hand before he could storm off. "Cameron, I'm sorry."

He cast his eyes down to the floor. "I should have known it was coming."

"You should talk to them about it."

"What difference would it make? They clearly don't want me anywhere near this whole political campaign thing." Cameron gave a sort of half-hearted shrug. "I get it. I'm not exactly wholesome-family material."

But the hurt on his expression was heartbreaking. I threw my arms around him, squeezing tight.

"It's wrong of them to treat you this way."

"I've dealt with this my whole life. It's nothing new."

"Still. You don't deserve being treated like that. You're a wonderful son. And a wonderful boyfriend. And a wonderful person in general."

He wrapped his arms around me. He buried his face in my hair. "You're the only one who thinks so."

"No, I'm not. Everyone loves you."

He let out a sick laugh. "Even Noah? That's why you won't tell him about us, right? He thinks the worst of me."