Page 22 of Hitched at Randy’s (Diner Days)
Twenty-Two
Evan
I open the next box, unpacking the books we’ll be reading this semester. I got the call last week telling me I have the job, but being here now getting my classroom ready, it feels more real. Kinda like how the last week with Cam has felt surprisingly right. We’ve been basically living together now for the past month or so, since all of this began, but now that we’ve decided to stay together, it feels like we’ve been lying to ourselves thinking this was ever less than serious. Speaking of, the box in my pocket is a constant reminder of just how serious our relationship has gotten.
I picked up the hint Cam was disappointed we didn’t get a real wedding, and hopefully tonight is a step in the right direction. I set the last of my supplies in place, ready for when school starts Monday, and glance around the classroom one more time. This is the last time for a while that it’ll be quiet like this. Next time I’m here, the room will be full of middle school students. Before all that can happen, though, I have a date with my husband and a DnD meeting to attend.
I gather up my things before driving to Randy’s diner. Being here feels welcoming, and I know as I step inside that I picked the right place to do this. If in five years we’re still going to DnD with Cam’s friends, I hope it still feels as welcoming as it does right now. Being here in the pastel blues and pinks is a testament to how accepting the diner is, and I love that. It’s no wonder Cam found friends here.
Speaking of Cam, he turns as I enter the room and waves me over to the rest of the group. I take my seat next to him, placing a kiss on his cheek. “You get everything set up?” he asks.
“All ready for class Monday morning.” I look around the table at the others. Looks like Aria and Zach are here, but Neil hasn’t shown up just yet. Aria meets my eyes before looking down and avoiding my gaze.
“Hey Cam, Evan, I just wanted to say sorry. I found out from Viola that she saw the picture I posted a while back of you two, and that’s how she found out about the wedding.”
I guess that answers that question, but I can’t find it in me to be upset. “It’s fine,” I tell her. “You didn’t know. Besides, everything worked out for the better.” I lace my fingers into Cam’s and lift our hands to kiss his.
Neil walks in, setting his things on the table, and I’m glad for the interruption, not wanting to spend too much time talking about my ex. “Sorry I’m late,” he says as he sets everything up. “Traffic was a nightmare.” He jumps right into setup, pulling out his things and getting the game underway. I play along, waiting for the perfect moment to pull the box out of my pocket.
A server stops by asking us if we need anything, and Aria orders a strawberry milkshake. “That sounds great,” Cam says. “Can I get one of those too?”
“Sure thing, sweetheart,” the server says, turning her focus to the rest of the table as they call out orders.
I have my opportunity nearly ten minutes later when Cam heads for the bathroom. I pull out the ring box under the table, pulling out the ring and carefully dropping it into Cam’s glass. Zach gives me an odd look but doesn’t say anything. When Cam comes back, it’s all I can do to keep from spilling the secret before he gets the chance to discover it.
Each sip of his drink seems to take an eternity. Aria finishes her shake first. Cam’s drink is getting lower, the glimmer of the ring almost visible through the last inch of milkshake. He lifts the drink, putting his lips to the straw only to pull away, his eyes wider than a moment before. I push back my chair, dropping to one knee. “Cam, will you marry me?”
He takes another drink of the shake before reaching with the straw to pull out the ring. Cam drops it on his napkin, cleaning it off to get a better look. He looks from the new ring to my class ring, still on his finger, before looking back at me. “I’m confused. Didn’t we already get married?”
Our friends around us laugh, and I take Cam’s hand, pulling off the class ring. “I want a do over. Marry me for real?” I ask, grabbing the other ring and holding it before him as I wait for his answer.
“Yes, of course!” Cam answers, letting me slip the ring onto his finger.
The table breaks out into applause, and as I stand up again, Cam wraps his arms around my neck, pulling me in for a kiss. He doesn’t care who’s watching as his tongue enters my mouth, and he kisses me deeply.
We break apart at the sound of Neil clearing his throat. “As cute as all of this is, we have a game to finish,” he reminds us.
Cam blushes, taking his seat and returning to the game. Zach shoves Neil, “They just got engaged. You can cut them some slack.”
“Does it count as being engaged if they’re already married?” Aria asks. That gets the table laughing, and somehow all the eyes end up on me.
“I don’t plan on legally getting married again. I just want to do this right. Propose, maybe have a proper honeymoon.”
Zach waggles his eyebrows when I say the word honeymoon. “I’ll bet.”
Cam rolls his eyes. “Can we get back to playing?” He grabs his dice, rolling for his character and drawing the attention off of us. Just like that, everyone takes the hint, getting right back into the game, but I still catch Cam glancing at the ring on his finger.
“Was that okay?” I ask when we’re leaving the diner. “Should I have asked you in private?”
“Evan, it was perfect.” He pulls to a stop as we get to our cars. “I love that you did this here with my friends. I love you.” He pulls me in for another kiss, backing me into the side of his car. I press my lips to his, hating the fact that we drove here separately tonight. Pulling back and heading for my car is hard when all I want is to pull Cam into the backseat right here in the parking lot and make out like teenagers. “I’ll see you at home?” Cam asks.
He gives my ass a parting grope and smirks at me as we part ways. We pull up to our parking spots at the same time. I don’t have to wait for Cam to kiss me again as he grabs my wrist, pulling me through the front door. His lips are on mine before the door closes behind us. “Oh, before I forget.” Cam pulls back from kissing me and grabs his phone out of his pocket. “I found a house for us to look at.”
His thumb taps away on the screen, getting it to the listing before he hands his phone to me. I scroll through the pictures first. It’s two floors with three bedrooms and an attic. “I was thinking I could turn the attic into my work area,” Cam says. “You can have one of the spare bedrooms for an office. There’s plenty of room for all of your books.”
“You don’t think this is too big for the two of us?” I ask, glancing at the price. “Can we even afford this? I can probably manage my half.”
“Well, I kinda figured we wanted a place we could stay for the foreseeable future and maybe we’d want the extra room, just in case …” Cam is blushing when I look at his face.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying? You want kids?”
“Not anytime soon, but yeah. It was always part of the reason I didn’t get bottom surgery. At some point I’d like to be a dad, assuming you do too.” I kiss him, stopping his awkward mumbling. Cam moans into my lips, wrapping his arms around my neck. “So, are we doing this? Should we call the place tomorrow and ask for a tour? I can afford my half.”
“Sounds good.” I grab Cam’s waist, leading him to the couch. “But right now, I just want to enjoy this. Being with my husband, watching TV, and relaxing.” I turn the TV on and Cam curls into me, cuddling his body into mine.
“I love you,” he whispers into my chest.
“Love you too.”