Chapter 20

Monday is a school holiday,and my only plan for the day is to sleep in and stay in bed for as long as possible. This plan is shot down by the ringing of my phone on the bedside table, “Take Me with U”pouring through the air. I swat towards the noise, groaning as I make contact and pull the phone to my ear, then tap the screen to answer the call.

“Camden,” I whine. “It is a holiday.”

“It’s eight thirty,” he snorts. “I’m kind of surprised you didn’t wake up and make me run with you this morning.”

“I was trying to sleep in,” my arm lands over my eyes.

“Yeah, well, you’re awake now,” I can hear the grin in Cam’s voice. “And I’m bored. Dad went into the office to look over some case notes, and it’s too quiet here. Can I come over?”

“Sure,” I yawn. “I’ll be here.”

I hear Cam laughing as I lower the phone back to the table and roll over, hugging my pillow and closing my eyes. My mouth opens wide in a yawn, and I burrow my face into the cotton. I think I doze back off, but part of me is aware of the sound of a door opening and closing sometime later.

Voices sound from downstairs, Cam’s lower timbre blending with Beth’s higher laughter and my mom’s rich warm tone. My eyes remain closed, and I take a slow steadying breath as I fight the losing battle with consciousness. The creak of my door opening alerts me to Camden’s presence. He shuts the door behind him and pads across my floor. I feel the edge of the bed depress as he sits next to me, turning to stroke a curl behind my ear.

“Scoot over,” he whispers.

I worm my way closer to the wall on my side, laying on the edge of the pillow. Cam’s warm body lines up against my back as he lies down on the bed, and I sigh happily when his warm arm falls across my waist. When I finally find myself more awake than asleep, I turn my head slightly so I can look at him.

“Good morning,” I murmur.

“Good morning.”

I grin, and Cam presses a kiss to my shoulder blade. Yawning, I roll under his arm and turn to face him. My brown eyes settle on his blue ones and crinkle in the corners. My hands reach forward, messing with the hem of his shirt idly.

“What did you want to do today?”

“Well,” he brings one hand under his cheek. “They’ve got new movies at the theater, that new romcom and some sort of spy thriller. We could go check one out, if you want?”

“Sure, that sounds fun.” I yawn and blink quickly, forcing my eyes wider open for a moment to keep myself awake.

“You, uh,” he raises an eyebrow. “Wanna get dressed, first?”

“What?” I look down, pulling back as if I’m affronted. “You don’t like this look?”

“Uh,” Cam lifts the blankets. “Not that I’m not a fan of this whole ‘plaid fleece’ chic thing you have going on, but I will not be seen in public with you like this.”

A surprised laugh bursts from my chest, and I shove at his shoulder.

“Get out of my bed, judgey!”

Cam chuckles, pulling me closer to him and kissing me before rolling off the bed and landing on his feet. He crosses to the closet, peeking through the open door and then flipping through my shirts until he stops at one of my favorites. The black cotton comes flying towards me, and I laugh as it lands on my face.

I sit up in bed and tug my sleep shirt over my head. Cam, standing by my dresser, is pretending not to watch me from the corner of his eyes. A grin spreads across my face, and I flex and sit up a little straighter, stretching before I slide the new shirt on. When my head pokes through the top Cam stands in front of me holding a pair of sweats and underwear from my drawers. His cheeks are flushed pink and his eyes could start a fire.

“Tease,” he accuses, setting the pile on my bed and kissing my forehead before heading for the hall. “Five minutes!”

He shuts the door behind him, and I get out of bed and shuck my dirty clothes. I tug on my new pants, toss my pajamas into my dirty clothes hamper, and try to quickly tug my blankets into some sort of order. My sneakers rest next to my dresser, and I slide my feet into them before heading for the hallway. Ducking into the bathroom, I hurry through my morning routine. Mouth feeling fresh and hair wet and forced into submission with a comb and hair product, I finally jog down the stairs.

Beth and Cam are lounging on the couch, watching something on the living room television. She’s lying upside down, her feet hooked over the back and hair dangling to the floor, while Cam leans against the arm on the side opposite her and curls his feet up onto the cushions. When they see me on the steps they both glance up at me. Beth quickly loses interest, looking back to the tv, but Cam raises an eyebrow.

“That was not five minutes,” he states.

“Yeah, well,” I grin as I reach the landing. “This kind of perfection takes more than five minutes.”

“Should’ve taken longer,” Beth snorts.

I narrow my eyes at my bratty little sister, then at my boyfriend who laughs along with her antics. I’m being ganged up on, in my own home! Ridiculous.

“Well, I’m ready now,” I tug my shirt straight. “When’s the movie start?”

“What movie?”

“Arctic Rogue,” I answer.

“That spy movie?” she scrambles upright. “Can I come with you guys?”

“What?” I arch a brow. “Why?”

“To rob the bank next door,” she rolls her eyes. “Why else?”

“Right, just,” I shake my head. “It’s just not the kind of movie you usually watch.”

