Chapter 20

Twenty

Cam

"What the fuck went down in Bellehaven last night? Heard Ford was ready to whoop some ass, heard your girl actually did whoop some ass. It wasn"t a full moon, so what the hell, man? On my night off too?" Butler Jacobs, our new K-9 officer says as he comes into the station with his partner Atticus.

"Be glad it was your night off. I have no idea what half the county was smoking, but it was some good shit." I backspace about fifteen times, because the way I"ve written this report is not how I want it to sound if it"s ever read back in court. "Are you on tonight?"

"Yeah, surprised to see you here though, because I thought you were off."

"I am." I sigh. "But I didn"t have time to finish my reports last night before I had to go take care of a few things. I"m almost done, and then I"ll be heading out. I think Troy and I are headed down to the cigar bar."

"Damn, why do you all plan to do that when I"m always working?"

I don"t want to tell him it"s because we value our time together as friends, without having to worry about others listening to what we"re saying. Or that Butler is a little younger than the people we like to hang out with. Instead, I shrug. "We don"t mean to, it"s just when our schedules link up. Next time for sure."

"Alright, well I"m out. See y"all later. C"mon, Atticus."

The dog gives me a sniff before he follows his handler out into the afternoon. Glancing at my watch, it"s almost time to meet Troy, so I need to get this done, and get downtown.

Troy,Cody, and I are sitting in The Cigar Shop, nursing Bourbon and the newest cigars they got in with their shipment. "Thanks for going over to help Cassie last night." I blow a perfect ring of smoke.

Troy gives me a look. "I didn"t think it"d be good for you to be the one to go over there. It wouldn"t have done any good for anyone."

"You"re right about that. I swear if we could arrest Brandon again, I"d do it, and make it a little rough."

"I gotta give it to y"all." Cody takes a drink from his glass. "Some of the shit I see people say to you on social media and on those body cam videos. I don"t know how you keep it together, and not just want to throw your hands up. Like half the time, people get themselves in trouble just not shutting up."

"You have no damn idea." I bite down on my cigar.

Troy"s phone beeps with an incoming text. "Oh, Jesus. We gotta go get the girls."

"Why?" Cody and I ask at the same time.

"They"re too drunk to drive home. Apparently, they had a couple of pitchers, instead of one. They"re walking over here."

"The three of them?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Four. Ashley"s with them too, but don"t worry, I"ll take her home."

We signal for the check and head out into the night. There"s still a chill in the air, and I have to chuckle when I hear the four girls before I see them. They"re in the middle of singing a rather off-key version of "Friends in Low Places"—the third verse.

"Camden!" Cassie runs to me, full throttle throwing herself into my arms.

I catch her easily, lifting her up, twirling her around. "You"re in a good mood."

"Who wouldn"t be with margaritas and so much queso my blood type is cheese? Thanks for catching me."

Her cheeks are flushed, eyes shining brightly in the dim light of the square. "Are you feeling good?"

"So good. This is exactly what I needed."

"I"m glad." I hold her up, her legs locked around my waist.

Everyone waves their goodbyes as they start to head out, leaving just me and Cassie there. Bellehaven still has the lights up from Christmas, but instead of looking like a winter wonderland, it resembles more of an enchanted forest. She and I are gazing at one another, before she licks her lips. "Let me down, Cam."

I do as she asks. "Can you stand okay?"

"I"m perfectly capable." She grabs my hands in hers. "Hear that music coming from the bar over there?"

"I do." It"s some country song that likens back to the nineties.

"Will you dance with me?" She questions, her eyes showing the trepidation at asking me. The fear of rejection.

"It would be my pleasure." She reaches up, slinging her arms around my neck, I close my hand around her waist. Together we sway to the music echoing around us, not giving a shit about the people passing by, looking at us like we"ve probably lost our minds. All I care about is making Cassie happy and being worthy of the feelings that she"s had for me for so long.

"Can we twirl?" Her voice is soft in the quiet of the night.

I smirk, grabbing her hand, and turning her around in two circles. Instead of stopping, she keeps going until she spins so many times she crashes into me, holding on tightly.

"I"m dizzy." She giggles.

"Hang onto me, I"ll never let you fall, Cass."

Strong fingers grip my arms as I hold on tight. When I can tell she"s got her footing about her, I pull back, moving my hands up to her cheeks and framing her face. I don"t think about what"s going to come out of my mouth, I don"t measure the words. For the first time in my life, I let them flow. "I love the shit outta you, Cass. Your zest for life, the easy smile you have for everyone, the way your eyes twinkle when you"re super excited about something. I love it all, and I"m sick of being scared that I"ll be weak for admitting it. I love you."

Silent tears stream down her cheeks as she gazes up at me. "I love you too, Cam. Nothing more, nothing less, just all the love that I have for you."

There, in the middle of the square, the lights shining, the fountain flowing, and "Neon Moon" playing from some dive bar, I finally get over my fear of feelings, and become the man I always hoped I could be.