“It’s a guy thing?” she interrupted to ask.
He decided not to lie. Holding her gaze for a moment, he said, “No. It’s not a guy thing.”
“Oh.”
He saw the questioning look in her eyes, but he wasn’t ready to tell her what she meant to him just yet, so he changed the subject. “Speaking of Rae, how is she adjusting to living in America?”
“She’s okay. I think she’s met a guy she likes.”
“Already? That’s fast. She’s only been there a few months.”
“I guess not everybody drags their feet when they see someone they want.”
He nodded, accepting the rebuke. She was right. “I guess not. If she’s happy, then I’m happy. I like her a lot. And not just because she’s one of your best friends. She’s a good person.”
“She definitely is. I am blessed to have both of you in my life, Dre.”
It was time to go for broke. Drawing in a deep breath, he said, “We’ve been friends for a long time, Cam. But I’m starting to think that’s not enough. Is there another role that I could play in your life? Maybe one that brings us even closer?”
***
Camille leaned against the counter for support. He’d asked. She couldn’t believe it. A few days ago, when she mentioned she was getting cold feet, Rae told her to warm them up, which was why she was wearing the socks. They were subliminal motivation, urging her to go for what she wanted.
Before dinner, she’d wondered if Dre had noticed the chemistry between them. And now, it looked like she had her answer.
Being together on the slopes had helped. He’d had to help her get reacquainted with skiing, so he’d had to touch her a lot, making sure she placed her hips and thighs in the right position as she skied, and that her equipment was sized perfectly to fit her. Each time they had touched, a little ball of need had burst to life at the pit of her stomach.
When she had walked into the kitchen to help with dinner, she’d been aware not only of his good looks, but also the stunning male power and strength he managed to radiate. She’d seen it before, but now, alone in the kitchen, it hit her hard.
“Cam?”
He was waiting for her answer, and she turned to look back at him. Even now, a crackle of energy was passing between them, hot and raw.
“I don’t want to lose our friendship, Dre. And I’m so afraid I might, if I give you a truthful answer.”
“That will never happen, Cam. You will always mean everything to me.”
Everything? She drew in a deep breath, knowing his definition of everything might not be the same as hers. But still, since he had asked, she would answer. Holding his gaze, she said, “Yes, Dre, for years I’ve wanted you to play another role in my life. I’ve had countless dreams about it. That one day you wouldn’t be just my best friend, but also my boyfriend, lover, fiancé, husband, and the father of my children. I could see us together, you working on your plays, me doing my therapy work, and the two of us raising a family. And in my dreams, we would live happily ever after…because I’ve loved you forever.”
Releasing a deep breath, she swiped at the tears that threatened to fall. She’d put her heart out there. Would he crush her dreams? “I sound pretty pathetic, don’t I?”
He slowly crossed the kitchen, walking over to her with an unreadable expression on his face, and took her hand. “You don’t sound pathetic at all. Because that would make me pathetic, too.”
“Pathetic, too? Why?”
He drew in a deep breath. “I have something to give you, and it’s something I should have given you years ago.”
Camille lifted a curious brow. “What is it?”
“Wait right here, and I’ll go get it.”
She watched him walk off to head in the direction of his bedroom. He returned moments later carrying what looked like a journal. This is what Kassie asked you to give me.”
“A journal?” she asked, accepting it from him.
“It’s more than that, Cam. Since I was in high school, I have been recording things in it. Namely, poems I would write to you.”
She blinked in surprise. “You wrote me poems?”
