Page 65 of Teach Me
“I don’t know that either of us left anything to imagination.” Cameron’s lips curved upward. “And I’m pretty sure I was the one to attack you.”
“Fair point.” I rolled fully toward him and released his hand so I could prop my head on my hand as I gazed at him, taking in the disheveled gold of his hair, the sated laziness of his expression. I couldn’t wait to wake up to that sight every morning. “I can’t believe you surprised me.” I poked him gently. “You told me you were working doubles all weekend.”
“Just a little white lie. Turns out they’re handy sometimes.” He playfully swatted me away and then sobered, eyes meeting mine. “I couldn’t stand to miss it. And it worked out perfectly because…” He broke into a wide grin. “I also found out I got in to Crestview. I can start spring semester.”
“Cameron!” He laughed as I rolled upright abruptly. “That’s incredible.” My heart swelled with pride and happiness for him, knowing how much he’d wanted to get into the program and how hard he’d been working for it.
I pressed my hands to the sides of his face and murmured, “Congratulations,” before kissing him. “Goddamn, I’m so incredibly proud of you.”
He ducked his head sheepishly. “I really wanted to tell you in person since we had to miss out on some things over the summer.”
“I’m glad you did. It killed me to miss watching you graduate.”
“You look pretty alive to me right now.”
“Semantics,” I muttered.
Cameron leaned in, lips brushing mine in another kiss that was soft, sweet, and brimming with promise. “It’s an easy drive from your place?—”
“Our,” I corrected him, joy flooding me at saying it aloud.
“Our place,” he agreed easily. The wattage on his grin notched higher. “It’s an easy drive fromourplace. Like thirty-five minutes. I already test-drove it. God, I love saying ‘our place.’”
“I love hearing you say it.” I wondered when I’d become such a sap, but I couldn’t seem to help it either. He had that effect on me. “How long do I have you for?”
“Forever. Oh, or did you mean now?”
I laughed. “Both.”
“In that case, you have me forever. And also until Sunday.” He flashed me a wink and scooted closer so he could lie with his head on my chest. “So what do you want to do next?”
“Recoup and then go another round?” I ventured.
“Definitely that.” Cameron chuckled. “But I meant what do you want to do tomorrow. Explore the city? Do a bunch of tourist-y things?”
I considered for a few moments. “I think I have an idea…”
The next morning,after we’d messed up the bed all over again and then grabbed breakfast and coffee from Buzz, I drove Cameron over to the Enigma maze.
“Jesus Christ, it’s even bigger in person—don’t make a joke about that.” He side-eyed me as I laughed. “But seriously, I have my doubts about this, even as a team.”
I grinned and grabbed his hand. “Ready to get lost?”
“With you, Professor? Anytime.”
As we stepped into the maze, hand in hand, undaunted by the twists and turns, I felt an overwhelming sense of reassurance in Cameron’s presence, a silent promise that together, we’d be able to conquer whatever lay ahead of us, no matter how uncertain the path. It dawned on me that the real magic of this maze wasn’t beating it but being able to experience its twists and turns with Cameron by my side. Like life, each dead end and every unexpected obstacle was another opportunity for us to lean on each other and grow stronger. It was about relishing the journey with the man I loved.
So as we started forward into the unknown, I knew that even if we didn’t reach the elusive center, we’d already won.
—End—