Page 67 of Caged Hunger

Cameron was so grateful that his mother was having a good day. It meant a lot to him for both of them to meet.

25

BASHER

Meeting Cameron’s mom had been a lot.

It was no big surprise that Basher didn’t like people.

He didn’t like talking to them, getting to know them, or listening to them prattle on about the latest bullshit show they were binge-watching.

Why surround yourself with drama and chaos in your personal life when the world already provided more than enough of both during the day?

Basher didn’t understand people or find them enjoyable at all.

But meeting Cameron’s mother had been important to Cam. He never openly admitted just how much it meant to him, but Basher had seen enough to understand. From the little he knew about the two of them, it was obvious that their relationship meant the world to Cameron.

So, Basher sucked up his hatred for people, pushed down all the discomfort and self-doubt he felt, and agreed to meet Cameron’s mother.

And he was glad he did.

Getting to know the most important person in Cameron’s life and seeing the love the two of them share was an experience he would never forget.

He just hoped that one day, some of that love would be shared with him.

Basher knew Cameron cared deeply about him; otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked him to meet his mother. But love takes time to grow and develop—or at least that’s what he’d been told in the past. He didn’t exactly have any personal experience feeling love. None of his foster parents ever loved him—they barely even liked him during his short stay.

But judging by the feeling Basher got in his chest whenever he laid eyes on Cameron, he was pretty sure he was madly in love with the guy.

That smile, those eyes, his soft touch. The way Cameron took care of people and baked him desserts for no reason at all.

No one had ever been so kind to him. No one had ever cared enough to turn to him when they were feeling down.

That night by the firepit, when Cameron opened up about his mother and his past, Basher had fallen in love with him.

Now, here they were, casually walking into Ride ’em Hard together, as if they didn’t just spend the last three hours fucking like animals.

To be honest, he was amazed that Cameron was even able to walk, given the beating his ass had just taken.

“I’m just going to drop my stuff off in my locker, then I’ll come back out to help Alexis get the bar prepped for opening,” Cameron said as they walked into the back of the bar.

When they pushed open the back doors, Blade and Caden were huddled over a tablet, laughing their asses off.

“Shit! Look at him take it like a champ!” Blade cheered, biting down on his fist as he admired whatever it was they were watching.

“Well, now we know why he’s always smiling. A healthy dose of vitamin D will do that to a guy.” Caden laughed, hunched over Blade’s back, looking like a kid who had just learned he was now allowed to stay up past ten.

Neither of them was aware that Cameron and Basher had just entered the room.

“What are you guys watching?” Cameron asked as he flung his bag onto the table the guys were hunched over.

Both of their heads shot up, startled by the sudden intrusion.

“Hey guys, what’s up?” Ace and Lucas asked as they entered the room through the back door leading outside.

“Not sure. I’m just trying to figure out what’s got these idiots laughing their asses off,” Cameron said, scooting closer to Caden and Blade.

The two looked like they had just been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.