ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟡
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The morning after the beach at the hotel wasn't exactly peaceful. Just as I said, Cameron had got a bad sunburn.
Just as I'd predicted, Cameron had gotten an awful sunburn.
I always knew he burned easier than I did.
I just couldn't understand how someone could remember emergency medical protocols, fifty-seven different rescue knots, and every street in Minneapolis, yet somehow forget sunscreen.
He stood with his back facing me while I pressed another cold compress against his shoulders. The second it touched his skin, he sucked in a sharp breath.
"Oh, fuck."
He squeezed his eyes shut. One of the rare times I'd heard him cuss.
"...that is freezing."
"Well, I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be."
"I know."
He hissed dramatically through his teeth. "I still don't like it."
"You should've worn sunscreen."
"I know."
"I offered you sunscreen, but yet you ignore me."
"I know."
"Dix."
"What?"
"...I know."
I couldn't stop the smile tugging at my lips.
Good. Maybe he'd remember next time.
Probably not, but maybe.
He shifted his weight slightly before immediately regretting it.
"Oh, for..." He stopped himself.
"No, go ahead." I said sweetly. "You've already started."
"I was trying to be respectful." He looked over one shoulder.
"You've said three curse words in the last minute or so."
"I've only said two."
"What about the one you muttered under your breath?"
"Gee...you heard that?"
"I hear everything."
He sighed dramatically. "This is cruel."
I'm helping you."
"It doesn't feel like helping."
"It will when your back stops looking like a boiled lobster."
"I don't look like a lobster."
I looked at his shoulders, his neck, and the bright red line stretching across his back.
"You look like a lobster."
Another compress resulted in another hiss, and an almost cuss word.
"Mother of..."
He clenched the bathroom counter.
"Dix." he whispered.
"Yes?"
"Please." He whimpers.
"What?"
"The aloe."
I glanced toward the bed. The bottle sat exactly where I'd left it.
"No." I shake my head.
His head slowly turned. "No? What do you mean no?"
"You need the cold compress first."
"I've done the compress."
"You've done forty-five seconds."
"It was only forty-five? Felt like an hour."
"It wasn't." I rolled my eyes.
"You could've tackled me." He groaned.
"I am not tackling a 6'2 firefighter because he forgot sunscreen."
"You should've tried."
"I would've broken something."
"And I would've appreciated the effort."
I pressed the compress slightly higher across his shoulders. He immediately let out another noise somewhere between a groan and a whimper.
"Oh my fuck."
"I know." I say.
"No, seriously, it hurts."
"I know." I repeat.
"It really hurts, Dixie."
"I know."
"I think this is the worst pain I've ever experienced."
I stopped before looking at him. "You've been inside burning buildings."
He thought about that for a second.
"This is different."
I went still for a moment before applying the cold press again.
"You're crazy."
"I've been told."
Another minute passed. The room grew quiet except for the air conditioner humming softly overhead. He gripped both hands against the bathroom counter.
"Hey, Dix."
"Mhm?"
"I think it's getting worse."
I frowned. "Worse?"
"I think so."
He tried twisting slightly before immediately wincing.
"Ow, fuck."
That did not sound like Cameron joking anymore.
I set the compress down. "Cam."
"What?"
"Turn around."
He did. His face looked...normal to say the least, maybe a little uncomfortable.
But his shoulders were..
I bit my lip. "They really hurt?"
"Yeah." He nodded.
"Like actually? You're being serious?"
"Yeah."
I reached up carefully, touching one of the less red spots. He flinched instantly.
My stomach dropped a little.
"Do..." I hesitated. "...do we need to go to the hospital?"
Was I seriously going to relive this like I did with Jordyn? I know it was just a sunburn, but that's what we said about her slurred speech, and now she's gone.
I couldn't lose Cameron either.
He blinked. "What?"
"The hospital."
"No, I don't know. Dix, I've never seen you like this."
He stared at me, and then a smile slowly appeared. "...Aww."
"What?" I narrowed my eyes.
"You're worried."
"I'm being logical here." I sigh.
"You think I need a hospital."
"I don't know if you do. Do you?" I ask again.
"You keep saying it hurts, you've been cursing every five minutes." I continue.
"It really hurts."
I stayed quiet, just looking at him.
I guess he noticed a moment later, because all the teasing slowly disappeared from his face.
"...Hey."
I didn't answer.
"Dixie." His expression softened.
He stepped closer, despite the obvious discomfort.
"No." he sighs.
His voice became gentle. "We don't need a hospital."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
"You promise?"
"I pinky promise."
I stared at him like he meant it.
"It's not blistering, right?" He gently took my hand.
"It's just a really stupid sunburn."
I exhaled. "I thought maybe..."
