Page 8 of The Moments You Miss
With everything that has happened in the past few months, I can’t help it; I am constantly on edge. I roll my eyes as I spin back around and keep walking down Lake Street. As I walk, every single thing that has happened these past few months flashes before my eyes, enough to knock the breath from me and leave my head spinning.
Get it together, Bitch, I chide myself. My fists clench at my sides as I look around, realizing that there isn’t a single person in a two-block radius. I have no clue what is happening, but I’ve hadenough of this feeling. I pluck my headphones out of my ears, quickly place them in my backpack, and hurry off to my apartment at an even brisker pace.
Couple hours pass and I’m sitting in a rideshare heading towards Lebauer for the ceremony. The park itself is crowded— definitely more crowded than I thought it would be. A sense of pride swells in my chest, knowing that the detective is going to be heading such an incredible program. The mayor calls her up, and gives a really fantastic speech about how incredible she has been for the community.
A single tear falls down my cheek as I see her walking up across the little makeshift stage that they’ve erected for this occasion. As the ceremony goes on, it’s so clear how this entire town loves her, and how much she’s truly done for this place. A niggle of guilt seeps in knowing that I haven’t kept in contact with her as much as I should have. Detective Alexandra is given the floor, and my breath catches in my throat.
“Thank you!” she calls out. “Thank you all. This is such an incredible honor. I’m so touched to be given this amazing opportunity. I, myself, come from this small little town. I have been witness to so many unspeakable things being a detective. I’ve seen families destroyed, and new paths and journeys created from the embers of heartbreak. I have seen how these group outreaches have been so beneficial in creating fine, upstanding people. And I cannot wait to see what this new path brings, opening up opportunities and so many new doors for those who need it. It’s truly an honor, and I promise I will not let you down in making this world a better place.”
Detective Alexandra’s speech comes to a close, and the crowd erupts into a round of applause, whistles, and yelps. The guilt wiggles its way back into my chest, and while I had the idea to head to say hi to Detective Alex, who am I to think she’d have time for me right now?
I make the decision to head home instead, as it’s starting to get dark. I turn around back and pull out my phone, tapping out a little message to the detective. As I turn around, I suddenly crash into an out-of-thin-air brick wall. My body begins to fall backward, but a large, warm hand circles my wrist, pulling me up before I even hit the ground. It isn’t a brick wall; it is a man. Not just any man, he is the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen in my entire life.Maybe there is someone looking out for me from up above.
Realizing that the ground is no longer coming up towards me, his hand moves from my wrist and lands on my arm. He helps stabilize my balance as he smiles brightly. “Woah there!” he says with a chuckle.
I, however, am horrifically embarrassed and wish I had fallen, transformed into a worm, and sank into the ground to avoid this discomfiture. My eyes connect with his and I shake my head and bite my lower lip. “I amsosorry! I didn’t mean to– I was distracted, and I was–”
There’s a flip of my stomach; hairs stand up on the back of my neck.My intuition has been triggered like an alarm. Something about this moment doesn’t feel real to me, this entire interaction seems off. Apparently, all of this must read across my face as he tilts his head in a movement that reminds me of a puppy.
“It’s fine. Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” the man asks, concern all over his face.
“Oh shit, yea, I’m fine. I’m so sorry for totally slamming into you. I’ve had an interesting day, and I just wasn’t paying attention.” I run my hand through my hair, my brow furrows as recognition hits me, I know him. Swallowing as a whisper of boldness hits me. My curiosity really can get the best of me sometimes. I can’t help it, it’sgnawingat me. “I’m sorry, I’ve gotta ask… Have we met before?”
The man looks at me like I grew a third head, but that friendly smile that is on his face shifts to a knowing smirk. “The name’s Cameron. Cameron Curtis. And yes, Leyla, we’ve definitely met before.”
My eyes open wide, instantly choking on my own saliva as I realize who this is in front of me. This Adonis of a man, this man who could be a statue in a museum, is the awkward, dorky, kid from group therapy when I was a kid. I am not sure why this is hitting me the way it is, and I definitely am not expecting heat in my stomach to pool when I look at him. Cameron fucking Curtis is standing in front of me, in my hometown when last I heard he had moved to Detroit, and I have run into him like a fool. And now I’m standing in front of him, mouth gaping open as he studies me with a quirked brow.
Shaking my head I look at him, heat consuming my cheeks from embarrassment, and I force a smile out and a host of unwelcome thoughts begin to permeate my brain.
I’m fine, I’m not in danger, no one will hurt me.
I haven’t spoken to anyone from my group therapy days, besides Hazel, inyearsand especially not Cameron Curtis. I lostcontact with him when he went away to college, and I never saw him as anything more than an acquaintance. A pang of a feeling I can’t quite name hits me, my eyes facing the ground. But he definitely was someone who I spent a lot of time with. Realizing the awkward silence that hangs between us, I blink the stupor out of my head and force myself back to reality.
“O-Oh my god! Cammy! Hey– Hi! It’s been such a long time! How are you?” A saccharine sweetness emanates from me as I push through the adrenaline that is inevitably going to be the death of me. The fire in Cameron’s gaze doesn’t go unnoticed, the heat in my own stomach needs to fuck right off or things are going to be bad, quick.
I really need to get laid, because there is absolutely no reason for there to bebutterflies flittingaround in my stomach right now. Fucking traitors.
“I’m good! It’s nice to see you. What’ve you been up to? You look incredible.” His voice rough, as Cameron runs his hand through his perfect dark blonde hair.Damn, he looks good.
How does one say barely alive, but making it through the days by the skin of my teeth? Right, we don’t, cause that’s my problem and not exactly small talk.
“I’m great. God, it’s so good to see you.” My smile softens ever so slightly, seeing the slight nerves on the man as he fidgets with his hands. “I have to ask, what are you doing here? I mean what are you– why are...” I close my eyes for a moment as I shove the ever-present panic down.
“I go to the University. They’ve got an incredible psychology department. And, I was asked by Detective Alex to help out with her new program.” A smile is clear in his voice; it seems this sort ofthing might be a passion for him. “I volunteer at the local Bigs and Littles program from time to time, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to help even more people than I already am.”
I’m thankful Cameron answers my jumbled question, saving me from embarrassing myself any more than I just did.Why does that have me feeling some sort of way?“What about you? What are you up to in good old Maplewood, Michigan? I thought you moved away for school?”
A small smile fights its way onto my face and it’s becoming more evident that despite myself, I’m not getting out of this conversation. “I go to the University, too!”
It hits me as we keep making small talk about school and the town. I feel comfortable around this man. Will it bite me in the ass? Probably.
As I’m about to make an excuse so that I don’t have to bother him any more than I already feel like I am, gentle hands land on both Cameron’s and my own shoulder. I subconsciously flinch back, and immediately find myself hoping that neither of them notices the stupid little movement. If they do notice, they don’t make note of it and so I ease a little.
Detective Alexandra’s powerful presence envelops us like a warm hug. It’s as if time has stopped, I take in her beautiful, yet strong appearance, her cool dark umber skin tone glowing in the golden hour sun. I shake my head as I realize she’s speaking to me.
“Huh? Oh, sorry.” The practiced smile sits on my face and a blush creeps up my neck, reaching a fever point at the tip of my ears.
“I was saying what kismet that you two are here!
