14. Terms & Conditions

fourteen

Violet

"Acontract?"

A loud cackle erupts from the back of my throat, and I turn the smooth cream paper over in my hand. "And it has a backside?"

Cam frowns, leaning against the door of the storage closet.

"You're the one that said it," she says, crossing her arms over her body. "‘See you next week,' remember?"

I do remember because I had to play it off as a joke the second I looked at Cam's glaring scowl. I didn't think she'd take it seriously. I didn't want her to, in fear she'd eat me alive. Yet, here I am, holding a literal sex contract.

"So you wrote a..." I read the black letters inked across the top of the page. "Terms and Conditions?"

"Well, there has to be rules." She waves a hand in the air. "Otherwise, it's just mayhem."

I quirk an eyebrow at her. "You mean like the rule we broke?"

I don't know why I ask it because, if anything, it's just going to make her change her mind. And no matter how bizarre this is, I definitely do not want her to change her mind. She shoots me a glare that I have to admit makes me a little nervous.

"Look," she says, standing up and taking the paper from my hand. "We both have something to gain here. I need someone to help me try…" She swallows. "New things, and you need to—" She gestures to me. "What was it again? Move on from your ex?"

Now, I frown.

"I've moved on," I say defensively. "I'm just not used to casual sex."

She eyes me up and down, almost like she doesn't believe me.

"Right."

"What?"

She shrugs, looking away. "Nothing."

I grab her sleeve, tugging on it until she looks at me. "Not nothing," I say, pointing to her face. "You have something written all over your face."

"Well, considering… that night, I wouldn't have assumed you aren't used to casual sex."

Heat rises to my cheeks, but I play it off. "Are you saying it was good, Miller?" I tease.

Cam rolls her eyes, which I now take as a sign I've won.

"If it wasn't…" She shoves the contract into my chest. "I wouldn't have typed up a contract."

I take it from her hands, looking it over again. "There's a… schedule?" My brows raise skeptically.

"I have a busy life. Is there a problem with that?"

I shake my head.

"No, no. No problem, just..." I shrug. "Seems a bit predictable, don't you think? Isn't that the fun part about booty calls, you never know when they're gonna happen? You never know when you're gonna need it?"

Cam frowns.

"Predictability is the key to survival," she snaps. "And this is not a booty call. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"Oh, so like, friends with benefits?" I ask. Blood rushes to Cam's cheeks, and she shoots me an annoyed glance.

"No. You have to be friends to be friends with benefits."

"You sure know how to make a girl feel special, you know that, Sparky?"

"Will you stop calling me that?" Cam groans, but that dimple gives her amusement away.

"You were about to jump start your car backwards. I saved your life." I tap the underside of her chin playfully. "So I think I can call you whatever I want."

Cam shoots me a glare I think she only partially means. "You know what? Forget it."

She tries to snatch the contract from my hand, but my grip tightens around it. The corner of the page rips slightly when she grabs it.

"Wait, wait," I say in surrender. "Hold on."

I hold the contract out in front of me and actually read the full thing this time.

I quirk an eyebrow at her. "You're… serious?"

Cam shifts her weight uncomfortably but tilts her chin up. "If you agree."

I chuckle, shaking my head. Is this really happening?

"Do you have control issues with everyone, or am I special?" I ask, flashing her a smirk. Cam shoots me a glare that she fully means this time, which makes it obvious she won't be answering me. So, I shift gears. "Why Thursdays?"

It isn't really an important question, not nearly the most important, but I feel like it's one of the only ones she'll actually answer. Cam crosses her arms.

"I have Criminal Dinner on Tuesdays and therapy on Wednesdays," she says firmly. "Fridays are no good because sometimes Adrian likes to go out, and weekends are personal time. So, it was between Thursdays and Mondays."

I try. I try to hold it in, but I can't. My entire body shakes like an earthquake as the laughter that had been building up in my chest bursts out of me. I clutch the paper tighter, shaking my head as Cam angrily reaches for it again.

Tears fill my eyes and I wipe them away, trying to force my body to calm down. I look up; those round brown eyes would be doe-like if Cam weren't more of a wolf. My posture straightens, my shoulder pulling back as I look down at her with a smile.

"Do you have a pen?"