"You thought I was actually hurt."
I nodded once. His thumb brushed across the back of my hand.
"I'm okay."
"I just..."
I looked down, laughing quietly. "Stupid. You scared me."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
"I kinda like when you fuss over me." Cameron smiled slightly.
I looked back up.
"You are impossible, and I hate you for that."
I really did. Why would he say that knowing our past experiences, when we didn't react fast enough?
"I know."
"You act like you're dying. And by the way, you totally deserve this."
"I probably do."
I picked the aloe vera bottle off the bed with an exaggerated sigh. "Alright."
"The aloe?" His eyes immediately lit up.
"The aloe."
"I knew you loved me."
"I brought out the aloe because I don't want to listen to you complain for the next five hours."
He grinned. "Same thing."
I squeezed a generous amount into my palm. The gel was icy cold in my hands. I toss the bottle back on the bed.
"This is going to feel cold."
"I don't care."
I spread the aloe carefully across his shoulders.
He practically melted. "...Oh."
"...Marry me." His eyes closed.
"I already did."
He smiled without opening his eyes. "Best decision either of us ever made."
The cool aloe spread across his shoulders slowly, little by little taking the angry red out of his skin. He practically sagged beneath my hands.
I smiled to myself. "Feel better now?"
"Like a million-dollar baby."
I frown. "You are a million dollar baby."
"Make it a billion."
I laughed softly as I smoothed another layer of aloe across the tops of his shoulders.
"Now don't move."
"I wasn't moving?"
"You've been fidgeting for five straight minutes."
"I'm trying not to."
"Well..." I pressed another gentle swipe across the center of his back.
"...try harder."
"Yes, Mrs. West."
He stood surprisingly still after that. For almost seven seconds. Then he turned around anyway.
"Cameron." I groan.
"What?"
"I literally just said don't move."
"I wanted to give you a kiss."
Before I could respond, he leaned down, very carefully. Trying not to stretch out his shoulders too much.
Then kissed me on the lips warmly. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead lightly against mine.
"Thank you."
"...For taking care of me."
The corners of my mouth lifted. "You're welcome."
"I appreciate you, very much. Thanks."
"I know." I brushed a tiny streak of aloe off his collarbone.
"Next time wear sunscreen."
"I will, and I mean it this time, I'll let you put it on me."
I raised one eyebrow. "Oh really?"
"Mhm."
I laughed.
"There, you're done." I capped the aloe bottle.
He looked down at me for another second, then kissed me again. If I hadn't pushed him off of me, I'm sure he would've kissed my lips forever.
"Okay, enough." I chuckle.
Just then, a small buzz sound came from my pocket. My stomach dropped before I'd even reached for my phone.
No.
Not now.
Cameron didn't seem to notice-he was busy inspecting his shoulder in the bathroom mirror.
"I still look like a lobster."
"Slightly less like a lobster though."
I slowly slipped my phone from my pocket. The screen lit up immediately.
"What've you got there?"
My head snapped up. Cameron was looking down at me now.
"Oh." I instinctively turned the phone slightly toward myself. "Nothing."
He tilted his head. "...Nothing?"
"Just some...emails." I quickly locked the screen.
He watched me curiously.
"You usually don't hide your emails."
I laughed sheepishly. Did I?
"I wasn't hiding them."
"You kinda were."
"What? No I wasn't."
"C'mon Dixie."
I slipped the phone back into my pocket. "It wasn't important."
He didn't answer immediately, but his smile faded. Only a little. Most people probably wouldn't have noticed, but I did, because I knew his face.
Better than my own, sometimes.
His eyebrows pulled together just slightly.
"Who was it?"
My heart thumped once. Nobody had ever made a simple question sound so gentle.
"Nobody." I sigh.
"Dixie.."
"It's really nothing."
He looked at me quietly.
"Do you trust me?"
The question left my mouth before I even thought about it. Immediately I regretted asking.
His expression changed instantly. Softened, if you must.
"Dixie," He stepped closer. "Of course I trust you."
Of course.
There wasn't even any hesitation
"I just..you looked nervous, that's all." He shrugged one shoulder carefully.
"I wasn't."
"You looked nervous."
"It's..uh..work." I sigh.
That wasn't technically a lie. It also wasn't the whole truth.
"Oh," Understanding crossed his face. "your office?"
"Something like that."
He nodded once. "You don't have to work here."
"I know."
"We're on vacation."
"I know, trust me, Cam. I know."
He smiled faintly. "You keep saying you know."
"Because I do."
"I'll go grab us some breakfast." He leaned down, kissing my forehead once more.
"I want pancakes," he says.
He slipped a T-shirt over his head with a wince. "Shit!"