Free Pieces of Camden (Hole-Hearted #1) by Yessi Smith Page B

sleep.” I shrug and sway my hips as I walk to the couch.

    My eyes flutter open when the sound of my dad slamming a cabinet door shut wakes me from my sleep. I sit up straight so that I’m no longer leaning on Camden’s shoulder. He’s still asleep, and I kick his foot. When his eyes pop open, I massage the base of my neck.
    I can’t believe we fell asleep like that. I thought I’d be able to coax him into my bed, but he proved to be as stubborn as me, so we eventually passed out on the couch.
    I guess that means I won. Kind of.
    Without saying a word, Camden and I pour cereal into our bowls and then join my parents at the kitchen table. Before taking my first bite, I feel Camden’s eyes on me. I glance up and when he looks away, I smile.
    My mom coughs loudly, and we all turn our attention to her.
    “I think we should set some ground rules.” She looks at my dad, who looks back at her, confused. “Cam, you live with us. You are as much a part of this family as the rest of us.”
    Camden looks down to his bowl on the table and plays with the spoon.
    “Son,” she says firmly. She stays quiet until his eyes meet hers. “We love you. We trust you. But you two can’t date—at least, not until you’re older.”
    My mouth hangs open, and for the first time in my life, words seem alien to me.
    “You’re dating?” my dad asks, his voice mirroring the shock on his face.
    “No,” Camden says too quickly. He looks at me with a guilt-ridden expression on his face. “I mean, I like Yan. No, I love Yan.” He clears his throat while his eyes nervously roam over the table. “But nothing happened.”
    My dad slams his hand on the table, and we all jump. Camden’s face loses color, but his eyes steady, staring holes into the kitchen table.
    “Cam wouldn’t let anything happen because he loves you guys,” I say, trying to help the situation. I put my hand on my dad’s arm and watch his eyes soften.
    “Cam,” my dad says and Camden finally looks up at him. “There’s no one else Carmen and I would trust with our daughter but you. If ever there were two people meant for each other, it’s you two.” He meets Camden’s eyes until understanding flashes across his face, and Camden nods. “But you’re still young.”
    “This is what I was afraid of when you moved in with us,” my mom whispers. “You two are too close. I told you this would happen, Santiago.” My mom turns her narrowed eyes toward my dad, who smiles sheepishly back at her.
    “Carmencita, have you forgotten how we were when we were their age?” my dad asks. “I knew you were the one when we were just ten, remember? I bought you a ring and asked you to marry me.”
    My mom blushes, spinning her cup of coffee on the table. “It was different.” Her voice is stern, but her eyes are already losing their anger. “We didn’t live together.”
    My dad reaches over the table and traces my mom’s knuckles with a single finger. His eyes seek out Camden’s, and he doesn’t speak until they’re staring at each other.
    “If you want to date other people, you can,” my dad says, making me pale.
    “I don’t,” Camden answers quickly.
    “Neither do I,” I say.
    My dad knowingly smiles back at us.
    “No more touching”—my dad leans forward, putting his elbows on the table—“holding hands, or hugging. When you watch TV, you can’t sit close to each other. Once you graduate high school, you can start dating. We’re trusting you, okay?”
    I want to argue with him, to tell him how unfair he’s being, but I bite my tongue. Saying anything to oppose them right now would only make things worse, so I let Camden speak for both of us.
    Camden holds my dad’s gaze but looks away to include my mom. “When I’m older, I’m going to ask you for your permission to marry Yan.”
    I inhale loudly and cover my mouth as I feel my eyes water.
    “Until then, I won’t do wrong by her or by you. I swear it.”
    “Our answer is yes,” my dad says.