ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟠
I still haven't gotten used to the California heat even though we've spent two days here. That's why I'm wearing sunglasses, reading a law article on my tablet in bed.
The hotel looks a bit more lived in due to the fact Cameron had helped unload our luggage. He also made sure to wipe every surface because he knew I hated grime in hotels.
Cameron slept like someone who got paid for sleeping. If the building caught fire, ironically, I'd probably have to wake the firefighter.
He's shirtless, fast asleep next to me, one hand wrapped around my waist while the other is tucked under his head.
About two minutes later, he begins to shift in bed, rubbing his eyes before stretching his arms and yawning.
He quickly pulls me against him, even in sleep. Then his eyes flutter open, noticing I'm sitting up.
He always woke up confused.
Every single morning.
It was like watching a computer restart. Give him thirty seconds and he'd become a functioning human again.
He watches for a few seconds before chuckling.
"Why are you wearing sunglasses?"
I lowered the tablet just enough to look at him over the top of my sunglasses.
"Because California is trying to blind me."
He blinked once.
"Oh geez, Dixie." He laughs, rubbing his eyes once more.
"I'm serious."
I pointed dramatically toward the balcony where sunlight was pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"I think the sun is closer here."
He stared at me for a second before a sleepy smile slowly pulled at the corner of his mouth. "I don't think that's how this works."
"Well, I don't think California works."
"It works well for me."
He chuckled quietly, still sounding half asleep.
He then stares at where I'm pointing. "It definitely does."
"I've been here for two days and I still feel like somebody turned the brightness up on the entire state."
"It's called nice weather."
He laughed a little harder this time. I narrowed my eyes on him.
He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "I think you're getting old."
"Cameron Royce West, did you just call me old?" I gasped.
"I've heard bright lights bother older people."
"I'm only twenty-eight. "
"Mhm."
"I'm not old."
"I didn't say you were."
I reached over and lightly smacked his shoulder with the back of my hand.
"Ow! That hurts." He holds his arm, smiling at me.
"I barely even touched you."
"I bruise easily, how could you forget?"
I go back to my article "Not my problem."
Cameron shifted beside me until he was sitting upright.
The comforter slipped down around his waist, revealing the faded white scar stretching across one side of his ribs.
A fire at an apartment complex. Three years ago.
He'd tried pretending it didn't hurt, but the emergency room physician disagreed. It was obvious he was in pain.
It was funny, I remember being so worried for him, and the only thing he could do was wipe away my tears, laughing.
He leaned toward me without saying anything, resting the side of his head against my shoulder like it belonged there.
His arm lazily draped across my shoulders, his hand settling against my upper arm.
I didn't move as he looked down at my tablet.
"What're you reading?"
"A law review."
"I figured."
"Vacation doesn't stop my work."
I could see his expression shift, but he managed to cover it up. He squinted at the screen anyway.
His eyebrows furrowed. "I think I know some of these words."
"I'm proud of you." I say, smiling.
He sighed dramatically against my shoulder.
"I really thought I'd impress you."
"You've got a long way to go."
"I could become a lawyer."
I snorted.
I hadn't absorbed a single sentence since he'd woken up. His thumb was absentmindedly rubbing slow circles against my arm.
He probably didn't even realize he was doing it. But for some weird reason, he always found some way to touch me.
A hand on my back, or my thigh, his fingers tangled with mine during car rides. Sometimes I wondered if physical touch was another language Cameron had been born speaking.
"There's a beach five minutes away from here, they call it, Baker Beach." He said.
I looked at him. "The beach? It's already hot."
"That's sort of the point."
"I don't think you've listened to anything I've said in the last five minutes."
"I listened."
"Really? Enlighten me."
"You think California is trying to kill you, you think the sun is too bright."
He laughs to himself.
"I still think you'd like the beach."
"I don't know." I say.
"You'll like it."
"I don't even own beach clothes."
"I know you didn't. Which is why I bought you some."
My head snapped towards him. He bought clothes for me?
"What?"
"You're a size small, right? It should be that closet over there, I'll bring it out."
I watched as he got up to jog over to the closet, pulling it open and revealing at least five bikini's, all bright, different, colors.
I stared a little hard, putting my sunglasses over my head.
"...Cam, when did you do all of this?"
"The day you were with Anny."
"While I was trying on the dresses?"
