MRS. WEST

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟛

I had never seen Cameron cry before.

Well, not during times like this. He cried at our wedding when I came down, he cried when Jordyn was born, and yesterday marked the third time.

I would be terribly lying if I said I didn't feel guilty. The truth was, I felt awful. The fact that he had to apologize for crying in front of me made me feel like a jerk. To be fair, I had been a jerk to him a whole lot- but I had my reasons.

I rubbed my hands together slowly, like I could warm myself out of the guilt sitting in my chest. The truth kept circling the same point- I had been harsh with him. A habit I kept pretending was "stress" or "timing" or "life being too much."

But excuses don't soften impact.

The shower stopped. A few seconds passed before the bathroom door opened.

Cameron stepped out with a towel wrapped loosely around his waist, water still clinging to his hair in uneven drops. Our eyes meet for a hot second before he walks over towards the drawer.

"Morning baby, how'd you sleep?"

I swallow the lump in my throat. "I slept fine. You?"

"Slept great."

I watched him grab a couple shirts, then he decided neither of them were acceptable.

"Are you looking for something specific?" I ask, my voice light.

He glanced over his shoulder.

"A shirt."

"Hm."

That was a stupid question. Of course he was looking for a shirt Dixie, what else would he be looking for? I guess I was just trying to make meaningless conversation, which just wasn't my thing.

Feelings weren't my thing.

"Complicated process, isn't it?"

I almost smiled.

He finally decides on a dark green shirt, pulling it over his head. He pushes the drawer back in, before running a hand through his hair.

Then, he turns to me. "Are you going to work?"

I sigh, getting out of bed. "No. Ted trusts me enough to work from home for today."

Cameron smiles. It was a suspicious smile- like he was trying to get me to do something. Midway through folding my blanket, I glare up at him.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Cameron leaned his hip against the edge of the dresser, his arms crossing over that dark green shirt, which hugged his shoulders in a way that felt entirely unfair given the hour. He didn't answer immediately.

"Like what?" he countered, his voice a low, melodic hum.

I gave the blanket a particularly aggressive snap, folding it into a lopsided rectangle.

"Like you're planning a heist. Or you're asking me something that'll disturb my perfect peace."

Cameron chuckled, a soft, rich sound. He pushed off the dresser and took a step toward me, closing the distance until the air between us felt charged with a static that made the fine hairs on my arms stand up.

"You're jumpy this morning," he said, his tone dropping an octave. He reached out, his fingers brushing against my cheek, his touch light as a feather but firm enough to stop me from folding another corner.

"I wasn't planning a heist. I was just thinking the house needs a bit of stocking up to do. You know, like furniture shopping."

I pulled the blanket back, a little too sharply, though I couldn't quite bring myself to step away from him. "I told you, I have work. Even if it's not in person."

"It's a Tuesday," he pointed out, as if that explained everything. He took another step, reaching out, his hand hovering for a second before he tucked a stray curl behind my ear.

His thumb lingered on my jawline. "The city is quiet in the mornings. There's that little bakery on 4th, the one with the ridiculous almond croissants you like. We could go, grab breakfast, then go shopping."

I slowly nod my head like I'm considering it, but then I shake it. "Cam, we don't even need furniture."

"Cam?" He blinks, smiling like crazy.

I know what he meant. I hadn't used that nickname in ages, and it felt weird coming out of my mouth now.

"Yes. That's your name, isn't it?"

He grins, ear to ear. "Yeah, it is."

We stare at each other like that for a while, before I finally break out of my lovey-dovey trance and push his hand off of me.

"I've got to get changed- can't walk around the house looking like this." I say, looking down at my pajama set.

He clears his throat. "So do you want to go? I mean- it's okay if you don't."

I nod slowly, pushing the bathroom door open. "Yes Cam, I'll go."

~

The little bell above the door chimed as Cameron pulled it open for me. Warmth immediately wrapped around us.

The entire place smelled like coffee, vanilla, fresh bread, and something sugary enough to give a person type 2 diabetes.

People sat at tiny round tables near the windows. Some worked on laptops. Others chatted quietly over breakfast. It was like the perfect cozy bakery.

I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets. "I still don't understand why we're here."

"Because normal people leave the house sometimes."

"I leave the house." I retort, placing an offended hand on my chest.

"For court."

"Well, that still counts. It's like telling someone they're not adventurous because they like to stay at home."

