Page 119 of A Not So Prince Charming

Ella

The night had passed in a blur—and I didn’t just mean because of the amount of dancing we’d done or the few drinks I’d had that had kept me just on the edge ofhappyand definitely not drunk. Audrey had found me, and we’d even danced together, Cam disappearing as we shook our asses to Taylor Swift.

“Hey, Gus,” I said, giving my friend a small smile as I adjusted my dress, waiting for Cam to come back. “I didn’t know you’d be here. Where’s your date?” I cock my head, only slightly surprised when Jackson—one of Cam’s brothers—slid up to his side.

He gave Jackson a quick look before they intertwined their fingers.

“Oh.” I grinned. “That’s awesome. I’m so happy for you.”

Jack returned my smile. “Have you seen Cam lately?”

I shook my head. “He slipped off, but I’m not sure where he went.”

They chatted with me for a few more moments before bidding me goodbye, slipping back onto the dance floor.

When Cam returned, it was with a white rose in his hand, his hair looking like he’d just swept his hand through it repeatedly.I wondered if he was nervous. Didn’t he know he didn’t need to be? He’d already gotten the girl. I wasn’t going anywhere.

“Want to take a walk?” He asked, holding out his hand for mine once again and indicating with his head outside to the gardens. Even if it was still chilly outside, since it was only March, and the temperatures during the day had only just started to rise. I’d been dancing enough to build up a sheen of sweat on my skin, and the cold actually sounded nice.

So I slipped my hand into his, knowing that I was a sucker, and I couldn’t saynoto that face.

Humming, I let him lead me outside to the gardens, letting my eyes trace over the part of the campus I loved, complete with the clock tower in the middle. The bells rang every hour, and I’d always loved hearing them, and being here right now felt like our own special place.

Like time had slowed down, paused just for us.

Dropping his hand, I ran ahead, laughing joyfully as I moved off the path. Slipping my feet out of my heels, I slid my feet into the cool, damp grass.

Closing my eyes, I let the cool air drift over my skin. “You know what this reminds me of?” I asked him, not opening my eyes. “New Year’s. Outside, at the country club... When you came to find me.” It was a significant moment in our relationship, even if I’d ignored it then. He’d met my parents, came home with me, and then practically had never left my side since. It was when everything started to feelreal.Like we could really do this—be together.

I’d been falling in love with him even then.

“It was the best New Year’s I’ve ever had.” Hands down, no New Year’s kiss compared to that one.

“Ella,” he murmured as I spun in a circle. Opening my eyes, I looked back at him. He’d scooped up my heels, holding them both by the back straps in his hand. “You’re gonna lose them again.”

“Nah.” I shook my head. “Not when I have you to pick them up.”

“So lucky.” He made a sharp sound with his tongue, which didthings to me. Made my stomach tumble, my skin heat.

I needed a distraction. Needed a reason to keep my hands off of him—at least until tonight was over, and we could sneak away. Stumbling, like the ever-clumsy person I was, I caught myself at the last minute. Turning around, I spun in a circle before looking at him. In front of us was a gazebo, and the river that ran out to the ocean was nearby, giving us the perfect backdrop for a moonlight dance.

“Shall we?” I asked, unable to wipe the smile from my face.

“There’s no music,” he murmured, stepping closer to me.

I grinned. “That never stopped us before.”

My mind wandered, thinking of that first night. He’d pulled out his phone, and played some instrumental music as we swayed on the front porch of the fraternity house and somehow… it had been magical.

Cam dropped my shoes on the bench next to us before gathering me up in his arms.

“You’re making me feel like such a sap anytime I’m around you,” he confessed. “I just can’t help myself.”

“I think you always were,” I teased, standing on my tiptoes—I was much shorter than him without my heels, only coming up to his shoulders. “Don’t worry though, I like it. Now…” I trailed my fingers over his shoulders. “Kiss me,” I begged, winding my arms around his neck.

“What about your makeup?” He said, a smug smile on his face. Jerk. If I didn’t love him so much, I’d do something about it.

“Don’t care,” I muttered. “Dance is basically over, anyway. Please?”

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