More Than A Secret (More Than Best Friends Book 3)

by Sally Henson

His pleading words make me want to do whatever he asks.

  15

  REGAN

  Cam waits at my locker while I dig out my notebook for math.

  “So, you and Haylee hung out over break?” I try to keep it as nonchalant as possible.

  Cam looks up to the ceiling and groans. “It was no big deal.”

  We shuffle through the students in the hall and make our way into class.

  I sit sideways in my seat and lean toward him. “Are you guys back together?”

  “No. The rules were a good idea after all.” He points his finger at me. “Including you and Lane.”

  My face pinches. I keep my voice hushed and ask, “Didn’t you like, um, kiss her?”

  He looks at me, stone-faced. “No.”

  The bell rings. I swivel in my seat to face the front but frown at Cam the whole time. One of them isn’t telling the truth.

  Mr. Stein hands our exams back. “All right, people. Pair up and correct your exam for extra credit. Remember, we build on each problem. If you don’t know how to do it, you won’t understand what we will tackle next. So I suggest you use this time wisely. Turn your papers in to me when the bell rings.”

  I don’t want to give Cameron a chance to partner with anyone else and scoot my desk next to his.

  He holds his paper in front of my face. “I don’t need help. Thanks anyway.”

  “A hundred-fifteen? You got everything right?”

  “Pssh.” Cam waves his hand. “I told you I aced it.”

  “Good,” I say, looking over the red marks on my test. “You can help me and tell me what’s going on with you and Haylee.”

  “You never asked about us before. Why do you want to stick your nose in it now?”

  I open my notebook and write down the first problem. “It’s just, she brought it up today, and you had told me it was over. And then Joey was talking to her, so…”

  He shrugs. “So what? If she wants to go out with Joey, fine. He’s a good guy. I approve. Is that what you want to hear?”

  I drop it and focus on the corrections that need to be made. There were a few weeks I zoned out and missed whatever Mr. Stein covered. Cam’s good at explaining it.

  Halfway through the last problem, he says, “She kissed me. She said it was just for funsies, you know?”

  I peek up from my paper with my brows raised.

  He chuckles. “I guess you wouldn’t know about kissing anyone other than Lane.” He shoves his hand through his dark hair. It’s finally long enough to cover his fingers. “I’m a guy. I like to kiss girls. It’s fun. But she’s the one who asked me over for a movie. She’s the one who put the moves on me. I made it clear I didn’t want to be more than friends.”

  The bell rings.

  He’s right. I don’t get kissing for funsies or whatever. I slide out of my desk and pull it back into the row. We grab our stuff and head to Mr. Stein’s desk to hand in our corrections.

  “I’ll prove it.” He pushes by me and stops at the door, gazing down the hallway. Looking back to me, he says, “Come on.”

  Cam’s on a mission, and I’m a little worried about what his plan of action is.

  “Joey,” he calls out.

  Joey stops and nods. “What’s up?”

  Cam grips my wrist and tugs me through the crowd. We stop and Cam asks, “Christmas good?”

  Joey nods, glances down the hall, to me, and then back to Cam. “Yeah. Yours?”

  “Yeah, it was good. You and Haylee talking?”

  Joey takes a step back. “Oh, uh, I don’t know. I mean, I don’t have to talk to her or anything.”

  “No, it’s cool. Eat with us at lunch.”

  “Oh. Sure.”

  “It’s settled.” Cam steps toward our lockers, and I follow him. He calls over his shoulder, “Talk to you at lunch.”

  We stop at my locker. “See? I’m a good guy.”

  I take a step closer so no one can hear me. “Hope she likes him.”

  Cam takes a step back and spreads his arms out wide. “That, I can’t do anything about.”

  Cam is a good guy. I wish he and Haylee didn’t have to go through this. I shake my head and turn back to my locker to swap my stuff for the next class. Before I go, I read, for the millionth time, the message Lane sent this morning.

  Lane: Good morning, sunshine. ILY

  “Why are you sighing?” Tobi asks.

