He laughed and reached for my hair, pushing it over my shoulder, his fingers lingering there. “Yeah, you did. I didn’t have any doubts.”
“Really? Because I did.”
“I saw the look of fear on your face and almost stopped you.”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” I said.
He slipped a hand into my hair and laughed. “Me too.”
I leaned in to kiss him. “Will you sleep with me again?”
He smiled. “Yeah. But I need you to put on clothes. I don’t think I could stand having you naked all night next to me.”
I raised a brow. “Oh, so that wasn’t enough?”
“Oh, it was enough. But I can’t guarantee I won’t paw you awake in the middle of the night, and I have something better in mind for our first time.”
I laughed, blushing. “I have no argument for that.”
His fingers were still in my hair, working a lock between them. “I really am sorry I made you worry.”
“You didn’t,” I said softly. “I made me worry. You’ve done everything right, Tyler.”
“So have you.”
“I’ll settle down, I think.”
“But not too much.”
I chuckled. “Obviously. Have you met me?”
He laughed.
“Oh!” I perked up. “So everyone from Wasted Words is going bowling tomorrow night, want to go with me?”
“Sure, but I have to warn you — I’m a terrible bowler.”
“No way.”
“It’s true. You’ll see. And while we’re on invitations, I was wondering …” He paused, and my brow dropped.
“About what?”
He looked unsure of himself, which made me nervous. “I was waiting to ask — I wasn’t sure if you’d be interested in going, so I just wanted to give us a minute before I did.”
“Ask me what, Tyler?”
“I have a charity dinner to go to Thursday night. I was initially going to go alone, but now … well, I was hoping you’d be my date.”
Excitement and nerves and relief rolled through me. “Formal?”
“Cocktail.”
“I … I don’t have anything to wear.”
He looked crestfallen. “Yeah. It’s okay, you don’t have to go.”
I couldn’t stand to disappoint him and smiled, even at the prospect of going shopping. “I’d love to go with you.”
His face brightened, and I felt a million times better and worse. “Thank you. I’d hate to go without you, honestly.”
I kissed his sweet lips, quieting my nerves, pushing my past under the rug, smiling as I said, “Then I’ll be there.”
BADLY DONE
Tyler
THE NIGHT WAS SLOW AND easy, spent lying with Cam in my arms, talking for a while before we slept, and the next day was like any other, except that I was content, sated in life and body and soul, all together, all at the same time.
I walked in the door of our quiet apartment, knowing Cam was still at work, wishing she were home all the same. I had a few hours before I’d be meeting her to go bowling with everyone, and a small part of me wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself.
I made my way into my room and set down my bag on the bed, realizing I hadn’t slept there in days. In fact, I’d barely been in my room at all, only to change, really. And that was all I did even then, trading my navy slacks and plaid button-down for jeans and a T-shirt, which was the sum of what I needed to do to get ready to go.
I abandoned my room once again for the couch, picking up The Hobbit from where it lay on the coffee table, stretching out my legs before cracking it open.
It was amazing — Cam was right. I mean, Cam being right wasn’t amazing — she was always right. But she was right about finding a book that spoke to me. It was a strange magic, to be entranced by words, and I’d found myself devouring the novel, dog-earing pages that held passages that meant something to me, just as she had. I’d found that many she’d highlighted spoke to me too, and it almost felt like I was reading it with her.
My eyes found a quote on the page I’d left off on, highlighted by Cam in yellow: There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.
I smiled to myself. It may as well have been a quote to define our relationship. I didn’t find it odd at all that her first love affair with a book would be the same as mine — we were much more alike than I think either of us realized.
Minutes after picking it up, I was immersed in the story once more. My phone buzzed, breaking my attention, and I was surprised to see that it was almost time to leave.
A text from Martin waited on my lock screen.
You up for dinner tonight?
I fired off a message in return. Going bowling with Cam and her work friends, if you want to come with us.
Will Bayleigh be there?
I smirked. Pretty sure.
I’m in.
I sent him the details on when and where, all while trying to figure out how I’d explain his showing up to Cam. I was almost positive she wouldn’t find it amusing. I, on the other hand, thought it was a golden opportunity.
I’d seen Bayleigh and Greg together at singles night, and he didn’t seem into her at all. He didn’t seem not into her, but he was about as interested in her as he was anyone else there. But watching her and Martin together was a different story all together. I knew for sure that Martin liked her, and if it hadn’t been for Cam shutting him down, he probably would have asked Bayleigh out. And if I had to bet, I’d have bet she would have said yes.