Authors: J. Lynn
Cam’s fingers were suddenly wrapped around my wrist, causing my head to snap up. He was watching me instead of the movie. “What?” I asked, my gaze dropping to his hand. It completely circled my wrist.
“You’ve been biting your nail for the last ten minutes.”
That long? Well, that was kind of gross.
He lowered my arm to the top of my thigh but didn’t let go. “What’s up?”
“Nothing,” I replied. “I’m watching the movie.”
“I don’t think you’re really seeing the movie.” Our eyes locked, and my heart skipped a beat. “What’s going on?”
I tugged my arm back and he let go. “Nothing is going on. Watch the movie.”
“Uh-huh,” he murmured, but he dropped the subject.
The comments were fewer this time around and my eyelids started to fall. Each time I blinked, it seemed to take longer to reopen them. Cam shifted beside me, and I sunk further into the couch, closer to him. My side rested against his, and I thought I should scoot away, but he was warm, I was comfortable, and feeling way too lazy to put the effort into it. Besides, he didn’t seem to mind. If so, wouldn’t he have moved away or pushed me off?
I must’ve drifted off during the second movie, because when I opened my eyes, it seemed like the TV had changed positions. I was slow to realize that I had and—
oh, sweet baby Jesus
—how did I end up here?
Curled up on my side, there was a blanket from the back of the couch spread across me, and my head was in Cam’s lap.
On his thigh to be exact.
My breath caught in my throat as my heart stuttered and my eyes widened. There was a slight weight on my hip, the feel and the shape of a hand—Cam’s hand. Was he asleep? Oh good God, I had no idea how this happened. Had I done this in my sleep and now poor Cam was stuck here because I was sleeping on him?
Okay. I had two options at this point. I could roll off the couch and make a mad dash for my bedroom or I could actually act like an adult and see if he was awake.
Surprisingly, I sided with the whole acting like an adult part and slowly rolled onto my back. And that was a horrifically bad move, because the hand on my hip moved when I did and was now resting against my lower stomach.
Oh sweet Lord…
His hand rested below my belly button, spanning southward and his fingers reached the waistband on my yoga pants. It was close, really close to somewhat uncharted territories. A ball of ice formed in my chest, but lower, much lower, something else entirely was happening. Sharp tingles shot from my belly and spread below in a warm wave of shivers. How was it possible to feel so cold and hot at the same time?
His thumb moved, and I bit down on my lip. It had to be an accident or some idle movement in his sleep. Then his thumb moved again, but this time in a slow, lazy circle under my belly button. Oh shit. My pulse kicked up and that warmth increased. His thumb kept moving, at least for a half a minute, until I couldn’t take it any longer. Parts of my body were aching in a way that was entirely unfair and unfamiliar, and that shouldn’t be happening.
But oh it was.
I drew in a deep breath, but it did nothing to relax my muscles or to ease the tension building deep inside me. And I knew if I looked down, my nipples would be straining against the thin shirt I wore. With each breath I took, I could feel them rubbing against my bra. I desperately wanted to be that girl that knew how to handle this; the kind of girl that I knew Cam probably really wanted and was used to.
But I wasn’t her.
I tipped my head back and looked up at Cam.
His head was turned to the side, away from mine, and back against the cushion. A faint shadow appeared on the strong line of his jaw. There was a slight smile on his face. Son of a bitch.
“Cam.”
One eye opened. “Avery?”
“You’re not asleep.”
“You were.” He lifted his head, turning his head side to side, working out a kink. “And I was asleep.”
And his hand was still on my lower stomach, incredibly heavy. Part of me wanted to tell him to get his paws off me, but that’s not what came out of my mouth. “I’m sorry I fell asleep on you.”
“I’m not.”
Wetting my lips nervously, I had no idea what to say to that so I went with a, “What time is it?”
His gaze had dropped to my mouth and my entire body tensed in a way that wasn’t unpleasant at all. “After midnight,” he responded.
My heart was pounding. “You didn’t even look at the clock.”
“I just know these kinds of things.”
“Really?”
His eyes were hooded. “Yes.”
“That’s a remarkable talent.” My hand curled into a fist beside my thigh. “What time are you leaving in the morning?”
“Are you going to miss me?”
I screwed up my face. “That’s not why I was asking. I was just curious.”
“I told my parents I’d be home by lunch.” With his other hand, he scooped a few strands off my face and that hand lingered to, in my hair. “So I probably have to leave between eight and nine.”
“That’s early.”
“It is.” His hand smoothed over my head, and my eyes drifted shut again, relaxing in spite of myself. “But the drive is easy.”
“And you’re not coming back until Sunday night?”
“Correct,” he murmured, and I felt his chest move with a deep breath. “Are you sure you’re not going to miss me?”
My lips cracked a small grin. “It’ll be like a vacation for me.”
He chuckled. “That was entirely mean.”
“Wasn’t it?”
“But I know you’re lying.”
“You do?”
“Yep.” His hand moved, and I felt the tips of his fingers graze my cheek. My eyes flew open. He was smiling down at me. Not a big smile that showed of his dimple, though. “You’re going to miss me, but you’re not going to admit it.”
I didn’t say anything, because I was trying not to think about the next four days.
