17. Sloane

CHAPTER 17

SLOANE

W as last night a dream? Or did I finally kiss Cam Crawford in real life?

I roll over, the masculine scent of Cam drifting from my pillow. He was definitely here, in this room. And I wasn’t drinking tequila this time, either. So I’m going with yes, all of last night was indeed very, very real.

Our first kiss.

Cam reading The World’s Most Embarrassing Email.

Then the best part—the grand finale—and my personal favorite: him running back to my room, confessing his true feelings, and kissing me again.

It was a scene straight from the most romantic movie, complete with a Taylor Swift soundtrack playing in my head on loop. I can’t stop smiling as I text Gracelyn.

Sloane: You’re never going to believe what happened last pm!

Bestie: You got to watch ESPN 3 instead of 1 or 2? Lol

Sloane: MUCH better than that. Although ESPN 3 sometimes has ice skating and I do love watching the pairs

Bestie: Ratface called and apologized?

Sloane: I said you wouldn’t believe it, but that’s a little too far-fetched

Bestie: Does this have to do with the very hot pro football player living at your house?

Sloane: Maybe…

Bestie: OMG, y’all finally had sex!

Sloane: Ok, tone it down. We did not have sex with my dad in the house

Bestie: Damn

Sloane: But we DID kiss

Bestie: Yeah! You made it to second base!

Bestie: Just kidding. That’s amazing!

Bestie: How was it? Best kiss ever? He looks like he’d be a good kisser. He’s got nice, full lips

Sloane: Best. Kiss. Ever.

Bestie: I need DETAILS! Can you meet me at the salon? My appt just walked in

Sloane: Sure. But we need to talk in private. I don’t want all of Thunder Creek knowing about me and Cam by lunchtime

Bestie: Come at 9:30. I’ll throw Mrs. Slater under the dryer and we can pop outside to chat

Sloane: Ok. See you then!

Setting the cell down, I stretch my arms over my head, my body soft and relaxed. It’s the best I’ve felt in a very long time. Way before the engagement ended, if I’m being honest.

This could all come crashing down.

I shove the thought away, taking a deep, cleansing breath. No need to manifest anything negative. Sure, we didn’t talk about the future or anything. But right now I choose to live in the moment, take things one day at a time.

Besides, getting ahead of myself is how I managed to get into the whole wedding debacle with Ratface. Instead of trusting my gut—and the whispers around the office—I turned a blind eye to his actual personality (or lack thereof) to live up to some societal expectation about marriage.

Well, not this time.

This time, I’m trusting my gut—and my heart.

And my heart’s been beating for Cam since I was fourteen years old.

After one more luxurious stretch, I climb out of bed and head down the hall to the bathroom. Cam’s door is open and the house is silent.

Peeking in, I note his bed is neatly made and the room tidy. He’s probably already at the gym. A twinge of disappointment hits me in the gut, but I squash it.

Relax, Sloane. Cam needs to train, not lounge around with you all morning.

I hustle through my daily routine, grabbing a breakfast bar and an iced coffee to go before heading out.

Plumb Perfect, Gracelyn’s salon, is a few blocks past the town square. A cozy, lilac bungalow with white shutters, window boxes overflowing with wildflowers, and a cute porch with a swing, the Reynolds’s converted the house to a salon many years ago. Practically every female in town is a client, and some of the younger males as well. Gracelyn’s mom’s been in business since before I was born—she gave me my first haircut, my one and only perm, and fashioned updos for every school dance. Basically, Shelby Reynolds is a Thunder Creek superstar and the first to hear any and all gossip. Of course Gracelyn’s a natural, following in her mother’s footsteps.

“Hey, y’all!” I push through the crickety white door, the tinkle of a chime signaling my arrival.

Grace waggles her fingers over her shoulder. “Hey! I’m almost done.” Rolling the last pink plastic curler into silver hair, she secures it with a clip. “Last one, Mrs. Slater. Let’s pop you under the dryer for a few and get this all set up.”

Grace helps Mrs. Slater down from the salon chair, leading her across the honey-oak floors into the next room. The dull whir of the heater starts, vibrating the entire house.

“Hey, darling.” Ms. Shelby gives me a quick squeeze on her way over to the chair beside Grace’s. “How are you doing?” Her heavily penciled brow arches in concern. “You holding up?”

“I’m doing just fine, thanks Ms. Shelby. ”

“I still can’t believe that no-good scoundrel. Absolutely gobsmacked when Gracie told me what happened.”

I shrug. “It was for the best.”

“Such a shame. I do love weddings.” Ms. Shelby’s eyes glaze over as she stares into the mirror, presumably envisioning a white, puffy wedding dress and the matching sleek chignon hairstyle she’d pair with it.

“Mom!” Grace hisses, running in and smacking her on the shoulder. “Stop. What did I tell you about bringing up the wedding again? Sloane does not want to keep rehashing it, I’m sure.”

Ms. Shelby tsks at Grace, rubbing her arm. “What? I can’t say I’m sorry?”

“No! Not again. She doesn’t want to be reminded about that asshole. Excuse my French.”

Ms. Shelby rolls her eyes at Grace, tsking at her younger daughter’s foul language.

“Sloane, sugar, I’m sure the right one will eventually come along. In the meantime, you can keep Gracie company.”

Grace sighs so hard she loses an inch of height. “Might as well say Bless Your Heart, Mama. Geez…C’mon, Sloane. I have a quick break before Mrs. Slater’s done under the heat.”

Grace grabs my arm, pulling me out of the salon and onto the porch, back into the stifling Georgia heat.