Cameron held the door until I walked through. "I think those are two different things you're comparing."

"Actually, no. Not entirely." I mutter, staring at the display case stretched across half the bakery.

The amount of sugar in this building was genuinely concerning. Cameron immediately wandered toward the display, and I followed behind him.

"What do you want?" He asks.

"Nothing."

He sighs.

The employee behind the register hummed. "Good morning."

"Morning," Cameron replied with a gentle smile.

The moment she looked up from her tablet, her eyes widened.

"Oh my," the employee pointed. "You're Cameron West."

Cameron immediately brightened, like he's excited to be talked about. The woman continued.

"The firefighter?"

"One of them."

"My brother talks about you all the time."

I watched Cameron's ears turn slightly red, it always happened when people complimented him. Kind of cute, if you asked me.

The employee's eyes shifted to me. "And you're Dixie West."

Great, this was exactly what I wanted before breakfast.

"You're the attorney."

I smiled politely.

"The one who wins everything!"

I guess she hadn't heard about my hit. "That depends who you ask."

The employee laughed, then shook her head.

"This is crazy, uh- mind if I get a picture?"

I really didn't want a picture right now. I could tell Cameron did though- the way he beamed was ridiculous. I quickly tightened my grip on his arm, signaling for us to make this snappy.

"We're just trying to get breakfast," Cameron settled on.

The employee put her phone back on the counter before nodding quickly. "Of course-right. Sorry."

"What can I get you guys?"

I looked at my options on display. Cannoli, cookies, cupcakes, gelato, meringue, too much for a person who was trying to cut back on food.

Before Cameron could even utter a word, I came in: "I'll take a black coffee."

Cameron snapped his head towards me. "Thats not a breakfast."

"Well, it is for me."

"Dixie, you can't be serious."

"I am, Mr. Know it all, so you better suck it up and get me what I want." I shout-whispered.

I started to calm down when the employee kept staring at us weirdly.

Finally Cameron pointed toward a tray. "We'll take the tiramisu."

"We?" I stared.

"We."

"Cameron, it's Italian. Have you even tried that before? " I rub the bridge of my nose.

"Actually, I haven't, but you like Italian desserts."

"I also like being left alone."

The employee cleared her throat. "Would you like two forks?"

"Yes please." Cameron answered.

"No," I answered at the exact same time.

I glared at him for what seemed like forever before Cameron smiled politely. "Two forks."

She nodded, moving to the back.

"I'll bring it over- such an honor to have you, Mr. and Mrs.West!"

The second she disappeared into the kitchen, I turn to Cam.

"What was that?"

"What was what?" He blinked innocently.

"The tiramisu."

"The tiramisu?"

"Yes, the tiramisu!"

He smiled lightly. "I ordered dessert."

"You ordered our dessert."

"Correct."

"Okay, but I never agreed to that."

"Yeah you did."

"When?"

"When you married me."

I physically cringed. Of course he had to say something silly like that.

"You know I hate you sometimes?" I facepalm.

His grin widened. "Love you too."

Before I could come up with a suitable response, he gently placed a hand against the small of my back and guided me toward one of the empty tables near the window.

I hated when he did that–not because I disliked it. Quite the opposite, actually. That was the problem.

The table sat beside a large window overlooking the street. Morning sunlight spilled across the floor in golden rectangles as people outside hurried past carrying briefcases and coffees.

Cameron pulled out my chair for me, and reluctantly I sat down.

A minute later he sat across from me.

The silence was loud between us. It wasn't uncomfortable, but just really strange. I can't remember a time I was this quiet around Cameron- usually because I always had something to say.

Beside me on the chair, my phone buzzed. I immediately reached for it.

Cameron sighed. "Dixie."

"What?" My eyes stay on my phone.

"We've been here not even thirty seconds."

"It's work, you wouldn't understand."

"I understand that every conversation somehow ends with your office."

That quickly shut me up. He wasn't entirely wrong.

"So what would you rather talk about?"

He smiled. "Literally anything else."

I glanced down, ignoring his comment.

An email from Georgia. Of course it was Georgia. Even through text, that woman somehow managed to stress me out.

I quickly skimmed it, then locked my phone.

Cameron looked pleasantly surprised. "Wow."

"What?"

"You put it away. Talk about first times."

"I can still retrieve it."

"Please don't."