“I’m okay. And I know I’m early, but if we can get out of here soon, it would be good. I don’t want us to be late.”
“Late for what? You haven’t told me where we’re going.”
“And I won’t until we get there. I have a car waiting for us, so the sooner we get going, the faster you get there and find out.” Cameron closed the door behind her and added, “I like your place.”
“You do not,” Lacey stated as she pulled out a pitcher because she didn’t have a vase and filled it halfway with water before she basically shoved the bouquet into it. “It’s small. You’ve seen, like, half of it already.”
“Want to give me the tour?”
“I thought we’d be late.”
“If it’s so small, how long will the tour take?”
“Um… Well, you’re only missing my bedroom, really. The bathroom is in there, so if you need to go, you can, but you were early, and I didn’t get a chance to clean up in there.”
“Got it,” Cameron replied with a small smile. “Are you ready?”
She held out her hand, and Lacey realized that she was about to take it.
“Wait. Should we? We’ll be in public.”
“We can hold hands on the way to the car and in the car, too.” Cameron moved toward her. “I know things are complicated because of me and Kennedy, but we’re going to talk to Jessie about this. Kennedy and I have been texting a little about what the plan of attack should be because Jessie may murder us.” She laughed. “We’re trying to prevent that.”
Lacey nodded, took Cameron’s hand, and said, “Okay. I wanted to do this so many times that weekend.”
“Me too,” Cameron shared.
They both looked down at their joined hands as if it was something monumental and not just two people at the start of a date holding hands for the first time. Cameron opened the door. Lacey grabbed her purse and tossed her phone in it before she forgot. Then, they were off. Cameron held her hand in the elevator, where they were alone, and even as she opened the door as well before she let go to place it on Lacey’s back as she ushered her through the door.
“You didn’t drive?” Lacey asked.
“No. I told you, I had a car waiting. I don’t plan on getting drunk, but I’d like to have a glass of wine or two tonight, and I’m not taking any chances.”
The driver of a black SUV opened the door for them, and Lacey climbed into the middle row of bucket seats. Cameron climbed in after her, and the door was closed behind them. Cameron’s arm moved over the back of her seat, and Lacey smiled at that as she looked down at her purse in her lap. When the driver got behind the wheel and took off, Cameron’s other hand moved to Lacey’s thigh. Lacey moved her purse over to her other side and put her hand on top of it.
“Too much?” Cameron asked quietly.
“No way,” she said just as quietly and squeezed Cameron’s hand.
“It’s just that once we’re out of the car, I won’t really be able to touch you like this until we’re back in it, so I wanted to take advantage. Not in a bad way. I mean–”
“You’re good, Cam. You should know that River told me that if you try anything with me, she’ll totally kick your ass.”
“Oh, yeah?” Cameron laughed.
“Yeah. So, don’t go getting any ideas.”
“You told her about us?”
“I needed help figuring out what to wear. It was okay. I think we’ll be okay.”
“Ken told me River asked her out.”
“River said Kennedy told her no.”
“She’ll come around. Kennedy likes her. She just needs a little time. Also, no way River could take me in a fight.”
Lacey laughed at that and moved her head to Cameron’s shoulder, feeling that sense of freedom she’d had that weekend come back to her for the first time since.