And then his fingers moved, trailing the curve of my cheekbone, and I wasn’t really thinking about anything. They drifted to my jaw and one finger carved a path to my chin. Air leaked slowly out of my lungs as he finger hovered near my bottom lip.
He tilted his head to the side. “I’ll miss you.”
My lips parted. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
I closed my eyes against the sudden burn of tears. I had no idea why those three words affected me so, but they did and for a teeny, tiny moment, I admitted to myself that I didn’t want him to leave. That made the burn worse.
Several minutes passed and the only sound was the low hum of the TV.
He traced the outline of my lower lip, never quite touching it but coming close with each pass. I wondered if he would ever touch my lip and if I wanted him to.
I think I sort of did.
“You talk in your sleep,” he said.
My eyes popped open. Screw the touching of the lip. “I do?”
He nodded.
Oh God. My stomach dropped. “Are you messing with me? Because I swear to God, if you’re messing with me, I’m going to hurt you.”
“I’m not messing with you, sweetheart.”
I sat up, and both of his hands dropped away. I twisted on the couch, facing him. My pulse was pounding for a whole different reason. “What did I say?”
“Nothing really.”
“For real?”
Leaning forward, he scrubbed his hands down his face. “You were just murmuring stuff. I couldn’t really make out what you were saying.” He lifted his head. “It was kind of cute.”
My heart started to slow down as the fear loosened its grip on my chest. God only knows what I could’ve been saying when I slept. Glancing at the clock, I saw it was past three in the morning. “Holy crap, you suck at your special ability at telling the time.”
Cam shrugged as he slid forward. “I guess I should be going home.”
I opened my mouth and then closed it. What was I about to do? Ask him to stay? Like have a slumber party on my couch? Real smooth. I doubted he was interested in PG-13 couch parties. “Be careful when you drive,” I finally said.
He stood, and I stared at the spot he’d occupied. “I will.”
And then he swooped down, moving faster than I could figure out what he was up to. He placed his lips to my forehead. “Goodnight, Avery.”
I closed my eyes and my hands balled into fists. “Goodnight, Cam.” He made it to the door before I sprung up, clutching the back of the couch. “Cam?”
He stopped. “Yeah?”
Taking a deep breath, I forced the words out. “I had a really good time tonight.”
Cam stared at me a moment and then he smiled. The dimple appeared in his left cheek, and my own lips responded in kind. “I know.”
Chapter 12
Tossing my history text onto the edge of my bed, I flopped onto my back and smacked my hands over my eyes. It was only Thursday afternoon and I already felt like I was about to crawl out of my skin.
I guess I could clean something.
Yawn.
My cell chirped from the nightstand, and I rolled over, grabbing it. Half afraid to look at the screen, I did so with one eye closed. Like that somehow made things less shittier if it was the friendly, neighborhood asshole.
It wasn’t.
Sitting up, I opened the text from Cam. Two words and I was grinning like a fool.
Miss me?
I responded back with a:
No.
The response was almost immediate.
If u were Pinocchio, ur nose wld span the state.
Crossing my legs, I leaned against my headboard.
Pinocchio? Sounds like your reading level.
Ha. U wound me. Deeply.
Thought you didn’t have feelings?
I lied. I have so many feels for u.
Before I could respond, another text came through.
When I lie something else grows on me.
I laughed out loud.
Thanks for sharing.
Ur welcome. Just keeping u updated.
You can keep that to yourself.
Biting down on my lip, I texted back:
Did you make it home?
A few minutes passed while I stared at my phone.
Yeah. Fam showering me with affection. U cld learn frm them.
I think you get enough attention.
I’m needy.
Boy, don’t I know that.
There was another span of minutes.
What r u doing?
Lying on my back, I crossed my ankles.
Reading.
Nerd.
Jerk.
Bet u miss me.
My grin had reached embarrassingly epic proportions. Bet you have better things to do right now.
Nope. A few seconds later,
who is this???
I frowned as I sat up. And then,
Sorry, my sister just stole my phone.
I relaxed.
Sounds like a pretty cool sister.
She is. Sometimes. She’s needier than I am. Gotta run.
I texted back:
TTYL
The rest of the afternoon dragged and by nine o’clock, I briefly considering taking some NyQuil just to go to sleep. From the living room I heard my cell chirp again. Throwing my toothbrush into the sink, I made a mad four feet dash to my living room and then slowed as I approached my phone.
Go out with me.
Laughing, I forgot I had toothpaste in my mouth and ended up spewing white, foamy gunk all over my chin and shirt.
“Jesus, I’m a dork.”
I cleaned myself up and then responded to Cam.
Asking me over text is no different from in person.
Thought I’d give it a try. What r u doing now? I’m beating my dad at poker.
Picturing him with his family, I smiled.
Getting ready for bed.
Wish I was there.
My eyes widened. What the what?
Wait r u naked?
No!!!
I sent back.
Perv.
Damn. At least I have my imagination
That’s all you will ever have.
We’ll c.
No you won’t.
I choose to ignore that. Ok. Gotta go. Dad is kicking my ass.
Night Cam.
Goodnight, Avery.
I held onto the phone for an indecent amount of time after that and then took it into my bedroom. Lately, I’d taken to the habit of turning my ringer off at night, because I never knew when I’d get the UNKNOWN CALLER messages. But tonight, I left it on.
Just in case.