Beautifully Destroyed(59)

“Are you coming, Fate?” she asks, but I see Cameron looking at the cab he just waved down. Something in his eyes tells me he wants to be alone with me and I feel that need too.

“I’m going to go with Cameron. You get settled in the hotel, then come to our place.” She hesitates before getting into her rental. I know she wants to argue, but I’m happy she lets it go. I can’t really handle anything else right now. Getting into the cab with Cameron, I feel like everything around us is about to change.

Walking into our apartment, it’s as if these last few days haven’t happened. Just another nightmare I woke up from, but I know it’s not because I could not have dreamed what happened last night with Cameron. “Fate, I’m sorry I ruined our night.”

“What are you talking about? I should be the one apologizing. You got arrested because of me.”

“I wanted it to be perfect and now I wish it never happened this way because it’s just turned to shit.”

“Don’t say that,” I cry out to him, and he winces in pain. “When I walked in here all I was thinking about was that these last few days have been like my nightmares, but you know how I know I wasn’t in one of them?” He just stares at me not saying anything. “Because of what happened between us. So please don’t try and take it back because it’s the only good I have to hold on to right now.” I pray he doesn’t continue with his regretful thoughts because each one is like a new pain in my chest.

“Fate, I want to take it back for you. So the first time isn’t surrounded by this fucking sadness. Not the actual event because damn, babe, I could never forget being with you. You’ve ruined me for the world. I was all about Fate before that happened and now I know every inch of you. Every inch of you that now belongs to only me.” His words make me squirm under his gaze and I feel everything in my body ignite.

“I do,” I whisper, and he cocks his head to the side in response. “I belong to you, every piece of me belongs to you, Cameron.”

“Fuck,” he says in a heavy breath as he brings his hand around my back, pulling me to him. His lips push against mine and I open up, letting him in. His hands find their way under the hem of my shirt, causing a trail of warmth as his hands slide across my skin. Quickly, he pulls away, and I groan in frustration. “Fate, I want to, trust me. I need this as badly as you do, but they will be here soon and I have to figure out all this shit before they get here with questions.”

Just like that, everything comes rushing back. All the pain and problems I’ve caused Cameron by having him in my life. The dread that overtakes my body causes my hands to shake as I say the words that crush me. “Maybe we shouldn’t do that again.” Cameron gasps as I pull away from him, walking into the living room.

“What the hell do you mean by that, Fate?” Cameron is pulling his hand through his hair and I see all the pain in his eyes only telling me how bad this really is.

“Us, all this crap that surrounds it. All it is doing is messing up your life. You were arrested only a few hours ago. What if they hadn’t dropped the charges, Cameron?” My heart hurts just at the thought of that. “I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you and it was all my fault. My life put yours in jeopardy and I can’t have that.”

“Fate,” he pleads, trying to get me to come back to him.

“You don’t need this in your life, Cameron.” My words remain firm and I do not go to him.

“This shit means nothing to me. I don’t care about it. I’d do it all over again because that is what you do when you love someone.” Trying to get a handle on my tears, I want to try and finally let the world in. Standing there in Cameron’s arms, I feel safe again, like nothing can penetrate us here in our safe bubble. It’s over. The charges are dropped and my father is back where he belongs.

There is a knock at the door, then Scott, Cecilia, and Clarissa come walking in. “Cameron, we have a problem,” Scott says and the look on his face is full of dread. Looking at me, he can barely keep eye contact. I watch as he hands Cameron his phone and nothing could prepare me for what is on the screen.

There are pictures of the fighting with my father, Cameron being released, and finally him and me walking out of the police station together. Scrolling through the words, I see that they have my father’s name. My body freezes as I see the words sexual offender, but I feel as if I am going to faint when I see that last line. ‘What else has Fate been hiding?’





Chapter Thirty