And also lingerie's.
"Mhm."
"I thought you went to purchase your suit."
"I did, and then I walked past another store." He shrugged like this was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I figured you'd need something if we'd be in California."
I looked down at the bikinis spread across the bed. There were different colors, styles. One had tiny white flowers stitched along the straps.
There was even a matching cover-up folded neatly beneath one of them.
"You bought all of these?"
"I wasn't sure which one you'd like."
"Cam, this is crazy. You bought five."
"I actually bought seven."
I looked up. "Seven bathing suits?"
He reached behind his back. "Oh, my bad. I forgot one."
He held up another shopping bag with a sheepish smile.
I stared at him like he was the devil.
"What? I liked the color of this one."
I couldn't help laughing. "Cameron."
"I panicked."
"How do you panic into seven swimsuits?"
"The lady helping me was really persuasive."
I smiled despite myself.
"She said coral brought out brown eyes, I believed her. You do look gorgeous in coral."
"I can't believe you."
"I can."
He laid everything across the bed, smoothing one of the tops flat with his hand.
"I just wanted you to have options." The joking disappeared from his voice. "I know shopping can stress you out."
My smile softened. Sometimes Cameron loved me in such quiet ways that I almost missed them.
He wasn't even trying to impress me. He simply just thought of me.
I walked over before I could think myself out of it and wrapped my arms around his neck.
His hands immediately found my waist.
"Thank you." I whisper into his shoulder.
His chin rested lightly on top of my head. "You don't have to thank me."
"I wanted to. That was... rather sweet of you."
He kissed my forehead gently. "I'll wait out here while you pick one."
I looked down at the mountain of swim suits before gathering all of the sets against my chest, disappearing toward the bathroom.
Behind me, Cameron called after me. "Dix? "If you don't like any of them.."
I looked back.
"We'll go buy seven more."
"You are the reason our credit card company sends us thank-you letters." I groaned.
His laugh followed me all the way into the bathroom.
~
After trying on only four of the seven swimsuits, I felt... somehow.
I couldn't remember the last time I went to the beach- let alone try on a bikini. Everything just felt weird. I felt weird.
I turned to the side, looking in front of the mirror, my eyes dropping down to my stomach. I think I've lost a few.
Thanks to skipping breakfast and dinner.
Missing meals had apparently accomplished something.
But it wasn't enough for me, still.
Whatever. I couldn't stress about it now when Cam was outside waiting for me.
I had decided on the plain coral one Cameron had said I looked good in.
I wasn't doing this for him- it was for me. I had to remind myself.
I sleeked my hair in a high puff, defining the ends of it with a little gel I remembered to pack.
He was right, the coral brought out my pearly teeth even more, making it a suitable choice for the beach.
Maybe Cameron hadn't been completely wrong. It made my skin look warmer.
I wore the mesh coverup Cam bought before finally stepping outside.
He was scrolling through his phone on the edge of the bed, already in his navy blue swim trunks that I would say looked great on him.
But I wouldn't want to boost a man's ego too much.
As soon as I closed the doorknob, he looked up, checking me out.
Then he whistled.
"Are you sure this is fine for the beach?" I say, folding my arms.
He stood up in front of me and took my hand, twirling me around once.
"See? I knew coral was the right choice. You look beautiful, Dixie."
I looked down at my feet, smiling to myself. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of that.
He let go of my hand after turning me once, a smile lingering on his face.
"What?"
"I told you I was right."
"Oh, don't start." I smirked.
"You look beautiful."
I immediately looked away. "You're biased."
"I am."
I sighed, looking down at myself again. "I don't know."
"What don't you know?"
I tugged lightly at the edge of the mesh cover-up.
"I just feel exposed."
He stayed quiet.
"I haven't worn a bikini since..." My voice trailed off. "...actually, I don't even know if I've ever really worn one."
His expression softened.
I'm standing here wondering why I would willingly do this to themselves."
He folded his arms loosely, leaning against the dresser.
I continued before he could answer.
"I mean, what if the wind does something weird? What if there's a wave?"
"There will probably be waves."
"What if it unties something?"
"I don't think it'll untie itself."
"You don't know that."
"And beaches are just a lot. Like the sand."
"Mhm."
"Children screaming."
"Mhm."
Cam was giving me blank responses.
Every answer had been some variation of "mhm."