Page 61 of Out on a Limb

“No, not really.”

Walker didn’t quite believe him. “Did something happen?”

“No, nothing.”

“Cameron said the F-word to my instructor!” Hobie slapped his hand over his mouth and giggled. Even Henry and Nolan laughed to themselves.

“I can explain.” Cameron mouthed “later.”

Walker trusted him. He’d deal with the fallout then.

“Well, thanks,” Walker said awkwardly. He knew how much Cameron hated good-byes, and this one was especially strange. They hadn’t seen each other since Nolan’s party.

“No problem.” Cameron pretended like none of that ever happened, or that he would never acknowledge any of that ever happened.

“Alright, Hobie,” Walker said. “Help me carry Beerza to the car.”

“Wait. We have to say good-bye!”

“Yeah, Walker. Don’t be rude.” Cameron planted his hands on his hips and cocked his eyebrows. He didn’t realize how much that made Walker want to scoop him into his arms.

Hobie went to the couch and ran down the line, high-fiving Henry, Nolan, Ethan, and Greg. Then he ran back over to hug Cameron. He squeezed extra hard.

Walker just waved at the guys, and then came Cameron.

“Thank you again,” Walker said, then gave him a polite hug, too. More of a bro hug than anything else.

“Aren’t you going to kiss him, too?” Hobie asked.

That left all adults in the room speechless.

“Kiss him?” Walker asked.

“Yeah, like you used to do with daddy.”

Cameron’s face dropped.

The words hit Walker in the gut. He laughed nervously, and Cameron joined in. His cheeks got hot, and he wondered if they were as red as they felt.

“Hobie, he’s not…”

“We can do a kiss on the cheek,” Cameron said.

Before Walker could second guess, Cameron pulled him into a warm hug, like wrapping yourself in a fresh towel after a shower. Walker felt both their hearts beating against both their chests. Cameron pecked him on the cheek. His lips caused his cheek to sizzle. Walker breathed in his scent.

He didn’t know how long they hugged. Seconds? Hours? Months? It all felt the same to him. Walker was already missing this hug, and it wasn’t even over yet. Cameron dropped his hands and stepped away, his pupils wide and dark. The lights came back on. The music started up.

“Good night, Cameron.”

CHAPTER Nineteen

Cameron

It was only five o’clock, but Henry was already dancing. He shimmied next to the microwave while heating up some leftover pizza.

“I see you’re all ready for tonight.” Cameron pulled the pizza box out of the fridge. One slice remained. He’d heard somewhere that you could reheat pizza in the oven. He googled the exact instructions on his phone.

“It’s going to be ree-dic. Can we just not spend all our time on the ’80s floor?”