Page 150 of Magic or Madness

They instantly run to me, crowding me like I’m part of one of those families with twelve kids. It’s incredible, yet suffocating, so I take a step back, and decide to take it slow.

Cami’s up first, and I brace for impact, knowing she was probably devastated when I was gone.

“Fal, you fucking bitch. You just didn’t want to go out, did you?” She laughs nervously, and I shake my head pulling her in for a long hug.

“Are you alright?” I ask, and she sighs, the tension melting off her body now that we’re together.

“I love you, Fallon.”

“I know, Cami. I know,” I say, holding her body close to mine, not ready to let go.

“I don’t care if they all know, but I need to kiss you, just for a second to know you’re really home. If not, that’s okay,” she whispers, breaking our hug and looking straight into my eyes.

After what I’ve been through, it’s important to show people how much they mean to you, and I’d never want Cami to think that she’s a secret, or worse, an experiment. I may not be in love with her, like she is with me, but I hold a very special place for her in my heart, and I’d be stupid not to let her know that.

“Kiss me, Camila.”

She smiles, biting her bottom lip before pressing our mouths together, enveloping me in a kiss that steals the breath from my lungs, and makes everything else disappear.

I can hear everyone’s reactions surrounding us, but I’m lost in the moment, my only focus being this beautiful girl in my arms.

She parts my lips with her tongue, and we get into it a little too heavy for my liking, considering this is our true outing to everyone else, but still, I can’t seem to pull away, our desire so strong for one another.

Cami is the one to pump the brakes, breaking our lips apart and sighing instantly, like she misses me already.

“I love you, too, Cami,” I whisper, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

“You’re fucking incredible,” she says, letting me go and rejoining everyone else.

I look at Ozzy, but his smile is bigger than the sky, and I don’t feel like I’ve crossed a single line in our relationship. I think I may have a boyfriend, and a girlfriend, but that’s an evaluation for a different day.

“Oh my gosh! I knew it, you two are always flirting! Come here, Fal!” Pepper squeals, and my eyes widen at her words, thinking we were more careful than that, but I severely underestimated Pepper’s intelligence.

“I missed you, Pep. Are you okay?”

“Stop worrying about me, I’m fine, silly,” she says, kissing my cheek and passing me off to the next person.

I make my rounds, giving hugs, and everyone tells me to stop asking if they’re alright, ordering me to take it easy.

Max smiles at me softly, taking the initiative to pull me in for a hug.

“It was never your fault. I’m sorry, Fallon.”

I’m shocked that he’s apologizing to me, but he’s here, and that’s what matters.

“I’m happy you’re home, Max. Don’t fucking throw another plate at me, though, or there will be hell to pay,” I laugh, and he drops his head, his cheeks flushing red.

“I was angry, but not at you. My own demons. We’re good?”

“We’re good, Max. Thank you,” I say, absolving him of the guilt he seems to be carrying.

Ozzy clued me into the fact that he volunteered to take the trip to Jacksonville, retrieving the fake cash to use for my ransom. He selflessly drove the entire twelve hours, hustling ass to get back here in time for the exchange. No matter what he said, or how he behaved toward me, I’ll never forget the sacrifice he made, and how he came back when he knew I was in danger.

“Has everyone been eating, or should I be concerned?”

Everyone laughs, yelling at me to relax, but I can’t help it, I’m the house-mother, and I worry about them all in ways I never thought were possible.

I never knew I’d grow to love them as much as I have, and once the tear-filled reunions are over, I can finally breathe knowing I’m back with the family I chose.

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