“Yeah, because Mom and Casey only like chick flicks,” she shrugs. “But this one looks pretty cool. Besides it has Marcus Rhiandon in it and he’s, like, super hot.”

“Bethany!” My jaw drops. “He’s like 50.”

“And thriving.” Beth shrugs. “Give me just a minute, and I’ll be ready to go?”

“Sure,” I glance at Cam.

“Cool!”

Beth squeals and darts from the room, and Cam chuckles as he puts his feet on the floor.

“She’s not wrong about Marcus,” he grins. “The man’s a silver fox.”

“Oh?” I cross my arms over my chest and cock one eyebrow high on my forehead. “Should I feel threatened? Maybe we shouldn’t go see this movie after all…”

Cam laughs at that, standing and checking over his shoulder for my mom before he pecks a quick kiss to my lips. I grin as warmth spreads through my body, and my arms slide down to my sides. My hands ball into fists, holding myself back from reaching for my boyfriend.

“Is it okay that she’s coming?” I worry my lip. “She asked and I kind of didn’t have time to ask, I know it was maybe kind of supposed to be a date, I didn’t mean to like… Make it not about us…”

“Babe,” he smiles gently. “Of course it’s okay! It’s gonna be a great time.”

My shoulders relax, and I don’t think I realized how worried I’d been for a second there. Casey’s voice in my head reminds me that I didn’t make enough time for only her… I don’t want to do that again, to Cam. I just like spending time with Beth and Cam, with Casey too. It’s a relief that I can do things with all of my favorite people, without my boyfriend feeling upset that it isn’t just the two of us.

In just a few minutes Beth’s door swings inward, and she hurries down to join us as if she thinks we’re going to leave her. We pop into the kitchen to let Mom know we’re all heading to the movies, and she tries to push us to smuggle illicit snacks inside our pockets. I feel a flush rise to my cheeks, though this is nowhere near the most embarrassing thing Cam has heard my mother say. The two of us resist the pressure, heading out the door to where Glory is parked in front of the house. Beth, the gremlin, chases after us a few moments later shoving plastic baggies into the sleeves of a sweater.

“Don’t you think that’s a little suspicious?” I ask with a grin as we pull away from the curb. “It’s a little hot for a sweater.”

“First of all, it’s October 8th.” Beth sticks her chin up. “That means it’s officially fall. And second, it’s always cold in that movie theater. And third, mind your own business, narc.”

“Jesus,” I mutter. “I didn’t even do anything!”

Cam just smiles from behind the wheel, used to us after years of exposure therapy. He rumbles down Main Street, towards our town square. Most of the four quadrants surrounding the square are taken up by banks and legal offices, the convenient access to the courthouse in the middle setting the tone. The exceptions lie in the southeastern quadrant, which holds a three screen movie theater next to the bank on one side and a nice restaurant and a coffee shop breaking up the offices on the other side.

We pull into the lot, finding a spot with free parking near the back row, and scramble out of the truck to make it in time for the previews. I grin at Cam as he holds the door open for us, and he gives me a quick private wink that makes me curl my toes. I tamp down a smile as we step into the carpeted lobby, the smell of buttered popcorn filling the air. Beth floats to the counter, rattling and crinkling, and all I can do is laugh and shake my head as I step to the front desk and purchase our tickets and leave the snacks to them.

Beth turns with a massive cardboard tub of popcorn, shining with melted butter. Cam’s got three soda cups in hand, balanced carefully in a triangle he’s keeping hold of against his chest as they follow me down the hall to the right and to the big theater in the back. This screen is the largest of the three, with one door on either side of the building. The projector room is up top in the center, filtering blue light across to take up the screen. The previews have already begun, and music fills the air from speakers fixed to the walls under now-dim sconces.

The screen goes dark as we walk around the corner, the small lights on the stairs helping us find the correct row more than the faint glow from the screen. When we’ve reached our seats Cam turns to the right, following the walkway down until he’s at the wall. I sit next to him, Beth to my right on the aisle seat, and settle the popcorn in my lap. My sister shakes her arms, working her contraband snacks down to her wrist to slip the candy out. I’m enthralled as the previews flash across the screen, leaning forward slightly, and jump as I feel something brush against my left hand.

Glancing down, I see Cam’s fingers searching for my own, subtly, in the dark space between our legs. I try to stifle a smile as I extend my pinky, catching his, and link our hands together. He gives my palm a squeeze as the movie starts playing, and I relax back into my seat to watch. We watch the movie together, connected, in the privacy of our dark corner.

Just before the lights come on Cam pulls his hand back, stretching his arms wide over his head. Beth’s hand reaches for the last bit of popcorn, shoving it into her mouth with one hand as she wipes her eyes with the other.

“God,” she laughs. “I feel like a baby, but that was so good!”

“Yeah,” I turn around, glancing at Camden for only a second. “It was great.”

“What’d you think, Cam?” Beth asks as she takes the bucket from my hands.

“I loved it.”