  I didn’t know I was. I shove the phone back in my bag before she can see the screen and slam the door shut. “I was just yawning.”

  Tobi tilts her head, planting a hand on her hip. “That, my friend, was a lovesick sigh.” She knows I’m keeping a secret and tried to get it out of me yesterday. “Fine. You’ll tell me eventually.” She waves her hand as if she’s tabling the subject for now, and we head to our next class.

  Seriously, I’ve been on the verge of spontaneous combustion since Lane said those three little words to me. I’m still taking it all in though, and I want to soak in my secret a bit longer.

  16

  LANE

  “You come here every Friday?” Cam asks. His eyes are glued to the deliciousness on his tray.

  It may be two in the morning, but it’s just past rush hour for this eating joint. “Yeah. I’m always starving. Like now.” I take a bite of my food. “Usually Ross comes with me, but I think someone caught his eye while we were playing tonight.”

  “A lot of refried beans in here,” he says. He takes another bite of the burrito as big as his head, grinning so wide, he can barely keep his mouth closed. “I’m just sayin’.”

  The Burrito Factory is definitely an experience no one should miss, but it has its consequences. “You know the rules. No one farts in my truck but me,” I say with a laugh, but I’m totally serious.”

  “What about your dorm?” He wriggles his eyebrows up and down.

  I chuckle. “As long as you’re in Ross’ room with the door shut, I don’t care.”

  A group of girls come in. Half go to the counter to order and half walk by our table to the bathrooms. I wish Regan could have come up too. Her dad was ready to say yes, but her mom held out with a no.

  Cam watches their rear view as they walk by. “Man, I can’t believe I will miss out on college life. I have to come up again. You were right about sloppy though.” He gets a sour look on his face.

  It makes me chuckle. I warned him all he’d find at Ted’s were drunk girls.

  “She was a major disappointment. All I wanted was a little time with older chicks, ya know. It would be nice to kiss a girl without her thinking we’re engaged.” His hand swipes across his mouth.

  I give him an “I told you so” look, laughing more.

  “When I turn eighteen, we’re going to some parties. Got it? And I’ll be up when it’s not planting or harvest season.”

  “A year-and-a-half and we’ll see each other all the time. I’ll be the stud junior and you and the girls will be lowly freshmen. Like old times.” I smirk and finish my food in one giant bite.

  Cam takes a long drink and then leans back against the booth seat, staring at me as if I’m an alien.

  “What?”

  He scoffs. “Highly unlikely Tobi or I will go to college, dufus. We’ve only been talking about it since summer.” He pushes his tray aside and leans his forearms on the table. “And now Regan even thinks she won’t be going either. Or are you oblivious to that too?”

  I shake my head. “You guys’ll be here. It’s not that far from home.”

  Cam breaks eye contact, huffing a breath out his nose. The group of girls walk back through. Even though several are throwing us talk-to-me smiles, Cam doesn’t notice. He slides out of the booth and heads toward the bathroom.

  I gather all the trash and toss it while he’s gone.

  Cam doesn’t have much to say on the short drive to the dorm or on the elevator up to my floor. It’s too late for anyone to have their doors open or music up. The RA’s strict about noise level after midnight.
r />   “Looks like a hospital.”

  I glance around at the white walls, floors, and ceilings of the hallway.

  “At least it doesn’t smell like one.” I unlock the door to my room and head in. The adrenaline from the show is wearing off, making this guitar feel about twenty pounds heavier.

  Cam follows me inside, closing the door on his way. As I lay the guitar on my bed, he props his shoulder against my door frame and says, “You don’t want Regan going to college in Florida.”

  Was that a question or an accusation? I close my eyes for a long beat. I just want to crash on my bed. “Her dad doesn’t want her going to college in Florida. That’s why she was grounded, remember?”

  “She thinks she has no future but the factory. You know she doesn’t belong there.”

