ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟝𝟡 #2
"Oh, hey, Tyler." Cameron turned.
The firefighter glanced at me, then back at Cameron. "Good to see you."
"You too. Make sure to start routine maintenance on the trucks, tell the others too!"
The firefighter gave Cameron a thumbs-up as he continued down the hall.
I watched him disappear. "They all call you Chief."
"That's usually how that works."
"Yeah, I know," I looked back at him. "It just sounds strange."
"Why?"
"Because you're Cameron...not Chief."
He smiled. "Well I'm also Chief at the station. Welcome to my world."
"All I'm saying is that it seems unnecessary."
"You should try calling me Chief." He grinned at me.
I stared at him. "No."
"Aw. Why not?"
"Because I'd feel ridiculous."
"Just give it a shot. Chief West."
"Absolutely not."
He laughed. I smiled despite myself.
Cameron glanced over my shoulder. Brody and Hunter were still standing there, watching us.
Cameron's eyebrows lifted. "So, what's going on?"
I lowered my voice. "They've been bothering me since I've got here."
Cameron tiled his head, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Have they?"
I nod. "They won't stop asking about the event."
He looked at me, laughing softly. "I'm guessing that kiss didn't help."
"It did not because the two of them have nothing better to do with their miserable lives."
He looked at me, laughing softly.
I leaned closer to him. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Will you hug me?"
He looked confused. "I am hugging you."
"No." I glanced toward Brody and Hunter, then whispered even quieter. "I mean properly."
He almost smiled at me. "What does that mean?"
I swallowed.
"Just..." I looked toward the two idiots again. They were still watching.
I leaned closer to Cameron's ear. "Hold me tight. And kiss me."
How was that for still married and not divorced, Brody and Hunter?
He pulled back slightly, his eyes met mine. There was a little sparkle in them.
"You want me to kiss you?"
I whispered, "Yes."
"Here?"
"Yes!"
"Because of them two?"
I hesitated, then nodded slightly, biting my lip. "Okay..maybe."
His smile grew. "What are you trying to prove?"
"Fine," I glanced away. "I just want them to know we're still together."
Dixie, you know you don't have to prove anything to them, right?"
"I know that." I mutter.
"So why do you want me to kiss you?"
I looked at him.
Because I wanted to. That was the simple, obvious answer. But I didn't feel like admitting it.
"We are still together." Cameron's expression softened.
"I know, but are we thriving?" I looked at him.
He was teasing me now. "Well, no, but-"
"Exactly! Just show them that we aren't fake."
"Alright, Mrs. West."
He laughed quietly, then his hand settled around my waist. I barely had time to breathe before he pulled me closer.
I looked up at him. "Cameron, you're supposed to-"
He kissed me right then and there. I forgot the rest of the sentence.
His lips met mine gently at first, then his arm tightened around my waist.
I closed my eyes. I had expected a quick kiss. Something short 'n sweet. Something that would make Brody and Hunter roll their eyes and move on with their lives.
That definitely was not what Cameron had in mind. His hand remained at my waist as he kissed me again, completely unconcerned with the fact that we were standing in the middle of his workplace.
I felt myself relax into him, but then I remembered where the hell we were. His station.
My face was already burning. But Cameron didn't seem remotely interested in stopping. The kiss lasted long enough that I lost track of time.
At some point, I heard Brody make a sound behind us.
I ignored him. For once, I was too busy trying to remember how to breathe with Cameron's lips on mine.
When Cameron finally pulled away, I stayed close to him for a second.
My eyes opened slowly. The first thing I saw was him smiling.
I stared at him, a little disorientated. "You were supposed to make it quick."
He looked completely innocent. "You didn't say quick."
"I implied quick."
"That doesn't change the fact that I thought you wanted to make a statement."
I glanced at Brody and Hunter. That should've been enough for them to get it. Not that we had to prove our relationship or anything, because of what happened at the program event, but whatever.
I looked toward Brody and Hunter again. They were both standing there with identical expressions of disbelief.
"Ugh.." Brody finally spoke. "Get a room."
Hunter nodded seriously. "Seriously, guys. We already watched this once last night."
I turned toward them.
Cameron shook his head. "Alright, you two."
Brody immediately straightened. "Yes, Chief?"
Hunter followed.
Cameron looked between them. "Since you both have so much free time to monitor my marriage, you can help Miller with the equipment inventory."
I tried not to smile.
Hunter's face fell. "Right now?"
"Right now." Cameron confirmed.
