ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟟
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Convincing Ted to let me take a week off from work surprisingly wasn't the hardest thing.
He was very gentle and understanding when I had told him I'd be missing a few days. Nothing like the last time I had seen him.
He informed me Georgia had won the Anderson's case. Probably off of my help, and my support. With the way her evidence was looking, she might as well just have quit.
That was probably why he gave me my days off.
I hadn't realized how gray Minnesota had become until California practically blinded me.
It was brighter and sunnier than back home in Minnesota. The trees were full and green, there was no dried up snow on the sidewalks, and it just looked a whole lot better.
Cameron was driving to our hotels, where we'd be staying for a week. I wasn't too excited about Brody's wedding-mostly because I didn't know him very well but also because of the memories of getting married.
Cam parked the rental SUV in front of the hotel.
I glanced up. "That's a hotel?"
"I think so." Cameron followed my gaze before smiling.
"It looks like somebody accidentally built a palace."
"I was going to say castle."
I shake my head. "I think castles are smaller."
He laughed quietly as he shut the engine off.
"Come on."
The hotel looked expensive enough to intimidate normal people. I was married to Cameron West, so my standards had been permanently ruined.
The second I stepped outside, warm air wrapped around me. I hadn't realized how cold Minnesota constantly felt until now.
Palm trees swayed lazily overhead. I still couldn't get over the fact people actually lived around those things.
Palm trees belonged on postcards.
Not outside Starbucks.
"Ready?" Cameron walked around the car and opened the trunk.
"No."
"Great." He handed me the smallest suitcase.
"Really?" I smirk.
"What?"
"You gave me the baby suitcase."
"I know my wife," he replies.
"I can carry more than twelve pounds."
"I know."
"So why'd you give me this one?"
"Because I'd rather carry the heavy ones. I can't have your precious hands going to this."
I rolled my eyes.
We rolled all the luggage inside, and oh boy, was the lobby gorgeous. Crystal chandeliers hung from ceilings that had to be at least four stories high, white marble stretched in every direction.
There was an actual fountain. Inside! Who needed an indoor fountain?
Rich people, apparently.
I glanced sideways at Cameron, expecting the same expression I had on my face.
Then I forget he was basically born in places like these.
The receptionist greeted us with a friendly smile.
"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. West."
Cameron smiled warmly.
"Thank you." we both said in unison
She typed for a moment, before then looking up.
"Oh," Her smile somehow grew even bigger. "We've actually upgraded your reservation."
I looked at Cameron, he looked back at me.
"Oh, no. We didn't ask for an upgrade," he said.
"I know." She smiled.
"The bridal party requested our executive penthouse suites."
Penthouse suites. Because apparently a normal hotel room would've killed Brody.
She handed Cameron two key cards.
"You guys are on the top floor."
I sighed.
"I don't think I like your firefighter friend."
"I'm not very fond of Brody either."
The elevator ride felt abnormally long. Gosh, not even our flight here was that long.
"You think we're going to space?" I asked.
Cameron grinned. "We're only on floor twenty-eight."
"Only?"
"Tell me when your ears pop."
I smack his arm playfully.
He slipped his fingers through mine so naturally I almost didn't notice.
Almost.
His thumb absentmindedly rubbed across the back of my hand as we walked out of the elevator. He always did that. Sometimes I wondered if he even realized he was touching me.
I don't think he did.
Nonetheless, I held it back. We stayed like that until the doors finally slid open.
Even the hallway was bigger than when I got my first apartment at 17. Who was funding this place? Elon Musk?
We had spent at least 3 minutes walking down until we finally got to our suite. Cam pressed the keycard against the scanner, and just like that, we were in.
The 'suite' was as big as a small apartment.
"I think Brody accidentally rented us a condominium."
A laugh escaped from Cam as he closed the door with his foot. "I was thinking the exact same thing."
The entryway alone was bigger than some hotel rooms I'd stayed in for work.
Warm sunlight poured through towering windows at the far end of the suite, illuminating polished hardwood floors that gleamed beneath our feet.
Off to the right sat a full kitchen with white marble countertops, sleek black appliances, and enough cabinet space to feed an army.
Or Cameron. Whichever came first, really.
That man could eat for Africa.
Straight ahead was an enormous living room with cream-colored furniture arranged around a stone fireplace. Fresh flowers rested on the coffee table beside a bowl of fruit that looked painted.
