“Or, it could turn out to be more than one night,” I state.
Taylor shrugs. “Is it wrong of me to want more than one night?”
Shaking my head, I reply, “Not at all. You also need love and affection. We all do.”
“So you think it’s a good idea? Given that he’s Macy’s doctor and all?”
Hannah and I both nod in agreement and Taylor visibly relaxes. The doorbell chimes and I look up to see Cameron and Noah making their way towards us. Taylor jumps up and I grab her hand quickly. “Call me if you need anything, okay?”
She nods, a grateful smile adorning her face. “Thanks, Hayley.”
Taylor goes back to serving her other customers and Noah and Cameron drop into the booth with us. Cameron wraps his arm around me, pulling me close into his side. “I missed you,” he whispers, his hot breath tickling the sensitive skin around my neck.
I chuckle, playfully rolling my eyes. “You saw me less than twenty minutes ago.”
“That’s a really long time,” he retorts. He pouts, giving me puppy dog eyes that make my insides do somersaults, and I resist the yearning to sink my teeth into his bottom lip.
“Ugh,” Noah snorts. “You two make me sick. You’re like two horny teenagers. Why don’t you just do each other right here?”
“Because,” Cameron replies, nuzzling my neck. “I don’t think ‘doggie style’ is on the menu.”
Hannah chokes on her hot chocolate and I feel my cheeks flush.
“Cameron!” I hiss, slapping his thigh. “Don’t say things like that here!”
“Yeah, please, that’s definitely too much information,” Hannah adds. She winks at me and I know she’s teasing. Cameron and I have yet to venture into that kind of territory. But that’s not to say the sex isn’t hot enough already. Because it is. Ridiculously hot. It makes me blush just thinking about it.
“I’m sorry, Hayls.” Cameron unleashes his panty-dropping smile and I’m no longer able to be irritated with his comment. He threads his fingers with mine and brings my hand up to his lips, kissing my palm.
Hannah and Noah start bickering, which is nothing new when they’re together, but Cameron and I hardly notice. We stare at each other a little longer than what’s deemed appropriate for public displays of affection and my body starts to hum, the heat from his body radiating onto mine and making me keenly aware of his closeness.
He leans closer to me, his mouth inches from mine. “Later,” he whispers, like he read my mind. He brushes my lips briefly before another protest comes from the other side of the table. This time it’s from Hannah.
“Okay, seriously, I’m getting jealous watching the two of you eye fuck each other, so for the sake of my lacking sex life, please stop.”
“Oh God,” Noah groans. “I don’t need to hear about your sex life, please. That’s gross.”
Hannah rolls her eyes. “Are you fucking kidding me? I hear about yours almost every night. It’s a good thing mom and dad aren’t at home that often, otherwise they’d think you’ve turned our house into a brothel. And for the love of my eardrums, stop screwing girls who scream like banshees or at least stuff a sock in their mouths. I can’t handle the sound of cats being strangled any longer.”
Noah stares at his sister, shocked. Cameron and I laugh at Hannah’s crass statement, not only because of Noah’s face, but also because it’s probably true.
“I’m not that bad,” Noah grumbles.
Hannah snorts. “No, you’re worse.”
For the first time since I met them, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them act this harshly towards one another. Something tells me there’s more to it than what they’re letting on and I resolve to find out from Hannah exactly what it is. But that can wait for now. We have a victory to celebrate.
I turn to look at Cam, smiling when I see his eyes have never left me. “Congratulations on your win, Cam. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, buttercup.” His new nickname for me always makes me sigh. It’s corny, but it’s grown on me in the last few weeks. In fact, Cameron has grown on me. We’ve been inseparable for the most part, and he spends a little more time over at my grandmother’s house than I do at his. But he never complains. I made it clear that I didn’t want to do anything that would upset Ari’s routine, and me sleeping over at Cameron’s house would definitely do that.
“Okay, kids,” Taylor says, stepping up to our table. Her smile wavers when she sees Noah. He always makes her uncomfortable, and I don’t blame her. He’s a shameless flirt and can even charm the pants off a mannequin if he tried hard enough. Something about the way he looks at Taylor even makes me a little uncomfortable, like he’s eyeing his prey. “What can I get you?”
“Burger and fries, right here,” Cameron replies, rubbing his stomach.
“Same here,” Noah adds. “But with a side of you, sexy.”
Taylor rolls her eyes. I’m sure she’s been hit on by customers before, so it can’t be new to her. She turns her gaze to me and smiles expectantly.
“Uh, I’ll just have a plate of fries, please.”
“Me too,” Hannah pipes up.
Taylor grabs our menus and walks straight into the kitchen to place our orders. When she’s out of sight, I glower at Noah.
“What?” he asks, shrugging his shoulders.
“You’re a pig, that’s what,” Hannah snaps.
“Cam, c’mon, some help would be nice.” Noah looks at Cameron, his eyes pleading.
“Don’t look at me,” Cameron says, lifting his hands in defeat. “You’re on your own.”
Noah mutters, “Asshole,” under his breath and Hannah kicks him under the table, hard enough to make it rattle.
The mood has taken a turn for the worse and I’m even more anxious to know what happened between Hannah and her brother. Luckily, our food arrives, and before any more insults can be hurled across the table, we dig in.
“So,” Hannah says, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “I was thinking it would be awesome if we all did Christmas together this year.”
The idea thrills me and I immediately perk up. “I think that’s a great idea. I would love a big Christmas. We can do ‘Secret Santa’.” I clap my hands excitedly and hear Cameron chuckle next to me.
“We can do it at our house,” he suggests. “Mom will love it.”
“Can we invite Taylor and Macy?” I ask. “I don’t think they have anyone to spend it with, and I’d hate for them to be alone.”
Cameron just smiles and leans over to kiss my nose. “Of course, Angel. Anything you want.”
I grin happily, probably looking like a total goof ball, and finish my fries. After we’re all done, Cameron pays the bill, much to my annoyance because he never lets me pay, and we make our way outside.
“I’ll see you in a little bit,” Cameron says, walking me to my car.
I smile up at him. “Okay, but don’t stay away too long. This weather calls for some major snuggle time.”
He gives me a kiss and I fight my body’s natural desire to deepen it, prolong it. It’s always like that with us, a little bit is never enough. I watch him walk to his truck and climb in, saying his goodbyes to Hannah and Noah on his way out of the parking lot.
Hannah walks over to me and I notice that her eyes are wet, glistening with tears.
“Hey, are you okay, girly?” I ask. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen her so upset and it bothers me. Hannah is usually so strong and so outspoken. But now, she just looks defeated and hurt.
“Yeah,” she sniffles and wipes her nose with the back of her hand. “I’m just going to go home and crawl into bed with a book, I think.”