Page 43 of Teach Me
I stared out the window, where rain pelted the panes. If he left and was driving in this… Christ, what was I thinking? Cameron was an adult. Still, I checked my phone again and then fired off a quick message.
Grady:Just checking in to see how it’s going.
Cameron:I’m back. I should have messaged. I’m sorry.
Grady:You don’t need to apologize. You’re back, though, that’s good. Did the visit go alright?
Cameron:It was fine.
A second later, the bubbles indicating he was typing popped up again.
Cameron:Honestly? It didn’t end well. But I’ll be fine. That’s what I should have said.
Grady:Do you want to talk about it? You can call.
Cameron:No, not really.
Grady:What are you doing now?
Cameron:I said I’m fine. I’m not tempted to go swallow a handful of pills or anything, okay?
Grady:Not where I was going with that.
Cameron:Fuck. Sorry, I’m on edge. I’m sitting in the parking lot of the cafe, debating whether to go in and try to pick up a shift.
Cameron:I should go in and pick up a shift.
Grady:Or you could come over here instead.
Cameron:For sex?
Grady:For a talk. To relax. Get things off your chest. I’m a decent listener.
Cameron:I don’t want to interrupt you.
Grady:Cameron. Put the damn car in gear and come over here.
Cameron:Or what? You’ll dock my grade?
A glimmer of a smile formed on my lips. He was okay enough to be sarcastic, which was promising.
Grady:Something like that.
I kept an eye on the back door and, when I saw his lanky figure approaching, set aside the stack of papers I hadn’t been reading anyway.
In the short walk to my stoop, Cameron had gotten soaked by the downpour, despite the hooded coat he wore.
“Christ, where’s your umbrella,” I muttered as I flung open the back door and yanked him inside.
“Couldn’t find it.” He let out a soft laugh as he glanced down at himself. “Here, let me… I’m dripping all over your floor.”
“Lemme grab some towels. Don’t move.” I dashed down the hallway and upstairs, swiping some towels from the linen closet, along with a pair of sweats and a tee, before heading back downstairs to find Cameron carefully peeling off his clothes. I halted in my tracks, studying the dripping ends of his hair, the patchwork of goose bumps all over his skin, the scintillating blue eyes as he peered up at me. He was stunning.
“I’ll clean this up, promise.”
“No, I…” I shook my head from my daze and bustled forward to wrap a towel around his shoulders.
Cameron grinned up at me as he straightened. “You gonna dry me off, too?”