I had almost forgotten about the plans for dinner, until Cameron reminded me, a nervous expression on his face. I wondered why he was so worried. It was just dinner.

It seemed like months since I'd first met Cameron parents. So much had happened since. Cameron and I had confessed our feelings. We'd had sex for the first time. And second time. And many, many more times after that.

When the evening finally arrived and we walked into the restaurant, I immediately felt self-conscious. Everyone was dressed up in suits or at the very least business casual, along with a handful of cocktail dresses and luxurious evening wear. I wasn't one to splurge when it was technically my brother's money. Even the nicest dress I owned had only cost around thirty dollars.

Cameron wore black skinny jeans with chains hanging from the belt and a tight black t-shirt. His wild, bright red hair stood out in stark contrast to the restrained hairstyles of the other restaurant patrons.

At least he wasn't wearing his usual thick eyeliner.

Cameron's parents waited for us in the foyer. They greeted us with hugs and handshakes, dressed in their perfectly tailored business attire.

The hostess didn't blink an eye at our mismatched group, but it seemed to me everyone stopped in the middle of eating to stare as she led us to a table.

I ducked my head as I hurried to sit, avoiding their gazes. When we were seated I snuck a glance at Cameron, expecting him to feel as out of place as I did.

Instead, his expression was blasé, relaxing into his chair, legs spread out as if he hadn't a care in the world. I supposed someone as self assured as Cameron, a rich and famous rock star, wouldn't care if snooty people looked down on him.

Cameron's parents were perfectly pleasant, despite my initial doubts. His dad wasn't too chatty, but his mom was good at small talk. She peppered me with me questions about school, my art, and my experience in France.

I didn't bring up boarding school. It would only lead to questions about why I'd attended high school somewhere so far away. That was an issue I definitely didn't want to get into with Cameron's parents.

"Nice place," Cameron said after our waitress came to take our drink orders and hand out menus.

Normally I would have thought he was making fun, in his usual obnoxious way, but he sounded genuinely impressed.

"The Masons took us here," Sharon explained. "I fell in love with the salmon. You should try it."

"Sure, sounds great," Cameron said earnestly.

This whole exchange was odd. I side-eyed him.

"Although usually I'm more of a burgers and pizza kind of guy," Cameron quipped.

His parents chuckled politely.

I thought it might have only been me who noticed his relieved grin as they laughed.

The four of us were quiet as we perused the selections. I decided to go with the salmon myself, partly because it did sound good, and partly because I wanted to…

I mused to myself for a moment. What exactly was I trying to do? Make Cameron's mom happy? Make her like me? I didn't know why I cared. I barely knew them.

But there was something about the way Sharon kept throwing pleased, almost ecstatic glances my way. It was disconcerting. I looked to Cameron every once in a while, trying to gauge his mood.

He kept looking between his parents with an almost nervous, wavering smile. Like he was trying hard to keep up the polite conversation. Trying hard to impress them.

"I haven't asked yet," Grant said. "How have things been with you? Music industry treating you well?"

"We're just getting ready to release the new album." Cameron gave his father an eager look. "I think this one's gonna be even bigger than the last. We've been doing so much promo shi—"

He cut himself off as his dad gave him a warning look.

"I mean, we've been doing a lot of promo stuff," he continued weakly.

Grant nodded distantly, as if not really hearing the words. "Good, good. It's important to have a good team behind you."

"You said you had something to talk to me about?" Cameron asked, forcibly changing the conversation.

Sharon cleared her throat and placed both clasped hands on the table.

"As you know, I've been a member of quite a few boards for a few non-profits."

"Right. Save the whales and all that."

"I'm not sure how much attention you've been paying to local politics recently—"

"The answer would be none," he joked.

"I've been approached by some interested parties about running for office," she said matter of factly.

Cameron's brows furrowed. "Like city council or something?"

"No. For mayor."

Cameron's eyes grew wide. "Holy fuck."

"Language," Grant warned.

