Chapter 14

[vibe track: murakami - made in heights]

Morning sun leaked through the curtains. Cameron could still feel Henry’s arm around her midsection, hers resting on top.

She turned in his arms to face him. He was still asleep. Everything about his face looked relaxed, and she realized she felt just as unencumbered.

The silence of night had been replaced with the gentle sounds of a suburban Friday morning, filtering through the room — the chirps of early birds, a dog barking, cars getting started before the commute. It lent a softness to everything — even Cameron herself.

As she examined him closely in the morning light, she still didn’t think the man holding her was terribly handsome. That wasn’t the right word for it. But there was something about his face now that she associated with the warm, unfamiliar feeling inside her she’d woken up with.

Careful not to disturb him, she found herself curiously running her hand slowly along his jaw, a day of stubble rough against her palm. Maybe she was starting to understand a little bit the connection Henry seemed to relish through touch, she thought to herself. Just a little.

Her finger traced to the corner of his mouth, where his smiles began. Cameron tried to see if she could mimic it herself, coaxing a smile to start subtly at the corner of her lips and jerkily tugging it across. It didn’t come naturally. Smiling in general didn’t come naturally to her. She was happy plenty, laughed plenty. Just ... she didn’t feel the need to show people what she was feeling all the time, that was all.

The smile stayed on her face for a few moments while she soaked him in. She didn’t know what time it was. But it still felt like the same moment she’d fallen asleep in — one just for them that could stretch on as long as they wanted it to.

Then the alarm on his phone went off. Her smile disappeared.

Oh yeah. He probably has to get to school.

His eyes opened a little, squinting at the light, and he let go of her to reach back to the nightstand behind him, switching off the alarm.

He turned back to her, his eyes still only half open, and gently moved the long wave of her hair drooping over one side of her face so that it flopped back instead. She let him, comfortable at his touch.

“Morning,” he whispered. He apparently didn’t want to break the quiet either, even though his alarm had already done it.

And there was the smile, following the path her finger had traced just moments ago.

For once, she didn’t try to stop herself from doing the same, letting her tight lips loosen and spread into their own lopsided expression. It made him grin even wider. But he didn’t comment on it. She liked that about him, too. He didn’t make a big deal out of things that didn’t need to be a big deal.

“Sleep okay?” he said, groggily.

She nodded, her eyes locked on his. They were as soft as his caress.

A scratching at the door interrupted them, and Henry gave a little laugh.

“Da Vinci’s gonna break down the door if I don’t go feed him.” He sighed. “I should get up anyway. We carpool on Fridays, so I really shouldn’t be late.”

Just like that, the spell was broken, and she remembered what had made her so close to bolting last night.

Right. Friday morning carpool. You probably chat in the car about your ... life insurance plans and 401(k)s or whatever.

Her smile evaporated and she turned over, rolling out of bed before he did. She started to collect her things while he sat on the edge of the bed, watching her and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Rather than kneel, she bent over with her back to him while she put away her laptop and speakers, knowing he would like the look at her legs.

When she turned around, that’s exactly where his eyes were, and she smiled to herself — but only on the inside. She stooped to a crouch instead to finish her work, facing him.

“Umm...” he started. Uh oh. Here we go with one of his “umms” again. Must be something he’s uncomfortable about. “What ... what are you doing tonight?”

She stopped zipping her backpack and looked up at him, surprised at the question.

Why should I be, though?

Cameron reluctantly admitted to herself that while she wasn’t sure what, they were kind of... something now, weren’t they? This was the third night they’d spent together, and she’d woken up in his arms and ... hadn’t tried to run. That made it about a little more than the fucking, didn’t it...

Fuck, I guess ... I guess it does.

On its own, that didn’t fill her with fear or anxiety, it was just ... unexpected. She really hadn’t thought any further than just last night. She hardly ever did.

Cameron realized she’d been quiet for way, way too long, just looking at him. She snapped out of it and returned her attention to her backpack, finishing zipping it up.

“I’m doing the late set at Moonlight,” she said, rocking back out of her crouch to slip on her socks. She picked up her hoodie and sweatpants, getting up. “You ... should ... come.”

He grinned at her, beaming. “Sure, that sounds fun.”

“Okay. I’ll ... I’ll text you.”

She’d dated before, of course. But she just felt so out of her element here. Maybe if they hung out at Moonlight, her turf, then she’d be more...

I dunno. Just like, less fucking awkward. And we wouldn’t have to talk much, either.

He opened the door to the bedroom, allowing Da Vinci to fall forward and meow at him demandingly. Henry went into the kitchen to feed him, and Cameron lazily followed.

“Hey, I have to jump in the shower again real quick — you can feel free to grab some breakfast or something,” he said apologetically. “I’ll be real quick.”