I settle in sideways on my seat and watch as Marcus’ lips tip up into a soft smile. He steps into Caleb’s arms, and they slowly start to sway in place. As they hold each other tightly, Marcus softly starts singing to him. I can see Caleb smiling, eyes shut, as he leans into Marcus’ body, but the expression seems to hold a hint of something bittersweet.
Then it hits me. Marcus is singing, not to him, butforhim, because he no longer can. A solitary tear manages to break free and slide down his cheek when he peers up at Marcus. Marcus kisses it away.
“Don’t cry, baby,” Marcus whispers to him, cupping his cheek. “We’re not going to mourn what we’ve lost, okay? We’re starting fresh.”
As the song starts to fade out, I pick up Caleb’s phone, not wanting to have their moment spoiled once the song ends. It fills me with so much warmth to see them starting to rebuild what crumbled between them so long ago. I scroll through the choices until I see another good song.
Marcus and Caleb both break into grins when Starship’sNothing’s Gonna Stop Us Nowstarts playing.
“Good one,” Caleb notes.
I beam, watching them playfully twirl each other around their mock dancefloor by the crackling campfire. Nothing beats the sight of it, honestly. This, whatever this is becoming, just feels so right. I mean, seriously, the two men who make me feel safest in the world also happen to share something obviously special as well.
As that song winds down, Marcus makes grabby hands for Caleb’s phone. I pass it to him. “May I?” he asks Caleb, who nods.
Marcus types something in, and shortly thereafter Steve Winwood’sHigher Lovestarts playing. He gently tosses Caleb’s phone back on his chair and then holds his hand out to me. Without giving it a second thought, I get up and dance with them.
We continue on dancing, laughing, and making each other s’mores while still listening to eighties music until the boys come back and remind us that the campground’s quiet hours are now in effect. Brody must not have indulged in too much sugar tonight because he looks wiped and ready for bed. Cameron takes Pepper for a little potty walk before settling in for the night.
Caleb taps my shoulder as I start picking everything up. He grins at me before swiping some stray marshmallow I must have missed off my bottom lip, making a show of sucking it off his thumb. I slowly lick my lips, and he eyes the motion.
“Wanna sleep over at my place tonight?” he asks me.
I glance up at Marcus. Not for permission, but because this will be a huge turning point for me, and he’s about the only one who truly knows what a big step this would be if I agree to it. I’m looking for encouragement, I guess, and assurance that where my heart is taking me is right.
As if sensing my apprehension, he curls his arm around my waist and kisses my temple. “I think you should,” he whispers. “I’m not far away. A few feet and a couple of polyester walls will be our only separation, Lo.”
“That’s right,” Caleb agrees. “And I won’t be offended if you want to try it and it’s too much and you change your mind, Lauren.”
"I want to," I tell him assuredly,because I really do.
I'm ready to take this next step. It'll be weird, for sure, not sleeping next to the one man who has been by my side every night, but the longer I stand here mentally hyping myself up that I can do this, the more I can acknowledge that I'm feeling quite excited more than anxious.
I suck in a deep breath and smile broadly. "I can do this."
Marcus presses a kiss to the top of my head. "That's my girl."
Caleb smirks. "Mine tonight…"
I snort. "Chill out Mister Possessive and Mister More-Possessive. Neither of youownme."
Caleb shakes his head, grinning. "Have I told you lately how much I adore your thorny personality? Marcus is right, you are a dark rose."
I shoot him a droll look. “Keep bolstering his ego—ganging up on me—and you’llbothbe sleeping alone tonight.” I nod at the hammock.
“No, no. Come on, stay. I’ll behave,” Caleb signs quickly. Then he bites his lip, giving me a sly smirk, adding, “Kind of.”
Chapter Sixteen
Iam, without a shadow of a doubt and undeservedly so, the luckiest man on the planet tonight. Though they talk with their hands when Cam has his hearing aids out and Brody is without his cochlear, the laughter in their tent has trailed off significantly, rendering me fairly certain that they’re both either already asleep, or just about there. Lauren and I zipped our two sleeping bags together, and currently, she’s snuggled up next to me.
She hums contentedly, trailing one of her fingernails around the lines of my stomach. It kind of tickles, but it’s also turning me on—knowing she’s admiring my body. Despite slowly growing aroused by her touch, I am holding strong on letting her initiate any sort of intimacy. It’s just so damn hard—pun unintentional—when I finally have her in my bed next to me. And though we only have a thin pad separating us from laying on well packed earth, having her curled up next to me promises that tonight will be a hell of a lot more comfortable.
She’s using one of my biceps as a pillow, so I curl my arm around her and run my fingers through her mahogany-toned strands. She peers up at me, her pillowly lower lip slowly slides out from underneath her teeth. “This feels good,” she assures me.
A broad smile splits my face. “Good,” I sign back with my free hand.
She reaches up, her fingertip grazing over my scar. She doesn’t appear repulsed by it. Rather, she appears to be admiring it, so I tilt my head back, allowing her a better look. “I wish I knew what your voice sounded like sometimes,” she hums, then she shakes her head. “Sorry, that came out wrong. I don’t mean to make you feel bad; I’m sure you miss it.”
