“This wasexactlywhat I needed.”
“I thought you’d like it.” Cameron kissed the top of her head.
“You thought correctly.”
Making their way back inside the red barn, they ordered two cups of vanilla ice cream from the small concession stand and found an old wooden picnic table outside to sit. The late spring air was warmer than usual, much to Cameron’s enjoyment. They ate their ice cream happily as they talked about their plans for the rest of the week.
“I guess while you’re at work tomorrow, I’ll go home and clean.”
This is my chance.
Cameron felt the small pocket of her yoga pants, ensuring the key was still inside there.
“I don’t like that.”
Melanie snorted a laugh. “I don’t either, but it has to be done.”
“No,” she shook her head, “I don’t like the idea of you going home.”
“What?”
I probably should have rehearsed what I was going to say. Too late for that now.
“I mean,” Cameron took a deep breath and held it, “I want your home to be with me. I don’t want to keep living in two different houses. I want to make a life with you under one roof. Me, you, Jonah, and Dylan. And Hank and Lucy, of course.”
Pulling the key out of her pocket, she slid it across the wooden table to Melanie. She’d had it made at the hardware store and it had the wordhomeon it at the top.
“I know you already have a key, but I wanted you to have this one. Because I think it’s the right time for you to move in.”
“Cam.” Melanie picked up the key as she covered her mouth with her other hand. “Are you serious?”
“I am. I’ve already cleared out half of my closet for you.”
“Wow, I’m honored,” she giggled.
“You’re worth it.” Cameron smiled across the table at Melanie. She could almost see her brain processing the new information behind her eyes. “What are you thinking?”
“Honestly, I was wondering how fast I could get everything packed.”
“I’ll bring the kids over this weekend and we can get started on it.” Standing, Cameron moved to sit by Melanie. She took her hand and squeezed it as she leaned in to kiss her. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Melanie giggled. “I can’t believe you just asked me to move in with you at Jurassic Adventures.”
“I wanted it to be memorable,” Cameron laughed along with her. “See, you’ll never forget this day now.”
“Are you kidding me? I would never forget the day my girlfriend asked me to move in with her no matter where you’d asked. But you know what the best part about you asking me here is?”
“What’s that?”
There was a playful gleam in Melanie’s eyes that hadn’t been there before. “That we can celebrate with another round of go karts.”
“You’re on.”
The rest of the evening was full of more fun and laughs than Cameron had had in a long time. She loved being goofy with Melanie and not caring who saw them. They were so comfortabletogether that it made even the smallest things they did together so much more fun.
By the time they arrived back at Cameron’s house, they were exhausted. They took turns taking showers before Melanie finally crawled into bed beside Cameron. She snuggled up with her, resting her head on her chest.
“I love when you smell like my body wash.”
