21. Camden #2
This was the one time screaming was okay - after the event was over.
She looked up and waved. I doubt she heard me, but I could hope.
At some point, Luke and I hugged and started jumping, but after a few seconds, we realized what was happening and both stopped.
After all, his parents were two rows in front of us.
We ended up standing there in a horrendously awkward way, as if it didn’t just happen.
It was the first time I felt bad for not being out. I shouldn’t have cared, either. It wasn’t that big of a deal, but usually men weren’t affectionate like that. At least, not in America. But guys in sports did that all the time, didn’t they? I was overthinking it. But then he pulled away too?
"We're overthinking this," Luke said.
"You read my mind."
And then we both continued to cheer and scream until the serious medal ceremony where they played our anthem. And even though it wasn't me on the podium, I still cried a little.
After waiting outside with everyone for the girls to emerge and giving Erika a big hug, everyone was off to do their own thing for the night.
I wasn’t sure what the Sheas were up to, but the Hales were heading into the city.
Luke’s parents were talking to Coach, but it seemed like they were going to spend the evening with Luke.
He didn’t say it, but I could tell he was disappointed.
I knew he’d rather be with me and my mom or the Hales.
As for me, I was looking forward to spending time with my mom. And tell her the truth about me. It was becoming more apparent that I had less reasons to hide and frankly, I was getting sick of pretending. It felt fake and I hated lying.
Tyler called me in for a bro-hug. It’s the type of hug where you give a half-assed hand grab slash handshake with one hand and then pat their back with the other hand while bumping half of your chest together. Or your shoulder if you wanted to touch even less.
Under normal circumstances, I found it unappealing, but right now, I could’ve kissed him for it. Because it meant Luke and I could do the same.
"Have a good time," I whispered.
"You too, babe."
I said my goodbyes to the rest of the Hales, and my mom and I headed for her hotel. She wanted to put her 'Go USA' poster away, and we still needed to decide what to do with our afternoon.
After she changed her outfit, and with some deliberation, we settled on the botanical garden.
Although it wasn’t the most direct route, we walked along the river so we could see more of the city.
It took us less than thirty minutes and I was able to catch up on what had been happening at home with her friends and the flower shop.
Isabel was apparently getting serious with the guy she was dating and Mom wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be around to help at the shop since he lived closer to the other side of Florida.
I took that as my opportunity to ask if she had thought any more about dating.
As she paid our admission, she admitted having thought about it, but hadn’t been on any websites or dates yet.
I was relieved, but tried not to show it.
This was progress. I knew my father would always be with us, but I wanted my mom to have someone to share her life with.
She needed a partner. I had a glimpse of what I had been missing in my life after just a few days with Luke.
Who knew that’s what it felt like? I wanted that feeling for her.
“Good. I’m glad to hear it,” I said.
“Don’t sound too excited. I don’t need to rush into anything.”
“I know, I know, Mom, but I’m happy that you’re thinking about it.”
“Hm-mmm,” she hummed. “Since you mentioned it, how are things in that department with you?”
As luck would have it, a little bird landed on my head just as she finished the question. We were in the Australian rainforest area, surrounded by colorful flowers. I screamed a little. “Ah, what is it? What’s it doing?” I asked.
“Oh my goodness, Cam. This is adorable. It’s a little lorikeet. I think it likes your hair. It’s like grooming you or something. Hold still.”
“What?! Why?”
“I’m taking a picture. Smile! Oh, your followers will love this.”
“Oh please, Mom. They won’t care, it’s a tiny bird.”
“Trust me, and smile, Cam. Now!”
And I had to. The ridiculousness of the situation was too much.
I had a bird on my head and I was a little freaked out, but my Mom was thinking about social media.
My head was angled down from my discomfort, so to look at her, I had to look up.
I gave her the best smile I could, because I liked giving her what she wanted.
“Oh, that was perfect! Totally Australia!”
“Okay, that’s enough,” I said to the bird, but it continued to sit up there. I stomped my foot. I was not about to shoo it away and have it bite me or something. “Mom, do something,” I whined.
“I don’t know what to do, honey. I’m not an ornithologist. Try walking over to that red tree. See if it will hop onto the branch with the flowers.”
I walked, as if on a tightrope, over to the tree.
An Illawarra Flame Tree, according to the sign.
And then kind of pushed my head towards the branch.
After a few seconds of nothing, I walked under the branch, kind of brushing the bird with the leaves, and that worked.
It had to hop off. I ran back over to my mom.
Instinctively, I shook my arms out and brushed my fingers through my hair.
“Oh my god, Cam. This could be the cover of a magazine,” she said, holding out her phone.
"I'm fine, in case you were wondering."
Oh damn, I look good.
And I did. The sunlight was coming through the trees just enough to give a gentle glow. The bright plumage of the bird really stood out in my blonde hair, and my blue shirt popped, framed by the red flowers in the background. It looked like a professional photoshoot, honestly.
“You barely post anything. You should post it. Isn’t that a thing your team was told to do?”
“Yes,” I answered, begrudgingly.
“Well, it’s perfect then. It’s touristy without being kitsch. It shows native Australian wildlife. And you’re extremely handsome,” she said, almost singsong.
“Okay, okay. Send it to me, and I’ll post.”