Page 22

CHAPTER 22

CAMDEN

D inner out with Jenner was nice. Normal. Felt like a real date and then I’d spent the night at his house again. In the morning, I had to leave before him because I needed to get home to shower and change for my graduation ceremony. We had to be there early since the whole thing started at ten in the morning.

On Saturday morning, I would’ve preferred to stay in bed with Jenner, but I’d agreed to do the bigger university ceremony where they wouldn’t call my name, but my college would graduate all at once. I wasn’t going to spend my afternoon at the department reception. No, thanks.

I chose a pretty, light-blue dress—very spring—and ballet flats, put waves in my hair, then headed to the college to meet my parents and Harlowe at the predetermined time and place. I had to be there earlier than they did and once I’d checked in and got all of my directions for what to do, I had a text from Mom telling me that they were there.

“Honey!” Mom called out when she saw me. I hurried over to them. “You look so beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

Dad reached out to me as soon as Mom had let me go and gave me a quick squeeze. It was unlike him, but I’d noticed some changes since his fight with Brooks. “We’re very proud of you, Camden,” he told me .

“Thanks, Dad.” Deep down, I thought there was a caring father inside of him. He just didn’t know how to act it. Or Brooks threatening to get physical with him over his treatment of Harlowe had made him reevaluate. I didn’t know. But it was the only time I’d heard my mother threaten to leave him, so that had to have had an impact.

Their relationship wasn’t one that I wanted to replicate, but it seemed to work for them. I always imagined a relationship where the man was outwardly loving. Don’t get me wrong. My dad didn’t treat my mom badly—I just could count on one hand the number of times I’d seen him hold her hand or show affection. That could be because I wasn’t paying attention or that wasn’t how they did it.

Harlowe pulled me aside before I could head in. “So tonight’s the night? You’re going to tell the brothers?”

I took a deep breath then blew it out. “It is. I asked them if we could have dinner to celebrate graduation. At your house. Sorry.”

She snickered. “I know. That’s why I figured it’s tonight. But Brooks is cooking, anyway. You’re just lucky it’s a game day. Saturdays usually aren’t.”

“I know. I figured it was a sign and tomorrow’s Mother’s Day, so we’re supposed to have dinner with the parents tomorrow night.” Then I realized the day would be for Harlowe as well. “It’s your first Mother’s Day as a mom!”

She gave me a shy smile. “It is, but Brooks has a game and we’re going to your parents’ house for dinner.” She shook her head quickly. “And I’m not sure how comfortable I am with being the center of attention.”

I snorted and threaded my arm through hers so we could start walking toward the building. “When it comes to Brooks, I would think that you’re very comfortable being the center of his attention.”

Her eyes widened as she quickly glanced back at my parents, who were following us. “Your parents are right there.”

“I think they know you two have sex,” I whispered as I ran my hand over the back of Kelsie’s head.

“Doesn’t mean I want them to hear about it,” she mumbled, making me giggle until I had to let her go her own way to her seat.

While I wanted to stay with her, I needed to be in the back to line up.

Some of the classmates I’d known since I’d gotten here and I chattered excitedly about being done with school. I told them about the job with the Knights and surprisingly not one of them said anything about how lucky I was that my mom owned the team or that it must have been nice to have an in. If they thought it, they didn’t say it. Though these were the people who would most understand just how hard I worked in college.

I deserved this opportunity, even if nepotism was hard for me to come to terms with.

The ceremony was long and hot. I hoped Kelsie wasn’t uncomfortable.

Then finally, finally, they announced the individual colleges. We stood, moved our tassels, then sat back down. No crossing the stage because it was just too many people. That was what the individual department receptions were for. Individual recognition. I didn’t need that. I just needed my diploma, which we’d get in the mail, anyway.

Commencement was actually for my parents, given that I was the only one of their kids to finish college. The guys all had gone, but it had been to play baseball. They’d been adequate students and would’ve finished, but the drafts had been the ends of their college careers.

Afterward, Mom and Dad gave me another hug then got caught up talking to some people they knew. That meant Harlowe and I were free to leave.

“No post-graduation meal with the parents?” she asked. “I’m really proud of you, Camden.” She nudged me with her hip.

“Thanks. And no. Since I’m having the thing with you guys later, I just want to go home and change. I can come help make food while we have the game on,” I told her. Commencements had started at ten and finished around 12:30. We had plenty of time to get to her house to watch. Hell, we had plenty of time to get to the game if she wanted to.

“I told you Brooks is cooking. Your other brothers are doing the sides. It’s a dinner for you. You’re not making it.”

A silly grin appeared on my face. Even I could feel it was silly. “Aww. My brothers love me.”

She rolled her eyes. “You already knew that. ”

“So do you want to go to the game instead?” I asked because just going home and doing nothing wasn’t appealing.

“We could do that. Do you want to change first?”

“Absolutely. I’m not going to a baseball game like this.”

So we had a plan. I’d hurry home to change then meet her at the park. I rushed over to my parents, interrupting the conversation, to ask them to get the tickets to the will call box so I could have them. Mom pulled her phone out and started tapping away, so I knew it’d be taken care of.

I loved that Harlowe was going to games again even if it wouldn’t be all of them. Hell, I didn’t go to all of them but I’d gone to less already this year than I normally did.

All to avoid Jenner.

Now, I didn’t want to avoid him anymore.