“Have fun, but not too much.” He winks, and it’s such a dad thing to say, it’s kind of fucking weird and cool all at once.

“Thanks, Phillip. Take care of them.”

He gives me a solid nod. “I will.”

I haven’t had too much time to spend with him, but from what I’ve seen, he’s a good dude, and I actually believe him. But even if he doesn’t, I know I need to remember I’m only eighteen, and it’s not my job to take care of them.

I need to keep repeating that every day to convince myself. They all go inside, and I’m left with Kingston. “You better get going. It’s a really long drive.”

I agree, but I don’t move. Neither does he. “I’m going to miss you so damn much.”

He swallows thickly. “I’m going to miss you too. But you have to go.”

I know I do. Shit, I don’t want to. I mean, I do, but not without him. I want to beg him to come with me. But he’s so happy here. He loves his job. He’s talking about getting a house. I can’t do that to him any more than he can ask me to stay, and I know it.

We both know it, so I throw my arms around his neck and pull him into a tight hug I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to end. “Come visit me, okay? Promise?”

He nods, holding onto me. “I promise. I will. First chance I get.”

“Okay. You can stay with me in the dorms. I don’t care. My roommate is cool.”

He nods, and I feel wetness on my shoulder. I know he’s crying, and so am I. Tears fall over my cheeks because he’s my best friend in the world, and I don’t want to let him go.

“I’ll be there, Camden. I promise.”

I pull back, still holding onto his shoulders, and his hands move to my waist. “I still need you in my life. Call too, okay?”

He smiles, brushing his thumb under my eye, wiping away a tear. “I will, but you have to promise me you’ll do everything you ever dreamed of there. You’ll be you and only you. Don’t ever hide who you are.”

Another tear drops from my eye, and I take his hand in mine, kissing his thumb that wiped away my tear. “I promise. And you promise me that you won’t mope. You’ll be happy here, living the life you want.”

His nod is subtle, but he agrees. “Okay. I promise.” He kisses my lips softly, briefly—too damn briefly—and then playfully shoves my chest, releasing me. “Go. You have a long drive ahead of you.”