38. Kameron
38
KAMERON
He loves me.
That’s what he said. He loves me.
And that kiss… my God, it made my knees knock.
But he freaking loves me.
Then I told him I loved him too.
Now I’m standing in the center of our town square, staring at the town theater where he is rehearsing for the show tomorrow night.
I have no idea what the plans are when he walks out of those doors in a little bit, and I wrap up all of my plans for the night.
I’m not sure if he’ll go back home, is he supposed to come to my place? I don’t even know what Cora’s plans are.
The slight panic attack I’m about to experience is coming on quicker than I’d like.
“Would you breathe?” Cora sidles up beside me. “You look like you’re two seconds away from passing out, and let me tell ya, babe… I’m not sure I could carry you all the way home alone.”
“Good thing your car is right there.” I suck in a breath, trying to fill my lungs with the air I desperately need.
“Are you freaking out?” she asks, moving to stand in front of me to cut off my view of the theater. “You look like you’re freaking out.”
“I’m…” I pause, looking at her while I try to maneuver through my thoughts in my head. “I’m not really sure what I am.”
“Okay…” she chuckles. “That really narrows it down.”
I smirk, she can always make me calm down. It’s what I love the most about my best friend, if times are hard, she can come in with a quick joke or say something that completely takes the edge off.
“I think, and I’m no psychiatrist…”
“We know this.” She nods.
“But, I think I’m scared,” I admit.
The second I say the words out loud, it becomes a reality, and I’m most definitely scared.
I’m scared that at any second he’ll decide this isn’t what he wants. That' he’ll rip my heart out when he decides he can’t be serious with me. My heart won’t survive another break.
Kris has taken two big hits to my heart, and it’s cracked so badly it’ll shatter to pieces next time.
“Listen,” Cora throws her arm over my shoulder and pulls me toward the hot chocolate stand, “it’s completely normal to be scared, especially in this situation. He caused a lot of damage, babe. I think it’s perfectly fine to be fearful.”
“And you know, what do I do tonight? Like what is the plan supposed to be when you finally realize you’re in love? Do we go bowling? Do we say goodnight and go our separate ways?”
“Okay, again… breathe. We don’t even have a bowling alley. Why don’t you just see where the night takes you?” she suggests.
And oh, duh. That makes perfect sense.
“Okay, yeah. I can do that.” I stare at her.
“Oh, God. You look like a deer in headlights.” She smiles but it does nothing to soothe my nerves this time. “Well, you better get it together because he’s on his way over here.” She nudges my arm and hands me a hot chocolate. “Here, hold this. It’ll give you something to fidget with.”
I turn, and my eyes connect with his. It’s like the air is sucked from my lungs when he smiles at me. His chiseled jaw, messy hair. I can’t wait to see him in the show tomorrow.
Then I frown.
What in the hell was I thinking letting him do this damn show tomorrow?
Because I know what’s underneath that baggy Nike shirt he’s wearing, and I don’t want any of the women in this town to stare at him either.
He’s barely six feet away from me when I hear his name called, and I frown further.
Rebecca.
“I forgot you were going to be here.” She giggles, touching his bicep.
And just like the corny romance movies and novels, it’s like my eyes zoom in on that one movement.
“Down, girl,” Cora murmurs beside me.
“Yep.” His eyes connect with mine again. “Here I am.”
“So, maybe we can go get a bite to eat?” she asks, and I can hear the hopefulness dripping from her.
Well, I think not, Rebecca. He’s mine.
And just like that all of my anxiety earlier washes away when he smiles at me because for some reason in his eyes, I know it’s different this time.
“I can’t, Rebecca.”
She frowns.
“I’ve got plans with my girlfriend tonight.”
Cora gasps beside me, my mouth drops open, and Kris’ smile grows wider while Rebecca looks like she could combust.
Girlfriend.
Holy shit. He called me his girlfriend.
But he also told me he loved me so this shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, but still… he called me his girlfriend.
“Girlfriend?” she asks, looking over her shoulder to where we stand. “Oh, Kameron?”
He steps away from her, coming over to me and wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me into his side.
“Yeah, it’s sort of new, but it’s sorta been going on for years.” He smiles down at me.
God, I really love that smile.
I really love him.
“Hmm. Well, okay. I guess I’ll see ya around.” She stares at him before fixing her cold eyes on me, but I don’t care because the way this man looks at me sets me right on fire.
“I’m guessing you two will have plans tonight?” Cora asks from beside us as we watch Rebecca walk away.
“I’m not sure,” I say.
At the same time he says, “Oh for sure.”
We stare at each other, not saying another word.
“Okay…” She laughs. “I’m going to just excuse myself. Why don’t you go ahead and take off, Kam? We’re pretty much done here for the day and I think you have more pressing needs.”
She heads off in the direction of the volunteers who are wrapping up their day.
“You want to come to my place tonight?” he asks, leaning in to press a kiss to my lips. “God, I’ve been waiting to do that again.”
“Your place sounds good, I just need to stop by my house and get my things.”
He nods, links his fingers with mine and leads me in the direction of his truck.
He opens the door for me, and I sigh. It’s like deja vu.
He holds my hand the entire way through town, he opens my door when we get to my house, he doesn’t leave my side when I pack my things for the night at his place.
He opened the door for me again, and our hands have been tangled on the console the entire way to his house.
I’m not sure what I was expecting when we pulled up to his house, but I wasn’t expecting this.
I think I pictured him in a small apartment, the bachelor pad of the century type place.
Not this place, with the beautiful brick home and the arch over the front door. It looks more like a home for a family, not a bachelor.
“Well?”
I look over at him.
He looks shy as he stares at his house. “What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful,” I tell him, staring back at the home in front of us.
He jumps out of the truck, rounding the hood before coming to open my door. He holds my hand the entire way to the front of his house, taking my bag from me, and I have to admit, I’m loving the feeling of this. It all seems so natural, not forced.
Unlocking the front door, he keeps me pressed against him as he pushes the door open.
I hear the claws hitting the floor before I actually see his dog round the corner, and I smile. The biggest, goofiest Doberman I’ve ever seen comes barreling toward me.
“Brace yourself,” he says at the last second. “Titan, no,” he commands, and the dog tries. He tries really hard but slides into me anyways, sending me back into Kris’ strong chest.
I laugh, I can’t help it. When his dog looks up at me, I grab him on either side of his head and use my fingers to dig into his fur. His head turns to the side before he licks me right across the face.
Well, I’m sure that’s attractive.
Nothing like getting back together, for real this time, with a bunch of dog drool on my face.