Page 46 of Just Like This
I could see Cami start to relent. Her shoulders sagged, and her defenses began to crumble. “Palmer, I don’t need any more stress in my life right now. I need you to be my friend.”
“I know, and I promise to be here with you through everything. You won’t be alone.”
She looked at me for reassurance, and I dipped my head slightly. “Okay,” she grumbled. “Apology accepted.”
“Thank you.” Palmer sighed. “Now can I have some more pancakes?”
Cami didn’t exactly seem placated but scooped two hot, fresh pancakes onto his plate before handing it to him. She glanced at me and wordlessly offered me another helping, but I shook my head. I was stuffed. I watched her carefully as she finished cleaning up the breakfast mess. Was this something I was going to worry about? Cami constantly putting others before herself? Selflessness was an admirable quality, but it could take its toll on a person, and I didn’t want Cami to run herself down. This was something I needed to discuss with Palmer because I wanted him to make sure she took the time to care for herself.
“Do you want to go and spend time with your dad?” I asked, surprising her.
“Are you offering to go with me?” She’d sacrificed a few days with him for me, and I knew she was feeling restless.
“You said he wanted to meet me and make sure I was capable of taking care of you and the house.”
“What’s wrong with the house?” Palmer asked.
“Nothing. Dad’s just fussing over nothing.”
“Well, make a list, and we’ll put you on the schedule,” he told her. “I’ve got to go, though. Thank you for breakfast.” Palmer reached out a hand toward me, and we shook, officially burying the hatchet. He placed an arm around Cami and pulled her in for a hug. He kissed the top of her head before telling her, “I meant what I said. I’m sorry I hurt you.”
“Thank you, Palmer.” She returned his hug, snaking her arms around his middle. I could tell from the grateful smile on her lips that their friendship was important to her and that he was forgiven. Palmer snagged one last pancake before he left with a guilty grin.
The minute Palmer cleared the door, and I heard it shut, I had Cami pressed against the closest wall. She gazed up at me with big blue eyes; her breathing was heavy. “If you ever invite another man over and all you’re wearing is this,” I scolded her, running a hand down the front of her tank top, “we’re going to have problems.”
“What kind of problems?” she breathed out. “Are you going to spank me?”
“I’ll do more than spank you, sweetheart. I’ll fuck you senseless.”
“I don’t see how that’s supposed to teach me a lesson,” she purred. “It might just turn me into a repeat offender.”
I groaned, and my cock throbbed uncomfortably. “Let’s go,” I said, grabbing her hand and leading her to the bathroom. Hopefully, there was enough hot water.
* * *
As we droveto the hospital, Cami kept looking over at me and giggling. If I’d had to guess, she was replaying the events of the past few hours in her head, and I didn’t blame her. Fucking her against the shower wall was a memory made to last.
“Stop thinking about it, or I’m going to meet your dad with a raging hard-on,” I told her.
“I’m sorry! I just … can’t help myself.” She squirmed in the passenger seat and continued to grin like the Cheshire cat. What was I going to do with her? We were close to the hospital, so there wasn’t much.
“Well, you’re going to have to,” I said as I made the turn into the hospital’s parking lot. This seemed to sober her quickly, and I was relieved.
I took her hand as she led me through the hospital corridors and up to her dad’s room. She knocked timidly on his door and poked her head inside. I waited just outside in the hallway until she announced that she had company.
“Hey, Dad,” I heard her say.
“Camille! Long time, no see!” He greeted her warmly, and they talked briefly, but I couldn’t hear; their words were muffled.
“I brought someone with me today,” she told him nervously. She poked her head out and motioned for me to enter. “Dad, this is Garrett. Garret, this is my dad, Alex Sorenson.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” I extended my hand toward the man who was sitting up in the hospital bed. Alex Sorenson was a formidable looking man. Even though he was battling cancer, he still looked capable of kicking my ass. He wore a blue bandana around his head, hiding the baldness that was most likely the result of his chemotherapy treatments. His eyes were the same disarming shade of blue that captured my attention the first time I met Cami, and it was easy to see so much of him in her.
“Please call me Alex,” her dad replied, gripping my hand tightly.
“All right, Alex.” I sat down on one of the uncomfortable vinyl chairs that seemed to occupy every hospital room. I bobbed my knee nervously; I wasn’t used to meeting fathers. Until Cami, none of my previous relationships had lasted long enough to necessitate meeting families. This meeting with her dad was an important step in our relationship, and I wanted it to be perfect.
Cami asked her dad some questions. I didn’t really pay much attention to the specifics of her questions or the content of his answers. Instead, I watched how they interacted with each other. There was an enormous amount of love in her eyes, and she touched him often throughout their exchange. As she spoke, there was always a smile on her lips, and her tone was calm. Her father was similar. He would reach up often and brush the backs of his fingers along her cheek, and I saw a twinkle in his eye that never seemed to fade.
