it could be trouble

 

Cam felt he was having better luck with Sammie these days than with anyone. At least she would talk to him. 

"I'm glad you're in contact with her," he told Rico. It seemed now he included her and Gabe in any of the weekly dinners he had. She always brought food too. It was a time when it felt like a real family meal with her sides of cold salads or even a sweet treat. Of course, Liv would have none of it.

"What is going on with you two?" He wanted to know, but Rico only shrugged as if he was waiting for a change in the weather. Of course, it was a scorcher these days. A whole lot like Liv's attitude. 

"I hate seeing her this way," he'd said when it was just him and Rico in the kitchen. "Is she happy here?"

"I think so." But Rico's small frown persisted. Cam thought then they'd already broken up and maybe Rico didn't know it.

That's when he reminded Rico how he'd been bullied when he was in first grade. "It was like you didn't even know." Cam gave him the eye.

"Oh, I knew, I..I was just trying to get along." Rico told him. Yes, he could see now his youngest had been depressed a lot of his youth and no one had done much about it. 

"Well, are you going to be able to get through this, with Liv?" Cam gave Rico a pat on the back. "Maybe, it's time to let her go."

"It's not like we're keeping her against her will," Rico looked at him blankly.

Cam nodded. "Maybe if, she gets her way. Get her classes out of the way, then she can find a roommate, or maybe move back home."

"Oh, she won't ever go home," Rico told him.

Cam only sighed. Maybe Rico knew all along how it would all turn out. But he seemed quaint with Sammie and Gabe. Rico hung out at their place a good bit during the week. Maybe this was what Rico needed right now since Liv was on her own path. He just hoped it wasn't one she'd regret.