"But-"
"Since you seem to have nothing better to do."
Brody looked at me.
I smiled sweetly. "Enjoy!"
"This is because of you." He pointed at me.
"No. This is because you talk too much." I finish.
Hunter started walking away.
Brody followed, muttering something under his breath, then he stopped and turned around.
"Hey, Chief?"
Cameron looked at him. "What now, Brody?"
"Congrats." Brody grinned, pointing toward me. "Dixie's still obsessed with your ass."
My jaw dropped. "Brody!"
He laughed and disappeared down the hallway before I could respond.
Hunter followed him. "Love you, Chief!"
Their footsteps faded, and I stared down the hallway.
"Those two are exhausting."
"They like you." Cameron slipped his hand into mine.
"That's their version of liking someone?"
"Basically, yeah."
I looked up at him. "You should really reconsider your friendships."
""They aren't that bad." He smiled.
But they were that bad. Maybe Cameron was just too nice and loving to see.
I glanced down at our hands. His fingers were loosely intertwined with mine.
"So where's this mysterious person who's supposed to help me?"
Cameron smiled.
"Come on." He gave my hand a gentle tug.
I followed. "Where are we going?"
"My office, eventually. There's a lot of stairs."
I looked up toward the staircase. "How many are there?"
"Enough."
"I'd like a more precise answer."
He smiled. "Four floors. Four floors, Dixie."
"You have an office four floors above the training area?"
"I do."
"Why?"
"Because that's where they put it."
"Sounds like something you tell someone when you don't want to explain."
"Trust me, it isn't because I don't want to explain." He laughed at my statement.
We started walking again.
I looked around as we moved through the station. I'd been here before, but I'd never really taken the time to look.
Firefighters moved through the halls carrying equipment, talking quietly, checking radios, grabbing coffee. A few nodded at Cameron as we passed.
"Hey, Chief."
"Hey."
I looked at Cameron. "Does everyone here know everyone?"
"Pretty much. We're a team, we're bound to know each other."
I nodded at that. It made perfect sense.
We reached the staircase. "You weren't kidding."
"No, Dix."
I sighed, and we started climbing.
After the first flight, I looked at him. "So what exactly does this person do?"
I couldn't stop my series of questions.
"You'll find out. If I tell you everything now, you'll spend the next three flights bombarding me with questions."
I continued climbing. "I'm just asking what kind of lawyer he is."
"Corporate."
"With a big firm?"
"Very."
"Is it successful?"
"Very. I'm surprised you've never heard of it."
I glanced at him. "Well you're not really telling me anything."
"I'm trying to keep you from asking fifty questions."
I smiled at that, looking around. "So why him?"
"He knows people. He's helped several attorneys build independent practices."
I slowed. "Independent practices? So you're trying to convince me to open my own firm."
"I'm trying to show you that you have options."
I looked ahead at the stairs.
Options.
I hadn't really stopped to consider what could come after the firm after spending so much time thinking about it.
My own practice, with my own clients and my own decisions. No Ted deciding whether I was good enough to have the position I'd already earned.
I looked at Cameron.
He squeezed my hand. "I want you to see what's possible."
I nodded. "Okay."
We continued upward.
"Come on." He said.
We walked down another hallway until he stopped in front of a door. His office. He opened it, and I stepped inside.
It was larger than I expected.
A large desk sat near the windows, with paperwork stacked neatly along one side. A few framed certificates hung on the wall. There were shelves filled with binders, books, and folders.
Cameron glanced at me. "Wait here, 'kay?"
"Where are you going?"
"To get the man you came to meet."
I nodded. "Okay."
He pecked my cheek and gave my hand one last squeeze before letting go.
"I'll be right back." Then he disappeared through the doorway.
I turned slowly. I had never really been inside Cameron's office before.
I'd seen the station, and I've seen him work countless times, but this was different. This was his space.
I walked toward the shelves. There were photographs of Cameron with firefighters.
There was one of him receiving some kind of award, another of him standing beside Ralph.
There were a couple of Jonathan and Molly's back to school pictures, which I suspected were taken by Polly.
I smiled faintly. Then noticed a frame sitting slightly apart from the others.
My heart gave a strange little jump.
I picked it up carefully. It was a family photograph of Cameron, Jordyn and me.
I stared at it. I knew this picture.
We'd taken it years ago.
Jordyn had been wearing a little pink dress and had refused to stand still for more than three seconds. Cameron had been laughing because she'd kept trying to pull his shirt.
I remembered that day. We were at the beach.