His eyes are focused on mine when he says that, and my heart catches in my throat. I feel a shift on my side and turn to see Beth starting into the aisle. I quickly follow her down the stairs, trying not to slip on crushed popcorn and hoping I’m not blushing by the time we step into the better lit hallway and head back to the lobby.

“Y’all ready to go?” I ask, tossing the empty drink cups into an open trash can.

“We’ve gotta get our popcorn refill, first,” Camden and Beth say in sync.

We all stop for a moment, blinking, then burst into laughter. If that doesn’t show that we maybe spend too much time together I don’t know what does… My sister grins up at him.

“A man after my own heart,” she crows.

“The movie is over.” I shake my head. “You’re really going to go get that refill now, just because it’s included in the large?”

“Well, duh,” he laughs. “We paid for the refill, so we’re getting it!”

“I love you,” I say easily, my tone dripping with affection, as I watch my laughing boyfriend.

But suddenly, the laughter stops. His eyes widen a fraction of an inch, and I feel the blush rush from my face. My stomach clenches tight.

No, no, I did not just say that! In the middle of the movie theater lobby! In front of my sister!

“Man,” I try to recover, punching at his arm. “Like, you know, I love you bro,” Beth is looking at me like she thinks I’m having a stroke. “Not like, I’m in love with you, necessarily, haha, just because you’re my best friend so I love you.”

Stop saying I love you!

“Do you need a minute, weirdo?” Beth quirks an eyebrow.

“No,” I clear my throat. “You know, I’m just gonna stop by the bathroom real quick, before we go. I’ll be right back.”

I hurry off before they can say anything, darting down to the men’s bathroom. The handle squeaks as I turn the sink on, cupping my hands under the cool water and ducking my head to splash my face. I turn the water back off with a slow exhale, reach for a paper towel to pat my face dry, and stand up to look in the mirror with a start when I see the bathroom door closing behind-

“Cam,” I turn to face him. “Sorry, I know that was-”

He cuts me off, surging towards me and pressing his lips against mine. My eyes close and I drop the paper towel to the ground, clinging instead to the soft cotton of his t-shirt as he presses me back against the cold porcelain of the sink. I gasp, and he takes the opportunity to consume me for a moment before he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine.

“I love you, too,” he breathes.

A slow grin spreads across my face, heat pools in my stomach, and I tug him close to me again. It’s my turn this time. I engage my calf muscles to lift myself a few inches higher, sucking on his bottom lip. We stumble slightly off balance and Cam spins me around, pinning me instead against the wall as he tangles one hand in my hair and hooks a finger into my belt loop to tug me close as we fall into each other. When we finally break apart a breathless laugh slides past my lips.

“We’re in the bathroom,” I tug on his shirt. “In the movie theater.”

“Yeah,” he grins and shrugs.

“Not very romantic, is it?”

“I don’t know,” Cam tucks a stray curl behind my ear. “Feels pretty perfect to me.”

“I love you.” I grin.

“I love you too… bro.”

He cackles as I swat at his chest, and I can’t even be mad about it. I jump as Beth’s open palm smacks against the door, and the public location of our revelation suddenly feels stark.

“Everything okay?” she calls through the door. “Caw twice, or I’m sending in a rescue party.”

“Beth,” I grumble under my breath.

Camden swoops in for one last kiss then releases me, stepping back and giving us both a second to compose ourselves before he swings the door open. Beth cocks a brow, hands on her hips, and pops her weight to one foot.

“You didn’t caw.”

“Go, brat,” I roll my eyes, but I feel like my feet don’t touch the ground as we stroll through the lobby and back to the parking lot.

Back at the truck I scoot in to take the middle seat, fixating on adjusting the radio as an excuse as Beth slides into the seat next to me. The whole way home I press my leg against Cam’s feeling the butterflies in my stomach the entire time. I’m not sure if it’s been two minutes or two hours before we’re back in front of my house, Beth slipping out of the passenger seat with a shouted thanks to Cam and pulling the empty bags from her pockets. She jogs to the front porch, eager to tell Mom all about the movie we’ve just seen, and I shift to face Cam.

“Thank you, for today.”

“Thank you for coming,” he grins. “I had a really great day.” Cam glances at the front of my house quickly before he leans in. “I love you,” he murmurs, as if someone might hear if he spoke any louder.

I meet him halfway, kissing him for a moment before I pull back and grin.

“I love you, too.” I slide across the bench seat and throw the door open, standing with one hand in my pocket and the other on the door. “See you tomorrow.”

“Bye,” he grins, waving as I shut the door,

He waits out front until I’m safely inside, pulling away from the curb and down the street towards his house. I lean against the wall in the entryway with a happy sigh, letting a goofy grin spread across my face before I school my expression to one more appropriate for having seen a pretty good movie with my sister and best friend, and follow my mom’s voice to the kitchen.

Camden Holt loves me.

I kind of want to shout it from the top of the courthouse… I’m the luckiest guy in town.