Page 41 of The Top of Admiration
“I don’t usually. It’s not an established fetish or anything. I just … well, you have good collarbones,” he confessed, looking up at the ceiling.
I leaned up and kissed his lips. “I’m an artist. I don’t judge what draws the eye.”
He laughed and poked his head out of the curtain. Returning, he gave me a suggestive look and said, “Do you think they’d mind if we got out of here? Coffee maybe? My place?”
I snuggled into his chest, amazed at how comfortable I already felt with him. “Sure. Coffee. Would love some coffee.”
Hand in hand, we strolled out of the gallery. I glanced back to throw a grateful look at my friends and family.
“Bye, and as happy as I am to see you with my brother, I don’t want any details,” Lucy yelled at our retreating backs.
“Shut up,” I heard Cordelia hiss. “My parents are here!” I loved my friends and I had the best family in the world. And now, I had a warm, stable, and loving man beside me. I’d still be chaos no doubt, but he’d minimize the damage and like the patient olive tree he was, his growth would be steady, consistent, and produce fruit for decades.
Chapter 34: Cam W — Cohabitation
Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt
All’s Well That Ends Well, William Shakespeare
Three months later
My life with Miranda was beyond what I’d hoped it would be. She was warm. She never played games and said exactly what she was thinking. Sometimes that was a good thing, and sometimes it was the sexiest thing ever. She had a thing for biceps, often biting mine through my shirts. I let her. After all, who was I to judge given I gave into temptation and either touched or licked her collarbones when we were alone? I’m not a kink-shamer and our kinks were pretty tame in the scheme of things.
The night we returned to my place for coffee, we had sex within twenty minutes of entering the house. She was certainly impulsive and incredibly hot. I wasn’t even disappointed that she didn’t compliment the sofa blanket or cushions. I quickly learned thatSweet Melons, while a misguided move by Bad Cam, was a very apt song. She also had an amazing ass and somehow made even baggy basketball shorts look flattering. We’d started a social mixed team with Cordy, Damon, Vanessa, and Samuel. Miranda was still learning the rules and suggesting ways to liven up the game to the venue organizers.
I guess they hadn’t had much exposure to people like Miranda because her suggestion to have three teams play each other at once or to add “some punitive novelty” to the game by havingto balance a book on your head for five minutes if a foul was called on you was met with confusion and disbelief. Noel, the manager, just kept saying “What?” which just made Miranda respond with equal confusion. “What do you mean?” she asked. “I can probably explain it better if I draw it up.” He just continued staring at her, with her staring back at him like he was crazy, until I smiled politely and led her away by the hand. She asked me later, “What was wrong with that guy? He shouldn’t be running a venue if he’s not open to ideas.” I rubbed her back, kissed her head, and agreed that Noel should open his mind. How dare the manager of a basketball stadium be stunned when someone suggests “moving boundaries” that could be achieved through flashing stick-on LED strips that would allow the lines to move randomly without notice. Really, Noel had no imagination.
When we’d been together one month, I installed an app on her phone to ensure she received compliments every two hours and reminders to eat breakfast and lunch. She spent a great deal of time at my house. She still lived with Cordy, and as much as Damon was a good friend, we sometimes found ourselves exchanging manly conversation about football games to counter how frequently we caught each other in soft cuddle poses with our girls on the couch. Last week, Randa and I thought they were out to dinner, only to be busted making out on their sofa when they returned because they couldn’t get into the restaurant. We were grown adults, not college students sharing a dorm, so yeah, it was awkward.
“Are you listening?” Miranda asked me impatiently. “Yes, of course,” I replied and kissed her forehead. We were snuggled together after a bout of vigorous fucking, and as usual, Miranda was taking me to Yap City, of which she was mayor. Damon was finally moving into Cordy’s house, and while they’d offered bothLucy and Miranda to stay, both had declined, choosing not to remain in the new love nest.
“Lucy is going to move in with Alicia,” she explained. “I’m looking at studios like a proper adult. A real one. First time living alone!” She was proud of her decision, but I hated it. I had a perfectly good house, and there was no need to waste her money on rent when she could just move in with me. But I knew we’d only been together for three months, and given Bad Cam’s reluctance to move out, she was likely unsure and wanting to play it slow. It had taken Damon years to convince Cordy to live with him, but Mom always said if you don’t ask, you won’t receive, so I took a chance.
“Just move in with me. Why would you live somewhere else? It just means I’d have to travel to kill spiders, get things from high shelves and check out the neighbor’s … vibrations, so—”
“Their vibes, Cam. Not vibrations. And are you honestly telling me you don’t vibe-check people? If so, you are a lying liar who lies.” She stroked her hand up and down my arm.
“Okay, vibe. What do you think, Miranda? I’m two minutes from your sister’s house. I’m close to your work, and financially it makes sense.”
She shrugged. Finances were never a huge part of her decision-making. While she did live within her means, she never considered money when making decisions.
“Sure,” she said simply.
I sat upright. “What?” Did I hear correctly?
“Did you not mean it?” she asked, alarmed.
“Of course I meant it. I just didn’t think you’d say yes so quickly.”
She shrugged. “I’m leaning into my impulsive side. Besides, you have the comfiest bed in the world. And it comes with a built-in boyfriend.”
“Yes, move in! And the built-in boyfriend will be thrilled to have you in his comfy bed every night. But don’t lean too much harder into your impulsive side, little Bard. I mean, I have home insurance, but …”
She punched my bicep lightly, then bit me. Again.
Epilogue I: Miranda — Two years later
We know what we are, but not what we may be
