By the time I walk out of the bathroom, I can smell the food that Cameron’s made for us.Not only is he beautiful inside and out, but he can cook too?!
I can’t help but walk out with a beaming smile on my face, as I make my way to the two island stools where he’s setting out the plates for us. The way he looks at me is something you see in the movies. The light in his eyes illuminates every detail of his face—because of me. It makes my stomach do somersaults and my heart beats against the walls of my chest in a near nauseating rhythm.
Part of me feels like I don’t deserve him. It’s as if he can almost sense the insecurities and his arms are around me in a second, and he’s kissing my neck.
“Hope you’re hungry, baby girl,” He purrs into my ear and a shiver racks my spine. I let out a soft, affirming grunt as he leads me to the stool and sits me down.
“Whatever you made smells delicious.” My eyes rove over the counter in front of me and widen when he runs over to the stove and pours something into a mug for me.
“Chai, just how you like it.” Cameron smiles as he places it in front of me and my chest tightens with some unknown feeling. I beam up at him and can’t help it when he looks at me expectantly. I grab the orange mug and take a sip, letting the warm and spicy liquid ignite every tastebud I have with itsperfectbalance and sweetness.
“Holy fuck Cam,” I say incredulously as he looks at me with a smile that matches my own. “This is the best chai I’ve ever had.”
He cooks, knows how to properly make chai, knows how to manage a panic attack, and he’s a fucking gentleman. I send my thanks to whatever is watching out for me from up above, because I’ve hit the damn jackpot with this man.
We sit and talk about life— school mostly— while eating our breakfast and I cannot take my eyes off of him. We finally hit a lull in the conversation, which is fine with me because I’ve just about eaten so much that I could die.
“You ready for today, Cherry? Because your surprise should be here… In…” he looks down checking his phone with a smirk, “about thirty seconds.”
My eyes widen from confusion before glaring at him analytically. “Cameron Curtis— what have you done?”
Before he even has a chance to answer, I hear nothing other than my best friend banging on the door yelling, “Open the door, Leyley!We got shit to do!”
My heart does that thing where it feels like it’s going to explode out of my chest and I don’t even know where to go from here. The banging from Hazel continues with her attempts getting more persistent. I let out a choked laugh.
“Better let her in before she breaks down the damn door,” Cameron says with crinkled eyes and a five-star smile.
If I wasn’t already sure that I was in love with this man before, I sure as shit was absolutely positive now.I’m so overcome with affection and excitement, I feel like I could lick his face. But, I settle for a quick kiss on his lips, then I run to the door, fling it open, and am immediately bombarded by my tiny terror of a best friend.
This is perfect.
Chapter 15
Just What I Need
Leyla
“BITCH! When did you get so hot?! Like you were hot before, but you arehotttttt,”Hazel drags out the last word as she looks me over. Then her eyes connect with Cameron and a cat-like grin overtakes her tawny face. “Well, well, well. The infamous Cameron Curtis.”
Hazel lets go of me and the size difference between the two of them is almost comical. Hazel is maybe five-foot-three on a good day, and Cameron’s clearing six-foot-two easy. The way Hazel is probably more intimidating, though, makes me laugh.
“It’s good to see you again, Hazel.” Cameron nods his head politely towards Hazel’s assessing stare. To Cameron’s credit, he doesn’t balk or move away; and even more to his credit, he smiles wide. “I haven’t filled her in on any of the plans. I thought I would give you the honor.”
The fact that my best friend and boyfriend are already scheming behind my back has me feeling some sort of way. Genuine surprise, like the feel it in your bones and down to your toes kind of surprised. I can’t remember the last time that I felt this wayandit wasn’t under the lens of what had happened to me when I was a kid, instead coming from the fact that it’s by two people who care about me. It’s something that I can definitely get used to. Hazel’s eyes grow ten sizes as she looks at me with her scheming face— a look that I had grown to know all too well during our teen years.
“Hazel, Cam… What are you two planning…?” I try to hide a smile as I look between the two.
Cam’s got this shit-eating grin on his face that makes me almost nervous, but I know that it’s so going to be worth it. Hazel pulls me onto my couch; with anoomph, we plop down and Hazel beams up at me, pulling me into yet another bone crushing hug. Cameron follows us, perched on the arm and watching us with a smile as warm as the afternoon sun.Wow, I’ve got it bad. Stay focused, Ley.
“One, I missed you so much! You look fucking stunning! And two, we’re going to a rage room!” Hazel says with so much excitement, as my face looks at her slightly confused, but I plaster on a smile.
“A… rage room? What’s that, like a room with a therapist that forces you to get angry or something weird like that?” I look at her not understanding what she’s even talking about.
Cameron lets out a soft chuckle from next to me, but Hazel shoots him a momentary glare before looking back to me. “A rage room is like–this room where you go to break shit. You’ve been dealing with literally so much lately. Cam and Ifigured that this would be something fun for you to get your pent-up emotions out. Let’s break some shit!”
My, no doubt, incredulous face sends Hazel into a frenzy of laughter. I force myself to keep a straight face knowing full well that this is a losing game for the both of us. I look at her deadpan and she sighs with exasperation.
“Leyley, you know I love you. But you need tolet loose!What better way than breaking a bunch of shit?“ Hazel looks at me with a murderous gleam in her eye.