  The muscles in my lower back tighten, and I run my hand through my hair for a distraction. This isn’t my favorite subject. Especially with Cam, who obviously was her go-between with Hook and Florida. “She’s going to college. Things are complicated with her parents, that’s all.”

  “Regan belongs at a school like Eckerd. They’ve sent her enrollment and scholarship information. They even invited her to a summer-long marine science program. Why aren’t you helping her find a way to go?”

  That’s all I need, Cam sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong…even more so than it already is. I fold my arms tight across my chest, standing tall. “If she doesn’t want to go, I’m not pushing her to do it. Besides, her parents would never go for it.”

  Cam takes up my same guarded position. “You think her dad would say no after she is accepted to a top level, exclusive, by invitation only thing like this? I thought he was into intelligence and all that.”

  I hold back a growl. “She’s not going. Just drop it, Cam.”

  He narrows his eyes for a moment, scrutinizing me like my psychology professor does. I don’t like it when she does it either.

  “You know, ever since her brother left, you two have been different.”

  I raise my eyebrows in question. Did Regan say what happened that night?

  He tilts his head. “The PDA can be a little too much, and that’s not Regan. It’s like she flipped a switch or something.”

  I shake my head, acting like Cam doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The truth is, the PDA is sometimes on display. And yeah, she flipped a switch the night I told her I loved her. So what?

  I pull my wallet and phone from my pockets —“Whatever”— and toss them on my dresser.

  He tips his chin up, scrutinizing me. “You want her here at Eastern. With you.”

  There are several reasons I don’t want Regan to go to Florida. And none of them are Cam’s business. I stretch my arms out wide. “Why wouldn’t I want her to be here with me?” I drop my arms to my sides. “It’s her choice. And she has plenty of time to make it.”

  “It just seems to me you’d want Regan to go.” He cocks his head to the side. “That’s all. She’s wanted this for so long, and now that she has a chance to do something about it, you stand by and watch it slip through her fingers?”

  I rifle through my drawers and grab a pair of boxers and sweatpants. It’s been a long night, and if he doesn’t stop thinking he knows Regan like I do...I might end up decking him. “You don’t know her dad. And you need to stop bringing up what she can’t have.”

  The muscles in his jaw flex. I cross the room and grab my shower stuff hanging behind my door before I meet his eyes again.

  “You’re not her boyfriend, Cam. So leave it alone.” He probably wishes she was his, and that thought has my fingers twitching, begging to curl into a fist and back him off. He doesn’t even know the whole picture. I scrub a hand down my face instead of punching him. “I’m hittin’ the shower.”

  He takes a step back from my doorway, and I slip past him and into the tiny bathroom Ross and I share in our suite. According to Cam, I can’t seem to get much right when it comes to Regan. He would never have agreed to do what Mr. Stone pressured me into. And that’s why I can’t tell Cameron what’s going on. That, and I’m certain he’d like to make her his girlfriend.

  I flip on the shower and tear my clothes off, pitching them like a fastball on the floor, and step under the hot water.

  If I even suggested to Mr. Stone Regan should go to this camp, he’d cut me off from Regan. I know he would.

  Cam may think he cares about her, but I love her, and she loves me.

  17

  REGAN

  I wish I had my own car. Then I could hang out with the gang whenever I wanted. Maybe even drive to Charleston when there’s a school holiday. And especially not have to ride this bus to and from school.

  We finally reach the top of Signal Hill. It’s the point on the ride to school where my phone gets a signal.

  It vibrates in my hands as new messages pop up. I tap the button and see Alpha Flames Cary and my brother’s name. It still makes me smile every time I see how Lane typed his name in my phone. I sigh. That was a great night. I clutch my phone to my chest and sigh again.

  The way he kisses me sometimes…it makes my stomach flip thinking about it. Goosebumps pelt my skin, in a good way, when he touches me. I think I want more of that. Be closer with him. Though I’m not sure what to say or do about it.

  I look at my screen and tap on Lane’s name first. It’s from Saturday night.

  Lane: Hope you had fun at Tobi’s.

