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The walls around my mind and heart are shifting, crumbling, and being rebuilt, all at once. It’s fucking aggravating. I want to just go on a date that is this incredible and pursue it. I want to be able to do whatever the fuck I want. But most of all, I want to be able to tell the truth.
I want to be able to introduce myself with my real name, tell people about my real past, my parents, my life, me. But instead, as Cam opens up about his life, I feed him lies, born from twisted truths. And that feels like a sucker punch to the gut.
In the bits of myself that I did reveal, woven perfectly in the untruths, it felt refreshing. It was one of the first real conversations I’d had in a long time. Well, with someone other than Chloe. I love her and am so thankful for her, but I needed this.
On top of learning about some of the big things in his life, I learned little things. His favorite color is blue. His comfort movie is Thor: Ragnarok. His favorite TV show right now is Stranger Things.
He has a soft spot for kids. He spoke of Laura and Alec’s son, Jack, like he was the proudest uncle in the world.
He enjoys reading, although he doesn’t get to do it much with his schedule. I would like to see how many hours he spends scrolling on social media. Probably enough time to read a book a week, I bet.
Everything I have learned about him makes me hate that this inevitably has to come to an end. I could talk to him forever. But he also informed me that they will leave tomorrow morning. It’s for the best. For him and for me.
I work in the morning. And it’s already after ten, and I still have a full face of makeup to clean and to do my routine for bed.
“I should get going soon. I’ve gotta be up at five tomorrow,” I say, trying to hide any sadness in my voice that this is coming to a close.
The second I say that, the energy shifts. All happiness seems to drain from us.
“Yeah. I have to leave early tomorrow with Alec, Laura, and Jack. We have to return the rental and fly back, and then I have practice tomorrow night. I should try to get some sleep,” he says, but doesn’t make a move to leave.
Which means I get to be the bad guy.
I scoot my chair out and quickly text Chloe to come get me. She only lives about two blocks over, so it shouldn’t take her long.
Cam joins me at my side, handing me my roses, which I immediately take a deep inhale of. That is one of the greatest smells on earth. With each step we take towards the door, my like for Cam grows, as well as the desire to never leave this date.
“Thank you for the roses, for dinner, for one of the best nights that I’ve had in a long time,” I say honestly.
He opens the door for me, and I step outside, instantly scanning the surroundings for anything suspicious. All while also looking for Chloe’s car, which is nowhere in sight. I quickly check my phone—no new messages. I’m trying not to have a damn anxiety attack at the thought that I’m going to have to walk the two blocks to Chloe’s house.
Cam turns, somehow noticing my shift in mood. “Is everything okay?”
I scan the street once more, hoping that I’ll spot her Porsche any second. But I don’t see her anywhere.
I keep my voice even and calm. “Oh, Chloe is probably just running a few minutes late. Don’t worry.”
Without a second of hesitation, he says, “I’m going to worry. And there’s no way in hell that I’m leaving you out here with no ride home, Little Dove. I’m waiting with you.”
I smile up at him as heavy silence falls on us, and questions flutter through my mind. What happens now? Who should start this conversation? Who should end it?
I incessantly check my phone over the next minute or so as we wait for Chloe to show up, but she hasn’t texted back or called.
Shit. She probably fell asleep. She was supposed to pick me up at nine thirty, and now, it’s almost eleven.
“Just let me give you a ride. It’s getting chilly, and not to sound like a total dad, but I would blame myself if you got sick from this when my car is nice and warm,” Cam says with that impeccably smooth tone.
My heart is fucking melting, but I’m much too aware of the reality of our situation to become a puddle at his feet.
“That’s sweet, Cameron, but I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” I say as my chest feels tighter than usual.
He rocks back and forth a few times before saying, “How long are we going to wait out here before you stop being so stubborn and let me drive you?”
I playfully glare at him. “I am not that stubborn.”
“I’m sorry, did you not discuss your stubbornness when we were talking about star signs earlier, you little Taurus?” He smirks.
My chest flutters at the details he remembers from that conversation. I’m about to say some smart-ass remark back, but it really is starting to get cold, and Chloe has yet to respond.
