AMELIA

"I was so excited to see you for Thanksgiving," Carl sadly says through the receiver.

"I know. I miss you too," I reply. I wish I made it home but I couldn't leave Cam behind.

"You're not skipping the holidays, are you?" he asks, concern evident in his tone.

"No, Carl. There's no way I'm staying here for the holidays."

Since there won't be anyone at school during that season, I'll have to come clean to my family about Jake. Plus, I fully intend to ask Cam to come with me to New Jersey to formally introduce him to my family. After all, I have a surprise for him there too.

"Cool, because your mom was really concerned when Jake came to visit without you and said you had to stay back for a project," Carl says, and I stiffen, a surge of anger, terror, hatred, and every other emotion pouring over me.

"He what?" I grumble, my breathing getting labored.

"Actually, I didn't know he had the nerve to come here without you, but I guess the man is really taking this in-law thing seriously," Carl jokes playfully, but I can't muster the energy to match his lightheartedness; my mind is veering into disturbing territory as I ponder my options regarding how to handle Jake's situation.

Taking a deep breath, I manage a calm reply to Carl, so as not to give away, "Okay, uhm... I've got to go. But we'll talk soon."

"Okay, I love you," he says, and I respond with the same, ending the call promptly to dial Jake's number. Despite having deleted his contact and severed all ties after what happened, I still have his damn phone number memorized. I don't like it, but I can't simply erase it from my brain. So, with a reluctant tap, I wait for him to pick up.

Cam and I have opted to dine out for Thanksgiving instead of cooking. I'm dressed elegantly in a black dress paired with a fur coat that Cam bought for me, along with the entire outfit. Before heading to dinner, Cam needed to stop at a park to pass a bag containing half of the payment to a man he said was helping him secure his mother's release. So, here I am, waiting patiently for him in the car at the parking lot of the park so we can enjoy a lovely evening together.

The call is accepted, and Jake immediately speaks, "Amy?"

Hearing his voice used to be everything to me, but now it only pierces my heart with discomfort.

Swallowing and reminding myself that this call isn't going to last forever, I gather the courage to speak, "What the hell sent you to my mom's?"

"Happy Thanksgiving to you too," he laughs, trying to come off cordial, but he sounds evidently nervous.

"I don't want any of your formalities. I want you to stay away from my life. I'm warning you," I rage.

A quiet passes between us, and I just hope he gets what I'm saying.

"I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I was passing by and thought to stop and say hi."

He thinks this is normal? What does he take me for? The level of disrespect is too much. He slapped me in the face with his mistress, and now he's making a fool of my family.

"Do not go to my family, Jake," I growl into the receiver, my heart turning into a vortex of fury wanting to explode.

"Amy, no matter what, you and I are family. We grew up together."

Yeah, I remember that clearly-I remember he labeled me as the aunt of his unborn child.

"You don't know me anymore. It's over. We owe each other nothing. Stay in your lane," I spit.

He hesitates, then proceeds to dare ask, "Why didn't you tell your family we are over?"

He has to be kidding me!

"Do not for a second deceive yourself that there's anything left, and do not worry; soon my mother will be knocking on your parents' door." She had always wanted to do that; I was the one stopping her. I guess she will have a better reason now.

Jake's voice breaks as he says, "Amy, I hope you know I am sorry."

The driver's door opens unexpectedly. I was so carried away that I didn't notice Cam approaching until he came in.

Just great!

"Who is that?" Cam asks quietly as he closes the door.

"Is someone there with you?" Jake asks too, and I wonder what makes him think he has the privilege to know what I do with my life.

"Goodbye, Jake," I tell him bluntly, ending the call there once he's heard what he needs to know.

Knowing Cam must be fuming now that he knows who I was talking to, I mentally slap myself before turning to meet his gaze.

"You were talking to Jake?" he seethes, just as I predicted.

I exhale, trying to figure out where to start.

"You could be honest," my subconscious mind advises, and I guess she's right.

"He went to my family's house for Thanksgiving. He's holding onto the narrative that he and I are still together," I softly tell him, hoping he'll understand why I had to.

Cam scoffs, running his fingers through his hair and staring straight ahead through the windshield.

"I mean, he's not the only one hesitating," he mocks.

"Okay!" I huff, feeling frustrated. "Cameron, please stop. I'm telling you I'm angry. You don't see me laughing and chatting with him. I want him out of my life, just like you do."

"Okay," he grumbles, starting to drive, his tone far from agreeable.

We had this conversation a few weeks ago. I promised him I would eventually confess to my family, as it's the only thing holding me back from telling them about us. I stayed here for Thanksgiving because I wanted to be with him; he's all I want. He means the world to me. Why can't he see that?

"I will tell them about us. I just need more time," I breathe, and as the headlights hit his face, he nods with a furrowed brow and downturned lips.

"Umm hmm," he says, sounding sarcastic.

"Stupid Jake!" I mutter.

"Cameron, look at me," I urge, squeezing his arm, and he shoots me a sidelong gaze.

"What?" he snaps.

"I really would, I promise," I pout, feeling sadness overwhelming me.

It's just so hard to admit to Mom and Carl they were right about Jake. They've always cautioned me about him, and I had always thought them to be overly judgmental and frustrating. And now all they will say is if only I had listened to them. And this prospect of theirs would've led me to go to some other school that's not the University of Portland, and how would I have met Cam?

No, I will gladly deal with what went downhill rather than change a thing, no matter how it hurts, because this painful pathway led me to Cameron.

Noticing my despair, he smiles forgivingly and laces our hands together.

"I will wait, Princess," he assures, eliciting a smile from me.

Yes, weeks had passed. I won't say it is easy, because none of these times are. There aren't exactly insulting headlines, nor are Harper, Erica, or Deeja in my way, given Cam, Garrett, or Layton consistently go to class with me, even though I tell them not to. But I can feel the people's judgment about me leaving Jake for Cam everywhere I go. I only have Isaac and Malia, and most importantly, Cam, who somehow no one is mad at.