Page 46

Kameron

“Just the man I was looking for,” I say cheerfully as Elliott and I enter the kitchen hand in hand.

He looks over his shoulder at us and smiles, “Kameron, I’m glad you're back.”

“And here I thought you would be nervous.” I lightly chuckle.

He presses a button on the coffee machine and it begins to brew before he turns around to face us completely, “And why would I be nervous?”

“Well, you got my girl to kiss you.”

Hunter's eyes snap to Elliott, her cheeks bloom into a hue of light pink.

“I didn’t get her to do anything.” Hunter counters.

“Kameron.” Elliott pulls at my arm, “What are you doing? ”

“Elliott and I want to be together.” I blurted out, “I mean that’s a correct statement right?” I look at Elliott who’s now grinning up at me.

“Yes,” she replies with her smile widening, making my heart race.

“And Elliott seems to want to explore this” I eye her, trying to pick my words carefully as I gesture towards Hunter. “That’s happening.”

Hunter adjusts his posture, looking at me with longing look in his eyes, “Is that you saying that or her?” He replies, keeping his eyes on me as he admits he has feelings for Elliott without even having to say it. My stomach does somersaults.

I let go of Elliott’s hand to look at her fully, “What do you want, Elliott?”

“I won’t lie and say I don’t want to kiss you again, Hunter. And Kameron, you know I want you. But–” She looks at her feet and between the both of us, watching her intensely. “I feel guilty all the same.”

“What makes you feel guilty?” Hunter and I speak at the same time.

“A lot.”

“Explain it to us.” Hunter says as the coffee stops brewing. He pulls out three mugs, stirring in the creamer in a couple of them, handing them to Elliott and I. He motions to the island where Elliott moves to sit on one of the stools .

“I don’t want to get in between any of you. I would hate to be the reason it crumbles even further. I feel selfish.”

“Selfish? Why?” I ask her.

“I want two guys!”

“And?” I shrug.

“That’s selfish. Why do I get two ?”

I can’t help but burst out in laughter, “Because those two men want you too. Tell me El, what’s rooted in that selfish feeling you have?”

Her eyes glaze over for a moment as she’s lost in her own thoughts.

“I was raised with the belief that a man and a woman marry when the Divine finds your Chosen husband.”

“The Divine chooses for you? Do you get a say if you accept that Chosen?” Hunter asks, taking a sip from his mug.

“Yes and no you can’t refuse your Chosen. It’s the Divine’s decision.”

“Elliott, you get a choice here. You can have what you want, no shame or guilt attached.” I say rubbing her leg with my thumb. “This is your life. Your call.”

Hunter sets his mug down and walks around the island to stand on the other side of Elliott.

She slowly looks up at him and he lets his hand cup her cheek, his fingers softly caressing her head.

“What do you want, Elliott? Not what you think we want or what your old faith told you to want. What do you truly want? ”

Her eyes well up with tears. She looks at me for a moment before bringing her gaze back to Hunter. I swallow the lump in my throat, nervous as hell to hear her answer.

“I–” She slams her eyes shut, tears pouring over. “I don’t know.” Her whole body sags.

Hunter looks at me and I can see he wants this, but he doesn’t want to push her further than she can go just yet. Neither do I.

“El–” I whisper softly, her eyes blink a few times before landing on me, “It’s tough to have your reality altered, your life turned on its side. We don't want to push you to do anything you don’t want to do. Ever.”

Her eyes widened, “No! It’s not that I don’t want–” She stops herself, taking a deep breath. “I don’t know how to do this, is all.”

“We get it.” I look at Hunter now, “We can take it one step at a time, yeah?”

She nods as Hunter’s hands still, turning to him, “I–”

“One. Step. At. A. Time.” He smiles at her, and I watch her body start to relax.

“I’d like that.” She gives him a painfully beautiful smile.

“Me too, baby girl.” He lowers his lips to hers.

She scoots back a fraction and I can see the hurt in Hunter’s eyes but it fades just as fast when she leans closer to him, stealing the breath from my lungs watching them connect like this.