Melanie
For the second time in her life, Melanie savored the feeling of waking up beside Cameron. She loved the way Cameron softly snored as she slept on her chest. Under the sheets, their legs were intertwined from a night filled with more sex than sleep. Melanie kissed Cameron’s messy hair, smiling at the coconut and jasmine scent from her shampoo.
Her mind kept replaying the night before. It had been more perfect than Melanie could have ever imagined. Loving Cameron came so naturally to Melanie that her uneasiness faded after a while to the point she couldn’t remember why she was scared. In the glow of the morning sun, Melanie felt silly for overthinking sex with Cameron so much. Melanie felt as if loving Cameron was what her body was meant to do.
Rolling over slightly, Melanie cuddled Cameron closer. Cameron adjusted her position, snuggling back into Melanie’s embrace. They’d taken their robes off sometime in the night and they lay discarded on the floor along with the rest of their clothes. Now Melanie understood why Isla had been so insistent taking an overnight bag.
“You never know when you’ll need it,” she’d told her the night before. “Just pack a toothbrush and a change of clothes so you’re not doing the walk of shame in the same clothes you wore on your date.
Melanie had rolled her eyes at her then. Sure, sex was on her mind but she had assumed it would happen for the first time at her house. After all, she didn’t have kids they would have to worry about. She’d assumed it would happen sooner rather than later, but not on their first date.
But when Cameron told her about the room at the inn, everything changed. Waiting was no longer an option and thankfully, Cameron agreed.
As Cameron slept in her arms, Melanie thought back to the first time they met. It wasn’t long after Melanie moved to the Cove. She was being shown around the hospital by Vera. They’d toured the entire labor and delivery floor as well as the surgical wing before Vera took her up to oncology.
“I know this isn’t somewhere that you’ll normally be, but I wanted to introduce you to my best friend, Cameron. We started here at the same time. She’s amazing. You’ll love her.”
Vera knocked on Cameron’s office door, letting herself in. Melanie felt nervous being introduced to doctors not in her field. But when her eyes met Cameron’s, all the nerves disappeared. Her kind blue eyes smiled along with hers as she stood from her desk. She was about Melanie’s age, which she knew would make all three of them around the same age.
“Cam, this is one of our new nurses, Melanie Wright. Mel, this is Cameron West.”
“Doctor Cameron West,” she’d corrected with a smile as she walked around the desk to shake Melanie’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I hope it’s not too terrible to work with this one.”
“Are you kidding me?” Melanie laughed. “She’s amazing.”
“She paid you to say that, didn’t she?”
“Shut up,” Vera playfully flicked Cameron’s shoulder as they all laughed. “Cameron is one of the best doctors here. And one of the best friends you’ll ever have. I just thought it might be good for you two to meet since Melanie is new to town and Cameron is basically the golden retriever of the hospital.”
“It’s true.” Cameron’s blue eyes sparkled as she laughed. “But seriously, it was great to meet you.”
“You two should do drinks sometimes!” Vera chimed in with a huge smile on her face.
“Yeah, I’d love that.”
“That’d be great,” Melanie sheepishly smiled at Cameron. “Thanks.”
A few days later, Melanie and Cameron sat at the bar at Straight to Ale. They’d both had one drink and were on their second. Melanie was slightly tipsy, the same as Cameron. But when Cameron placed her hand on Melanie’s thigh, she sobered up some.
“So, why don’t you ever talk about your husband?”
“What?”
Cameron nodded at her wedding ring.
“Oh.”
“I mean, youaremarried, right?”
“I am, yeah.” Melanie didn’t know why she felt bad for saying that. She’d been married to Rob for over a year and they were happy.
Right?
Cameron sighed, putting her elbow on the bar as she rested her head in her hand.
“Not going to lie, I thought Vera was setting us up.”
Melanie’s head had started to spin. Maybe it was the alcohol, but she had a feeling it had more to do with the fact that Cameron had thought they were on a date. And the fact her hand was still on her thigh.