“Forget her, Sloane. Spill!” she hisses, patting the spot on the porch swing next to her.

I drop down into the swing, happy to be hidden from view of the street.

“Grace—it was magical.” A warm, tingly feeling floods through me thinking about last night. The kiss, the way Cam swept back into the room and admitted he was an idiot.

I particularly liked that last part, not gonna lie.

“Tell me everything—don’t leave one tiny detail out! But hurry—I only have—” Grace checks the timer on her cell—“eight minutes now.”

“Cam came home from the gym kind of late. I was in my room and he stopped by. He seemed upset, so I invited him in, asked what was wrong. Basically, he doesn’t have a new deal yet, so he’s super bummed out. But I told him I was sure things will work out, then next thing I know, we’re inches apart and he leaned in and kissed me! And, ohmygod, Grace—it was the best kiss ever. Like, twelve out of ten stars.”

“Worth waiting almost fifteen years for?”

“Totally.”

“That’s amazing, hun. Then what? How come nothing else happened?” She shoots me a pointed look, the edge of her deep red matte lips tipping up.

“Well, then he broke it off and went back to his room.”

Grace waves her hand wildly through the air. “Hold up. He bailed? He didn’t get you naked and tell you he’s been a damn fool all this time?”

I snort. “Uh, no. Definitely not. He said something more along the lines of he shouldn’t disrespect my dad and bolted.”

“Weak.” Grace shakes her head, a blonde curl falling loose from her top knot.

“I don’t know what possessed me, but I asked him if he checked his email right before he walked out.”

“No!”

“Yes! He seemed confused. Then like ten minutes later, he came back. He read the World’s Most Embarrassing Email, Grace! But he didn’t think it was dumb. In fact, I think he was kinda inspired, honestly. Said he was an idiot and he’s scared of screwing things up between us.”

“Wow. Babe. That’s a story. And this morning?”

“Um—haven’t seen him. Pretty sure he went to the gym.”

“Huh. Not great.”

“What? Why? He’s trying to get a professional football contract, Grace. He’s gotta put in the work.”

“Still. I would’ve liked a love note or something this morning.”

Right on cue, my phone dings with an incoming text. I yank the cell from my pocket, reading.

Cam: Hey beautiful. Good AM

Heat blooms, rising from my chest all the way to my cheeks.

Cam called me beautiful.

“Okay, not fair. What’s it say?” Grace cranes her neck, trying to read the text.

“Good morning. And he called me beautiful.” I can’t help it, I’m smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

“Nice…text him back.”

Sloane: Good AM!

My thumb hovers over the keypad, not sure what else to type.

“Come on, Sloane—you gotta do better than that.”

“Right. I know.” I frown, unsure what to say.

“Can’t write to him without the help of your good buddy Jose, huh?” Gracelyn teases. “Here—let me. ”

Reaching over, she grabs the cell from my hand.

“Grace!” I try to get the phone back, but she holds it out of reach, tapping away like a madwoman.

“Do not hit send!” I warn her, my chest suddenly tight. I love Gracelyn, but she can be absolutely cray-cray sometimes.

“Relax—I’ll let you read before I send it. Okay, here you go.” She thrusts the phone at me and I stare down at the message.

Sloane: Hey big sexy, good AM! Did you get all hot and sweaty at the gym? Why don’t you wait to shower until you get home (winky face)

I groan, deleting the entire message as fast as possible. “No, definitely not.”

“Sloane—you have to take a risk! Right the heck now. You don’t know how much time you have together. Besides, you can’t be all coy and virginal. For starters, y’all are grown-ass adults. For seconds, Cam is a professional athlete. Do you know what that means?”

I cut my eyes at her, knowing I’m not going to like her answer. “What, exactly, does that mean? To you, with your deep knowledge of professional sports?”

“It means he has women throwing themselves at him all the damn time. Remember the bonfire? And that’s just here, in Thunder Creek. And sure, you have the hometown advantage. For now. But as soon as he gets a contract, he’s outta here. If you want a chance with him—a real, fighting chance to be together, like you always dreamed of—then you need to seize the day, woman! Or you’re going to miss your golden opportunity!”

Grace pumps her legs back and forth in an agitated fury while I mull over her words. She’s right, I suppose, but I’m not sure how to break through the friend zone Cam and I so carefully constructed over the years. I tuck my hair back behind my ear, thinking.

Finally, I text him back.

Sloane: Good AM to my fave football player. Did you go to the gym?

Cam: Yep. Lifted a ton. Pretty tired and sore rn, not gonna lie

I smile down at the text.

“What? What’s happening?” Gracelyn keeps rocking, staring at me.

“I have an idea.”

“I like ideas. As long as they’re sexy ideas.”

“Could be. At least it would involve less clothing.”

“I’m intrigued.”

Holding one finger up at Gracelyn, I tap out another text.

Sloane: You home now?

Cam: Heading there. Why?

Sloane: Don’t shower yet. I’ll be home in about twenty minutes

Cam: Sounds promising

Sloane: It’ll be good for you

“You happy now?” I hand my phone to Gracelyn and she reads through the text exchange.

“Sloane, you dirty girl! You are going to shower with him. That’s so hot! And in your dad’s house too. So naughty—I like it.” She grins her approval.

“Not exactly. I gotta bolt. Thanks for the pep talk!” I hop up from the swing, waving good-bye as I dash down the stairs to my car.

“Wait—what? You’re not showering together? You better call me later!”

Grace follows me to the steps, her brows knit in confusion.

I’ll explain the whole thing to her later, but right now I need to get to the Walmart ASAP.