Page 135 of Close Knit

Our future has become so vivid in my mind—waking up next to Daphne, her knitting projects littering the bedside table. She spends her mornings creating patterns, planning retreats, or designing a wardrobe. I’ve won the Premier League and am training for the World Cup.

Our weekends are a blur of laughter and love.

Down the road, I’m coaching our kids’ football games. Daphne is on the sidelines, needles clicking, knitting tiny scarves and hats to keep them warm. Maybe we’ll get a dog, though deep down we’re both cat people. Maybe one of each.

My nerves fizzle because I don’t want anything to change. I want everything to stay as it is. This fragile, beautiful thing we’ve built—it scares me how much I need it.

How much I need her, and how much I want to prove to her I deserve her.

Chapter 38

Cameron

Duck

*cucumber emoji*

Cameron

Hungry?

For a salad?

Are you okay?

Duck

Noooooooooooooooooo silly! Im with the grls! Did u forget alredy?

I told you last weekend when we were in teh iggglooooo

the WAGgiees *dog emoji*

Where is my sober salad king!!!!!!!

Cameron

How many cucumbers deep are you?

Duck

I only have taste for one particular cucumber and hes not hre :(((((

And a taste 4 martinis *martini emoji*

You caut me it’s 5 martinis!!!!!

It’s past midnight,and I can’t sleep without her. Tonight, her friends took her out for a night on the town, and she deserves it. She’s been so busy wrapping up her final preparations for her retreat.

I sit up in bed and call her, just to make sure she’s safe. She answers on the first ring.

“Caaaaaaameron,” she slurs. “What a strong name that is, you know that?”

“I suppose it is.”

“It’s my favorite name. Cameron Hastings. Daphne Quinn Hastings.” My heart lurches. I like hearing our names together. “Gosh, it has such a good mouth feel, but not as good as how your mouth feels.” She bursts out laughing, a little hiccup escaping her lips. Daphne is absolutely plastered.

“Sounds like you’re having fun, Daphne Quinn Hastings.”

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