A hallway disappeared toward what I assumed were the bedrooms. And beyond everything, there was floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The entire back wall was practically made of windows.
"Wow."
A single word escaped my mouth before I could stop it.
"What?" Cameron looked over at me, smiling to himself.
"I wasn't expecting that."
He wasn't even looking at the room anymore. He was looking at me.
"What, why are you looking at me, Cam?"
"You look impressed."
He wasn't wrong.
"I'm not impressed."
His eyebrow lifted. "You're so impressed."
I don't reply because he is right. The place was nice, and I was going to acknowledge that, at least. He chuckled quietly before slipping an arm around my waist.
"I think this is the first time I've heard you speechless."
"I've spoken."
"Spare me a break, Dix." His arm stayed around my waist as we slowly walked farther inside.
He didn't rush looking through it, so neither did I. There wasn't really anywhere to be, the wedding wasn't for another three days.
Neither of us had a schedule for a week.
It was just going to be Cameron and Dixie.
Alone in a hotel.
I wonder how that will end up.
He disappeared for a moment toward the bedroom while I wandered into the kitchen.
I opened the glass cabinets. There were all kinds of fancy plates and cups inside- I was too scared to drink out of. An espresso machine stared back at me on the counter.
Maybe this thing would make better coffee than me.
"Dix!" Cam called from the bedrooms.
"What?"
"I think we have two bathrooms."
"That's amazing, Cam."
"No, seriously."
"I believe you." I said, running my hands over the marble countertops.
"You should come look," he said.
"I don't need to."
"Yes you do."
"I've seen a bunch of bathrooms before."
He poked his head around the corner. His hair had become slightly messy from hauling both of our suitcases upstairs.
Was it weird to say I actually liked it better like that?
Normally, Cameron's hair was annoyingly neat. Every strand somehow knew exactly where it belonged. Don't get me wrong, he looked incredible. Sometimes I preferred the neat look.
But this really suits him.
"They have one of those giant soaking tubs, and there's like, two shower heads."
"Why?" I folded my arms.
"I don't know."
"For Pete's sake-who needs two shower heads?"
He shrugged. "Efficiency?"
"How efficient are people planning on being in there?"
"I don't know. It's pretty cool though."
I sigh before laughing quietly. "I don't know why I'm asking you, you spend an eternity in the bathrooms."
I wandered past him into the bedroom. The bed looked enormous. It was definitely king-sized, maybe even bigger.
White linen stretched perfectly across the mattress without a wrinkle in sight.
I was going to have to thank the maids myself.
I dropped my purse onto the bench at the end of the bed before slowly turning in a circle.
"This place is..."
"Nice?" Cam finished
"Absurd, actually."
"I was going to say beautiful. It can be both, right?"
I laughed softly. "Beautifully absurd."
Cam walked over until he stood directly in front of me. He simply stared at me.
"You've been looking at me a lot today."
"I have," He smiled softly. "I haven't gotten you all to myself in a while."
"Seriously, when's the last time we've been out?" His hands found my waist.
I looked down briefly before meeting his eyes again. "I don't know, Cam."
"I really missed hanging out with you, you know that?"
Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten. Gee, when did he get so affectionate with his words?
"I missed it too," I admitted quietly.
He brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear before kissing my forehead. His lips lingered there for just a second before he tilted my chin upward. He kissed me again, and this time properly.
Slow enough that I forgot what we'd even been talking about.
I slowly pull away, realizing I've transferred my gloss to him.
"Hold still."
"Why?"
"You've got lip gloss all over you."
"Really?"
"Mhm."
"I didn't even notice." He smiled.
I reached up with the sleeve of my sweater, gently wiping the faint pink gloss from the corner of his mouth.
"There."
He seemed rather disappointed.
"Cameron, you know I don't have a dress for this wedding like, at all, right?" I sigh.
He glanced at me before closing his eyes. "Did you really forget?"
I winced before nodding.
"C'mon Dixie, you never forget anything."
"Oh, don't act like you're prepared."
"I am."
I looked toward the luggage. "No, you're not."
"Well, I packed everything." he ran a hand through his golden locks.
"I don't see a suit." I say, smirking.
He pointed at me. "Hey, you don't get to turn this around."
I folded my arms.
"I'm just saying."
"My suit is getting tailored tomorrow."
Great way to get humbled.
"Oh."
"So." He smiled triumphantly.
"...Well."
I looked down at my completely dress-less suitcase. Oh boy, did I come unprepared. First times for everything, I guess.