♛Cameron Dawson♛

I lift the glass up to my lips and take a sip, my eyebrows drawing together.

I am still worked up about my last session with Harley. Why couldn't we just get on like normal human beings? Why did she have to be so fucking stubborn and snarky? I just don't get it. Maybe I was too tough on her, but was I really? I just believe that she's capable of so much more because she's actually pretty good at racing. Is it so bad that I believe in her? That I want to push her to her limits? I wasn't doing it to be a dick, I was doing it because I want her to realise her potential instead of doubting herself. I'm about to delve deeper into my thoughts when I feel a bar stool move beside me before a figure sits down on it. I turn my head to see Emery. He beckons the bartender over and orders himself a glass of Scotch before turning to me.

"Cameron." He greets with a nod "What's got your mind so preoccupied?" He asks and I frown as he takes his glass from the bartender.

"Nothing. I'm just tired." I attempt to lie before he clicks his tongue.

"You're a very good liar, boy. But this time I'm not too convinced."
I look down with a sigh and he turns himself so that he's facing me. "So?"

I let out a breath, "There's this girl-"

"Ah? A girl? I was not expecting that." He cuts me off with a small chuckle and I shake my head.

"I'm not talking about a girl in the way you're thinking." I clarify and his eyebrows draw together.

"Then what about this girl?" He asks, forehead wrinkling.

"I've agreed to teach her a few things when it comes to racing but she's just so frustrating, Emery. She drives me up the fucking wall." I grumble out and he takes a sip of his drink before licking his lips.

"Do you like her?" He asks me and I frown. "Not in a romantic way, Cameron. In a friendly way?" Emery clarifies and I purse my lips at his question.

"I guess."

"Then give her a shot. You're a closed off person but how about you let someone in for a change?" He asks. I let out a sigh.

I can't let people in. All they do is get hurt- that being the exact reason I stick to myself. I've hurt enough people to make up for a lifetime. Emery pats my shoulder, downing his glass in the process. "I'll see you later." He bids his goodbyes before leaving the bar and me drowning in a million and one thoughts.

I can't risk dragging Harley into the mess I call my life. It wouldn't be fair which is why I'll continue to keep my distance from her. However, I can definitely ease up on how harsh I am on her although that might be a little bit difficult for me. I run a hand through my hair and lift the glass up to my lips before taking another sip.

If there is one person who can make me second guess myself and my decisions, it is Harley.

And I'm not too sure I'm happy about that.

****

It is strange watching families eat and laugh obnoxiously loud while being in public at a restaurant. I can't wrap my head around why the mother laughed when her baby messed mash all around his mouth nor why the father clapped proudly at his small daughter's drawing while saying it was "beautiful" when it wasn't really. It doesn't make sense to me- why the parents found joy from the children in things as small as that. If I wanted a smile on my father's face, I would've had to do legitimate work. Like get the packages to their rightful owners on time, with the exact amount they wanted. I would've had to go to fancy dinners, balls and formals to deliver the items to the posh and rich who were wasting their endless amounts of money on shit. Only then- when I brought back money- would my father smile, pat me on the back and say: "Estoy orgulloso de ti, mi hijo. Dejaré nuestro negocio familiar en buenas manos."

I would feel a sense of relief and pride that I made my father happy- it took a lot to do that- before I would leave the office in his extravagant building to go race the tracks with Carla bopping beside me. She would then jump on my back with a squeal and I would laugh as I walked to my car, my smile never dropping as she giggled in my ear.

Yet here I am- all alone in America with nothing but my memories of what Colombia was like to help me remember the somewhat decent times before life decided to be a fucking bitch and piss in my face. And I mean full-on piss on me while laughing hysterically at my misfortune.

"Infierno sangriento." I mutter to myself, standing up to leave the restaurant and head home. Since Harley has decided to go home for the next two days, I won't be teaching her and despite that being valuable time we're missing out on, I'm actually grateful for it because I need to get my mind straight before my next lesson with Harley.

I'm close to the exit of the restaurant when the door is pushed open. I'm about to scowl at the person who nearly knocked me when familiar hazel eyes stare back at me and I find myself pursing my lips. Speak of the devil.

"Cameron?" Harley asks and my eyes trail to the little girl who holds her hands. She has dark brown eyes and black hair and I assume she's Harley's sister. My eyes meet Harley's again.

"What're you doing here?" I ask Harley and she moves out of the way so that one of the customers can enter the café.

"I came to get Mia some waffles." She responds and I look back at the little girl. She smiles up at me confidently, her features soft.

"Hello Mia." I greet the little girl. "Are you Harley's little sister?" I ask and she nods vigorously.

"Yep."

I smile at her before looking back up at Harley. "I'll see you tomorrow." I say, about to walk around her when she grips my arm, holding me back. I glance back at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to stay and have waffles with us?" She asks and I purse my lips, the offer tempting. But it's not like there's anything really holding me back, now is there?

"Alright." I say and Harley smiles, leading us to a booth away from the loud people. I take a seat opposite Harley and her little sister.

"Who are you?" Her sister asks me confidently and my lips twitch into a smile.

Harley clears her throat. "He's just a friend of mine, Mia." Harley responds unsurely and I glance at her.

"From college?" Mia asks. Harley purses her lips.

"Yeah. Something like that."

"Okay." Mia says and I take the time to observe her features. She has a much rounder nose compared to Harley's pointy one and her pouty lips are larger than Harley's too. They don't look very related, to be quite frank.

When the waitress arrives, she casts us a polite smile, her dimples making an appearance. "What can I get you guys to eat today?" She asks.

