I know he fears that and that the rest of the town will be just like her. “She’s the gross one. Not you. Not me.” I need him to know this.

“But she’s the majority.”

I shake my head at him because I can’t believe that. “No, I don’t think she is. LeAnn has your back. And I’ll never let anyone say anything.”

He smiles and squeezes my hand. “You’re good.”

“So are you.” He’s the best person I’ve ever met.

“I just want out of here,” he says, and it cracks my heart in two because I know. I know he does.

And I know I have to let him go.

32. Camden

THIRTY-TWO

CAMDEN

Baseball practice starts today, and while I’m excited, it’s bittersweet. I accepted the scholarship to KU. My mom is excited, but I’m worried about her. She’s never had to manage completely on her own before. I was always there to help out with Lucy and with money. She could rely on me, but now, I don’t know how she’ll survive without me here.

She tells me she’ll be fine. I’m not so sure. She shouldn’t have to do it all on her own. No one should.

Kingston fastens his baseball pants, and I try like hell not to stare at his ass as he turns away from me to talk shit with Oakley. God, his ass is incredible. Firm and protruding from squats and hours of sports practice. I try to pull my eyes from his ass and tug on my own shirt, trying to get ready for practice and not ogle my best friend. Ogling is bad. I ended that part of our relationship because I needed to.

It’s been hell these past two weeks, not touching him. Not kissing those totally kissable lips. Not dropping to my knees and taking him in my mouth just to hear those delicious moans I didn’t savor enough while I had them. Not having him inside me.

Goddammit. I pull on my baseball cap and try not to feel bitter. It was the right call. I know that. Even though he was more worried about me, and that’s why he was so crippled with fear that night—which, when I really thought about it, made the most sense for him—it was still a dangerous game we were playing. We couldn’t not touch each other. It was a recipe for getting caught. It was inevitable really. And I knew it even before Kennedy caught us together. I lived happily in denial then, but I can’t now. Luckily, she’s kept her mouth shut, avoiding us at all cost.

But I cannot risk it. I can’t give her any proof or fuel for her hateful fire if she does decide to run her mouth.