Cameron slumped back in his seat. "Sorry."

I'd never seen Cameron look so abashed. He never listened to anyone, and he certainly never seemed to care whether his foul-mouth would offend someone.

Cameron was trying so hard to act… well, good. Well behaved and well mannered. I had no idea he even cared about that. Cameron was the type to do whatever he felt like and say fuck it to anyone who complained.

"I guess I should say congratulations, Mom." He still looked taken aback. "This is a pretty big deal."

Sharon looked at her husband. He nodded. She turned to Cameron.

"We need to talk about what this means for us. For our family. For you."

Cameron froze. He slowly glanced between his parents.

"Right." He stretched out in his seat, running a hand through his hair in a fake-casual motion. "I get it." He forced a grin. "Same deal as always?"

"We'll obviously need to work through the details, but I don't think you'll have a problem with business as usual?" His mother seemed oblivious to the strained tone in Cameron's voice.

"It's cool." He gave her a wavering smile. "I know the drill."

"Wonderful," Sharon said blithely.

I was befuddled at the exchange taking place in front of me. There were undercurrents to this conversation that I was clearly not privy to. The corners of Cameron's lip threatened to twitch downward into a frown as he tried to keep the pleasant smile plastered on his face. His parents didn't notice the struggle.

I was contemplating what to say when the waitress arrived with our food.

"Congratulations," I told Sharon as we made small talk over the food. "This must be very exciting for you."

She flashed me a bright smile. "It is exciting. There are lots of challenges to consider, of course. I'm still not sure what's going to happen, but the next few months are certainly going to be interesting."

"More like years, if you go through with it," Cameron murmured low enough so only I could hear.

For all that he had tried to seem happy for his mom, the words only came out sounding oddly sad.

When the waitress came and placed the bill on the table, Grant reached for it. Cameron snatched it up before he could take it.

"I've got this."

"Cam, honey," Sharon started.

"I'm a big boy," he threw out with a bright smile. It was almost too bright. "You don't need to take care of me."

Grant tilted his head at Cameron, a curious frown on his face. The motion reminded me of all the times Cameron had given me the same expression. As if he wanted to say something, but was thinking better of it.

I could sense a standoff about to happen.

"Why don't we split it?" I jumped in.

"That's a fine idea," Grant said with a nod to me.

I reached into my messenger bag to get out my wallet. Cameron pushed it away and shook his head.

"I've got yours."

I began to protest.

"You want to know my net worth?" he interrupted with a crooked grin.

"Fine," I gave in. "Pizza's on me next time."

We shared a quick smile.

"Lily, I would love to take you out sometime soon," Sharon said as we left the table. "A girls-only day, you and me. What do you say?"

That desperation was back again.

"Sure," I said hesitantly, flicking a glance to Cameron. I wondered if I should have asked him if it was okay first. He seemed oddly chagrinned.

"Wonderful!" The delight in Sharon's voice was impossible to mistake. "Let's exchange numbers and I'll give you a call."

It was weird entering my phone number into Cameron's mom's phone, like we were new besties.

We'd taken a taxi to the restaurant, so Cameron's parents drove us back to the mansion. His mom and I kept up the small talk, me discussing my classes, and her talking about the various charities she had worked with.

After dropping us off, Cameron's dad gave me a warm handshake. His mom gave me another tight squeeze. Her flowery perfume filled my nostrils again. This time, I held onto her a few moments too long. She didn't seem to mind. She just gave me a kind smile as they climbed into the car and drove away.

"Fuck."

That was all Cameron said as soon as they were out of sight.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

He exhaled loudly. "No. It's fine."

He mouth was pressed in a firm line, no trace of the bright smile he'd worn in front of his parents.

"You seemed happy for your mom back there," I said hesitantly. "Are you not?"

"It's just the same as always."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. I'm gonna go workout."

He left before I could say anything else, leaving me to wonder.

Exactly what kind of relationship did Cameron have with his parents?