ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟝 #2
"Every time somebody brings her up, your whole face changes."
"I don't think it does."
"Yes it does, Cam."
"I've noticed it too," Ryan called from across the apparatus bay without looking up from the report he was writing.
Right, because we all desperately needed your input, Ryan.
"Remember, last Christmas somebody asked what your favorite meal was?" Hunter said, somewhere around the corner.
"Yeah, what bout it?"
"You answered, 'Whatever Dixie makes.'"
"See? You don't even realize you're doing it." Brody says.
I couldn't help smiling. "Maybe."
He folded his arms. "I just don't get the whole soulmate thing."
"It isn't really that."
He waited as I thought about it for a moment.
Trying to explain Dixie to somebody felt a little like trying to explain why breathing mattered. You didn't really think about it until someone asked.
"I think..." I started slowly.
"Once you find someone you can really connect to, someone that'll be there for you in all your moments, it's kind of hard to let go."
The apparatus bay went surprisingly quiet. I wasn't trying to make some grand speech.
I guess I was just thinking out loud. "I don't know."
I smiled to myself.
"Dixie's just,"
I searched for the word. "...Home."
Brody stared at me.
Then rolled his eyes so dramatically I thought they might disappear.
"Man," He sighed. "You're unbelievable."
"What?"
"That's straight out of a Hallmark movie."
"I came over here looking for guy advice."
"You got it."
"No, instead I got poetry."
"It wasn't poetry," I laughed. "You'll understand someday."
"I'll remember this conversation when Belle starts leaving socks everywhere." He pointed his finger at me.
I smiled. "And you'll probably pick them up."
"Oh definitely not. I'm not a damn maid."
Some people just never learn. Let's see how long their marriage will really last. He sighed dramatically before reaching into his pocket.
"Oh, I almost forgot." He pulled out his phone and opened a spreadsheet.
"So...the wedding."
I nodded. "What about it?"
"It's in California."
I raised my eyebrows. "California?"
"Yep. Belle found this vineyard." He turned the phone around.
There were mountains, rows of grapevines, and a white ceremony space overlooking the valley. It was the perfect setting for a wedding.
"It looks like a movie."
"It really does," He smiled proudly.
"We're covering flights, the hotels, transportation, basically everything."
"That's generous." I looked back at him.
"It was Belle's idea. She's determined nobody has to stress about coming."
I nodded. "She's thoughtful."
"She is," His smile faded just a little. "Which brings me to something."
Uh-oh. I knew that tone. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"My credit isn't exactly..." He made a face. "...great."
"I've been getting quotes for flights, and they're... a lot. I really don't want to take out another loan just for airfare."
He looked almost embarrassed saying it. "I was wondering...if maybe you could help cover part of it."
I looked at him. He hurried to continue.
"I'm not asking you to pay for the wedding."
"Just...maybe some of the flights. You don't even have to decide now."
I leaned back against the truck. "I don't know, Brody."
He sighed.
"C'mon, Cam."
"I just..." I thought about it.
It wasn't really the money.
Dixie and I were fortunate enough that helping out wouldn't put us in a difficult position. It was more that I didn't want him depending on us every time something unexpected came up.
He seemed to read my face. "I'll pay you back."
"I'm not worried about that."
He looked at me hopefully. "C'mon, you already said you'd be a groomsman."
"Don't make me beg." he grins.
"You've already started."
"I can get worse."
"Oh, I believe you, alright."
Brody clasped his hands together dramatically.
"Cameron Royce West."
I groaned.
"Ooh, he used the full name. Desperate much?" I laugh.
"I am."
I let him stew for another few seconds before finally shaking my head, a smile creeping across my face. "Alright."
His eyes lit up immediately as he pulled me into one of those ridiculous one-armed bro hugs and smacked my back.
"I knew you were my favorite."
Hunter scoffed from across the room. "You said that to me ten minutes ago."
"I've got room for two favorites."
Brody stepped back and grinned. "I totally owe you one."
"You owe me several."
He laughed. "You're right."
~
The house is quiet when I step in. I slip my boots off when I shut the door behind me.
I shut the front door with my foot before bending to untie my boots. The grandfather clock in the hallway suddenly sounds ten times louder than it actually is.
The silence wasn't unusual. If Dixie wasn't working in her office, she was usually buried somewhere with enough paperwork to qualify as its own textbook.
I shrugged my turnout coat off, hanging it neatly by the entrance.
"Dix?"
No one replied back. I frowned.
Normally she'd answer with some variation of I'm busy before I'd even finished saying her name.
I glance toward the kitchen. No sign of Dixie.
Living room? Also empty.
"...Dix?" There's no answer.
I straighten up, rubbing the back of my neck. Usually she'd at least yell something.
Something.
I pull my phone from my pocket. There are no new texts from Dix.
Maybe she's asleep. That wouldn't be the worst thing. She's been sleeping a little better lately, but still not enough.
I walk farther inside, passing the dining room. Can you guess what that is?
The office door is open, but still no Dixie.
I wasn't worried.
She was probably somewhere inside this ridiculous mansion we'd somehow managed to fill without ever filling it.
I rubbed the back of my neck. I still had to tell her about Brody's wedding. Somehow convincing the busiest attorney in Minnesota to actually take time off.
Yeah.
That would be fun.
"Huh."
I was halfway toward the staircase when I heard soft footsteps behind me. I turned, and there she was.
My wife stood in the hallway rubbing one eye behind a pair of round glasses I'd only ever seen her wear around the house. Her hair was piled into a messy bun that looked like it'd been thrown together so effortlessly.
She wore an oversized cream V-neck sweater and gray lounge pants.
Dixie. My favorite version of her.
She blinked sleepily. "...You're home."
For a second I forgot what I was going to say.
She looked beautiful.
This was the woman who wandered around our house looking like she'd just rolled out of bed and managed to make it unfair for every other person on the planet.
A smile found me before I even realized it.
"There you are."
"Were you looking for me?" She frowned slightly, tilting her head.
"I checked three rooms."
"I was upstairs."
"Yeah, I noticed."
She laughed quietly, looking down. I'd chase that sound for the rest of my life.
I quickly closed the distance between us.
She immediately narrowed her eyes. "Cameron."
"What?"
"You smell like too much smoke." She coughs quietly, like she's proving it.
"I work in smoke."
"I know," She pointed a finger at my chest. "I'm warning you."
I ignored every warning she gave me. Naturally, my arms slipped around her waist.
She groaned."Cameron, you smell like burnt wood and sweat."
"I know."
"You are absolutely disgusting."
"I missed you too."
Before she could wiggle away, I lifted her straight off the floor.
She let out the tiniest squeal.
"What?"
"Put me down."
"Oh, no way."
Her hands automatically settled around my neck. I loved that. She always pretended she hated when I picked her up, but she never forgot where to put her hands.