"We'll have a large stack of waffles, a vanilla milkshake as well as a strawberry one, please." Harley smiles before looking at me expectantly.

"And a cup of camomile tea." I add and the waitress scribbles everything down.

"I'll be back with your order soon." She informs us before stalking off. Harley turns back to me with an amused look on her face.

"What?" I ask and she shrugs, leaning her head on one of her palms.

"Don't you get tired of drinking tea? I mean- it's not even cold." She comments and I let out a breath of a laugh.

"I enjoy tea in all weather." I say and she snorts.

"No kidding. You drink it all the time."

"I didn't know you paid so much attention to me." I tease and Harley looks at me strangely from beneath her lashes, her eyes holding confusion.

"Harley?" Mia interrupts us.

"Yeah?" Harley asks, looking down at her sister in pure adoration.

"Does this look nice?" She asks, gesturing to the picture that was left on the table and she is now colouring in. Harley chuckles.

"Of course it does."

Mia looks back up at her with a wide smile, the love for her sister evident, and it makes a small smile grace my lips because it's a beautiful thing to see- the bond between sisters. Mia then turns to me and holds up her picture.

"What do you think Mister?"

I almost laugh at her name for me. I gaze at the coloured in picture, it slightly messy but cute nonetheless.

"I think you should become an artist." I comment and she smiles happily at me, content with my response. When she's back to concentrating on her work, I look back at Harley to see her already watching me.

"I thought you went home." I start, genuinely confused as to why she's back this side of town if she went to visit her parents.

"I did."

"Then what're you doing this side?" I ask.

"My mom only lives forty five minutes away. That's why I offered to still come for lessons."

I shake my head at her. "So you drove for nearly an hour just to get waffles here?" I ask, somewhat amused. Harley nods.

"Pretty much."

"Can't you get waffles closer to home?"

"Wait until you've tasted Uncle Rick's waffles. They're amazing, Mister." Mia pitches in and I raise an eyebrow at Harley, just as the steaming stack of waffles is pushed onto the table while our drinks are, too. The heavenly smell of the waffles waft up my nose and I grab a fork and knife before grabbing a small plate.

"Yummy!" Mia exclaims as Harley gives her a waffle. Harley chuckles before dishing two up for herself and I go next, grabbing another two. I cut into the freshly baked dough and lift a piece up to my mouth before chewing on the goodness. Harley watches me from the corner of her eye.

"So what do you think? They taste good right?" She asks and I nod, taking a sip of my tea.

"You have good taste." I respond and she lets out a snort.

"Are you just saying that because I like your waffles?" She asks in amusement and I shrug.

"Perhaps."

She lets out a giggle and I find myself staring at her softly.

"Did your mom teach you to bake like that?" She asks and all too suddenly I've sobered up, my face hardening considerably while I sit up straighter. This is the exact reason that I don't socialise with people like Harley- with good people- because I cannot even shed an ounce of honesty. I would have to leave America if I did. And maybe Harley would never make me do that if she knew the truth but I can't take the chance. I came here to start fresh and I refuse to let past mistakes crawl out of the closet and affect my life again.

I can't tell Harley that my mother didn't give a shit about teaching me how to bake or cook or look after myself. She probably didn't even know how to do it herself. She was living lavishly while everyone slaved around her and my father- me included. All she cared about was whether I was doing as told and holding our family name as high up as it deserved. They never even gave a shit that I was racing.

So no, my mother didn't teach me how to bake. My best friend did because she was the only one who genuinely had a heart back in Colombia. She was the only who actually cared about me and I had to go and destroy that.

I purse my lips. "No, it was actually my best friend."

"Oh, Caleb?" She asks and I'm about to lie and say yes when my phone rings in my pocket. I fish it out and press it to my ear.

"Hello?" I say before Mason returns the gesture.

"My man! Where you at?"

I look up at Harley and she averts her gaze, acting as if she isn't listening to my conversation.

"I'm just having breakfast." I say.

"Wow. Aren't you a sociable little thing?" He mocks and I roll my eyes.

"What do you want, bro?" I ask and I hear shuffling over the line.

"Emery needs to speak to you- he wants you to come over."

My eyebrows pull together at that in worry.

"Is something wrong?" I ask.

"Don't know. You're going to have to come find out."

I purse my lips.

"Alright. I'll be there in a few." I say before cutting the call. When I'm slipping it back into my pocket, Harley speaks up.

"Everything okay?"

I gaze at the girl in front of me and almost laugh out loud. She is so curious. So, so, curious. And it is in some ways intriguing and in other ways just plain dangerous because in this line of business, sometimes knowing too much isn't a good thing. If anything, it's deadly.

"Not sure so I got to head out. Thank you for breakfast." I say, setting my cutlery down neatly. She purses her lips in response.

"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow." She says and I nod before turning to Mia who watches me.

"Bye Mia." I smile and she smiles back.

"Bye Mister."

I get up from my chair and pull my car keys for the Audi out of my pockets before strolling out of the café. However, I feel confusion wash over me as I take my seat in the car. Whenever someone asked me something relating to my past, I could always lie smoothly and effortlessly without a second thought. But for some odd, and infuriating one at that, reason I can't do it with Harley.

It's almost as if I want to tell her.

I shake my head to myself.

Somebody will have to put a gun to my head before I do that.

•••

Surprise! Here's an out-of-the-blue double update! So don't forget to check out chapter twelve as well :)
You guys got a little more background knowledge on Cameron in this chapter- what do you think? And what do you think of him having waffles with Harley and Mia?
Let me know!

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