Chapter 18
Camilla
“Ididn’t know we were supposed to wear costumes,” I say after taking a look around the cafe. “Some of them look so real.”
“I guess some people thought it would make for a better presentation.” Stone whisper-yells in my ear as he leads me through the sea of people. His warm breath tickles across my skin. Focus on anything but him!
“Wow, what a crowd!”
There’s standing room only. I can’t help but wonder if people are buying my desserts. I should look where I’m going, but instead I peek at what’s on the customers’ plates as we pass the tables. I’m giddy when I see something I baked being eaten. Until I crash into Stone’s muscular back.
I’m reminded of his strength as a flash of him carrying tree trunks like they were bags of groceries comes to mind. I reach up and drag my fingers down his spine as I apologize. His muscles feel more like cables. He shivers under my touch.
The music is loud but not overpowering or blaring.
A projector screen has been placed against a side wall with an open area the size of two large refrigerators between the wall and the crowd for the dance area.
Raven straps a bracelet around the contestant’s wrists as they dance along to a video game for a score.
“That’s the last of our solo contestants. Now it’s time for our couples.” People hoot and holler. It seems like everyone is having a good time.
I look around, but I don’t see my parents, and I wonder if they reconsidered coming.
I hope so. Stone finds a spot for us to stand against a wall that’s flanked by the counter.
He turns to face the action. Big, strong hands grip my hips as he guides me to stand in front of him.
He holds me tight so that my back is flush against his front and wraps his arms around my waist.
“They moved the tables,” Stone mansplains when the room settles down. “To make more room.”
“I’ve been here before, remember?”
A low growl sounds in his throat, and I think it’s in reaction to my smart-ass answer. I don’t realize I’m moving to the music until Stone bends so that he can lean his head on my shoulder. “You keep moving like that, and you’re going to find out there’s more stone to me than my name.”
Oh, my. It’s getting warm in here! Figures he would go there. Still, my pulse ticks up. Now, I’m conscious that my booty is brushing against him. And do I feel? Is he really? Mind out of the gutter, Cami! I focus on breathing.
Was Stone serious about wanting this to be a real date?
He sure is making it feel real. And so far, it’s one of the better ones I’ve had in a while.
I can’t help myself; I want to touch him so badly.
I rest my hands on his thick, solid thighs and rub them up and down.
I’m playing with fire, but I can’t help myself.
The flame burns so brightly, it’s hypnotizing.
“Can you see?” Stone asks. “Do you want to sit on my shoulders?”
“I’m fine down here on the ground.” And with keeping my hooha further away from your mouth.
“For our last couple,” Cayden announces. “Let’s hear it for Cami of the delicious Cami’s Confections.” I’m stunned that he called me out. Even more so when there aren’t just cheers for me, but actually whoops as well. “And for our favorite construction worker, Stone Flint.”
“I’m going to kill that mother—”
“Come on,” I take him by his big calloused hand, “It’ll be fun.”
To my surprise, Stone comes along somewhat willingly. My bravado disappears as the light on the projector screen disappears. Oh no.
“We have something really special to close out our first annual dance-off,” Raven says. When the cheering dies down, she continues. “Instead of using our console to lead the dance, we actually have our very own Jingle to lead it!”
Everyone cheers as a man dressed like a reindeer comes to join us, seemingly from out of nowhere. His costume is amazing. I don’t see any zippers or breaks between the costume and his skin. It’s like he’s part man, part reindeer.
“Just follow my lead, okay?”
I look at Stone, who’s looking at me with a somewhat frightened look on his face.
“Okay.”
Once I nod, so does he.
The music starts. I haven’t heard this song before, but it has an awesome beat, and the moves are somewhat easy.
And then the reindeer twerks. His behind bounces, and the crowd cheers as the lyric rings out, “Make it jiggle.” Losing myself in the moment, I do my best to forget about the crowd and pretend I’m alone, dancing in my living room.
The next lyric says, “Make ‘em wiggle.” Lord knows I have plenty on top to shimmy and make my tatas dance.
“Wiggle, jiggle until you make it snow.”
I’m only vaguely aware of the crowd clapping along.
Back to the simple steps, then he instructs us to face each other and not to stop wiggling and jiggling until we make it snow.
Like magic, as the song ends, fake snow falls in the cafe.
The crowd goes wild with cheers and applause.
I’m not sure if it’s for us or the effects.
I don’t care. I’m jubilant, and I throw myself into Stone’s arms. He wraps them around me, kisses me on top of the head, and lifts my feet off the ground as he spins me around.
People come over to congratulate us. Stone seems to know everyone and takes time to introduce me to them. I notice that most couples seem to be into some sort of animal fetish, but who am I to judge?
“You were so amazing!” A familiar-looking woman says as she approaches us, and that voice, I know I’ve heard it before. “If you don’t mind, I’d love to do an exposé on you and your bakery before Cami’s Confections opens.”
“Sure, that would be great.”
“It will just broadcast on our community access station,” she says, making a weird face. “But everyone watches my show, and you’ll be a huge success.” She reaches out and squeezes my hand.
“Sounds great. How do I contact you?”
“Don’t worry,” The man she’s with, who for some reason is dressed like the Grim Reaper, adds. “Raven has Celeste’s number.” He looks down at her with admiration in his eyes. It’s so sweet, I wish a man would look at me like that. Wait, no, I don’t. I don’t need a man in my life.
“Are you ready, honey?” The couple walks out just as I place the beautiful woman.
“OH MY GOD! Was that Celeste Bonacoeur from Celeste’s Bests?” I ask Stone, as if he’d know.
He shrugs. “I guess. I know she was a popular influencer before she moved here.”
“This is where she lives! Here, in Erie Cove, and she wants to do an exposé on my bakery?”
“Seems like it.”
With my hands on his shoulders, I jump up and down with excitement. Stone takes hold of my arms as I feel a tap on my shoulder.
“Honey, you were wonderful!” Mom beams at me. And... back to reality.
“That’s what they call dancing these days?” Dad criticizes.
Stone wraps his arm around my waist and tucks me against his side. It feels good to be held by a man with mass. Someone that I don’t feel out of place with.
“I’m afraid so, sir.”
“Well, you two certainly did bring the house down.”
Stone shakes Dad’s hand.
“Thanks. I thought you changed your mind about coming.”
“We had a flat tire, and since we already checked out of the hotel, I wanted to take care of that first, so we can drive home tonight.”
“I’m glad you made it.” And surprisingly, I am.
“You look happy, honey.”
I look up at Stone, who’s looking back at me. The look in his gray eyes fills me with an emotion I’ve never experienced. It’s overwhelming, and I don’t know how to describe it.
“I am. Very happy.”
“I do wish we had more time to get to know you, son,” Dad extends his hand to Stone for a handshake, as Mom gives me a hug and a kiss goodbye. “Take good care of my little girl.”
“Will do, sir.”
Mom leans in and gives Stone a kiss on the cheek as Dad hugs and kisses me.
I watch my parents leave with my mouth open.
They accepted Stone. Even though he’s not a doctor.
Even though there was no talk of marriage.
Even though they must know that if I am as serious about him as I pretended to be, I’ll never move back home.
They didn’t just accept Stone. Finally, they accepted me.