  I almost always stay at Tobi’s on Friday night. But this time was different. Tobi, Cam, and I wanted to go watch Lane play. I still can’t believe Lane asked my parents if I could go. Since I couldn’t go, Tobi stayed too. Cam set up a live stream of the band for us to watch. Until Cam’s phone died. The band really was good. Lane, however, was great.

  He sent me another message Sunday afternoon.

  Lane: Cam’s gone. Homework done. Going to sleep. ILY

  I love him too. So much.

  Lane: Morning, sunshine.

  He sent this today. Along with a photo of him with his lips puckered. I giggle and pull the phone to my chest. I love this boy.

  I pull it back and read the rest of his message.

  Lane: Miss you so much. Send me your kissy face.

  I sit up and look around at the other students on the bus. There are too many eyes to take a kissy face picture. Wish I could drive up there and give it to him in person.

  Me: I’ll send you a photo after I get off the bus. Or, I could ditch school, steal Tobi’s car, and drive up to see you.

  If anyone would have told me last summer, I would be willing to ditch school and talk my friend into driving her car to see my college boyfriend, I’d say they were crazy. I’d do almost anything to be closer to him.

  It doesn’t look like Lane’s able to reply right now. I tap over to Lincoln’s messages and read them before I get to school.

  Linc: Hey, sis. Did you get the application to camp submitted it yet?

  Linc: How are things at home?

  Linc: I know you don’t get a signal at the house. Reply when you get the chance.

  I groan and look out the window at the blur of gray tree trunks and bare limbs. If I tell him I don’t want to go to camp, he won’t believe me. And he’ll pull the “you promised” card. I only promised to apply because I didn’t want to disappoint him. But, I told Lane I’d stay so we could have the summer together.

  It doesn’t matter if I apply or not because:

  a.) I’ll never get in.

  b.) I can’t afford it.

  c.) Dad would never let me go.

  So what’s the point?

  My phone vibrates with more messages.

  Cam: Let me know when the bus gets to school.

  Lane: Don’t forget! I miss your lips.

  Lane: I’m walking into class. ILY

  I reply to Lane first.

  Me: I won’t forget. ILY

  The bus turns and bounces down to the stop at the high school.

  I send Cam a quick message.<
br />
  Me: I’m here.

  Students stand while the breaks screech to a stop. I shuffle down the aisle and out of the bus.

  Cam’s waiting for me by the double doors inside the building. His unzipped Carhart coat reveals a black and blue Eastern Panthers shirt. He wiggles his eyebrows up and down as I stop next to him, giggling at his eyebrow gesture. Even though I missed Lane like crazy over the weekend, I’m glad he and Cam hung out. They don’t do that much since Lane went to college.

  “So, how much fun did you have?”

  “Ted’s was awesome. We could’ve gone to so many parties, but—” he raises his palms in defense— “we didn’t.”

  I shake my head. “The live stream video was nice. Thanks for doing that.”

  “No problem.” He reaches behind him and pulls out an envelope. “This is an application to a summer program at Eckerd.”

  I hear the words Eckerd and a have déja vu moment. The muscles in my jaw tighten. Cam and I have been down this road before. How many times do I have to repeat myself?

  I walk toward the bathroom. Cam keeps step beside me.

  “Aren’t you even going to take it?” he asks.

  There’s a trash can outside the restroom a few feet ahead of us. “Sure. I’ll take it.” I snatch the envelope from his fingers and deposit it in the garbage as I walk into the girls' bathroom, saying, “I told you to trash anything else you got in the mail.”

  “You’re being stupid,” he calls through the open doorway.

  Whatever. I asked him nicely to throw anything from Eckerd away. It’s not going to happen. Spending my time wishing it would doesn’t help.

  I check under the stalls and see feet in the second one.

  My reflection is not exactly picture ready. This is one of the few times I wish I’d put on at least a little makeup. I comb my fingers through my messy mop. The static electricity in my hair worsens, causing strands to stick out on the sides.