“Am I,” Melanie’s eyebrow arched slightly as she stood mere inches away from Cameron, “what?”
Watching Cameron lick her lips again, Melanie leaned in slowly toward her.
Oh, my god. I’m just going to do it. I’m going to kiss her.
Melanie could feel her brain running a thousand miles a minute. She couldn’t focus on any one thought for more than a split second. As Melanie closed her eyes, Cameron leaned in and kissed her lips. Slowly, Cameron slipped her arm around Melanie and pulled her closer. A moan slipped out before Melanie could stop it, making Cameron giggle.
“I’m glad to know that last kiss wasn’t a one-off.”
“Definitely not,” Melanie breathlessly said as she ran her fingertips along Cameron’s jawline. “I’m sorry I kissed you and then ran away. It was in no way an indication that the kiss wasn’t great.” Melanie giggled. “Because it was.”
She tried to play it off as cool and silly, but she could tell by Cameron’s face that everything had just changed between them. For better or for worse. Melanie tried to read Cameron, but there were so many emotions fighting for top billing in Cameron’s eyes.
“It was a great kiss, wasn’t it?”
“I’d really love for there to be more.”
“Yeah?” Camron giggled again. “Me, too.”
“Good.”
The door to the bathroom opened, startling both of them. Thankfully, the woman who walked in was looking down at her phone and oblivious to anything else. Cameron nodded her head toward the door, and Melanie followed her out into the dimly lit hallway.
“We should get back to Isla and Vera.” Melanie turned to leave but Cameron grabbed her wrist before she could walk away.
“Wait.” Cameron’s voice was barely a whisper, but it caused Melanie to turn around slightly to meet her eyes. She could see they held the same uncertainty as Melanie felt. That helped to put Melanie’s nerves at ease, even just a little. “You can’t leave like that. Not again.”
Melanie’s shoulders slumped slightly, and she could feel tears welling in her eyes. “I don’t want to, just like I didn’t the other night.”
“I didn’t want you to leave then either.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Cameron smiled slightly.
“But I had to.”
“I know.” Cameron nodded as she tenderly took hold of both of Melanie’s hands. Although she’d known Cameron most of her life, she’d never seen the look in her eyes that was currently looking back at her. “Just remember this feeling right now.”
“I’ll never forget it.”
“Good.” Cameron tenderly tucked Melanie’s hair behind her ear. “I won’t either.”
“You know that Isla and Vera are going to think we were fucking, don’t you?”
“Eh, let ‘em.” Cameron winked, taking Melanie’s hand as they walked down the small hallway together. Melanie tried not to overthink the fact they held hands until they arrived back at the table.
“Did she need your help wiping her ass?” Isla teased as they rejoined them at the table.
“Wouldn’t be the first time I’d done that.” Melanie winked at Cameron.
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Cameron groaned. “I still can’t believe all three of you are still my friends after childbirth.”
“I still can’t believe you made me deliver Dylan less than a month after having Ellie and Brayden.” Vera shook her head, but a smile played on her lips. “And let’s not forget how Dylan’s newborn cries made me leak milkeverywhere.”
“And left me to clean upbothof you.” Melanie chuckled at the memory. She and Vera had been there for both of Cameron’s births, and she was thankful for those memories.
Melanie was also thankful that for the rest of their time at the bar, Cameron’s hand stayed on her upper thigh. It wasn’t playful or dirty; on the contrary, it felt sweet. Like she was safe. Cameron would occasionally move her thumb up and down along Melanie’s pants and when Melanie looked over at her, she’d be smiling right back. For the first time in longer than Melanie wanted to admit, she felt happy. Truly happy.
