Page 19 of Made to Be

“Good morning.”

I wasn’t at all prepared for how lovely Cam would sound after just waking up and I nearly swooned right out of my seat.

“Morning,” I replied in a voice nearly as rough. I quickly cleared my throat. “Did you sleep well?”

“Mhm,” he hummed and strode over to me, bare feet padding on the checkered tile. With a grunt, he settled in the seat directly opposite me.

Feeling uncharacteristically shy, I rose and maneuvered to the cupboard to pull down a fresh mug.

“Would you, uh, like some coffee?” I kept my back to him as I asked, if only to keep him from witnessing my fierce blush.

“Yes,” he said eagerly. “Thank you, Victor.”

My knees physically wobbled, growing weak. God, when he said my name... And in that deep voice of his, it made my legs turn to jelly.

“Creamer?” I asked hoarsely as I poured him a cup.

He hummed out another yes, but this time it sounded close. Really close. As in, right behind me.

I turned and nearly dropped the full mug. Which would have made me very sad. This mug was a miniature black cauldron and had a skull and crossbones on it with text that said,“Might Be Poison.”It was one of my favorites, right up there with the “best boo jobs” one.

“Satan,” I gasped with my other hand pressed to my chest in surprise. I hadn’t even heard him get up and walk over here. “What are you, a ninja? A ghost?” I cringed, “Oops, sorry. That was a little insensitive.”

Cam only cocked his head and blinked at me, so I laughed it off,

“Never mind. Here.” I handed him the cup and tried to sidestep around him, but he stepped with me to block my path.

He cradled the steaming cup between his hands, index finger tapping on the ceramic. “What will we be doing today?” he asked.

“Well, I have a few ideas, but it depends,” I told him.

“On what?”

“On what you like.” I smiled up at him and he grinned back, mirroring me.

“I’ll like anything as long as I’m with you.”

Oh fuck, man down, man down!My heart thudded violently in my chest as it threatened to burst free.Be cool, Vic. Just. Stay. Calm.

I ran my fingers anxiously through my hair, “Do... Do you like movies?”

His smile widened and he nodded.

***

That was how we found ourselves carrying a large bucket of popcorn and two sodas down a long, red-carpeted hall lined with movie posters. I had convinced Cam to stuff some candy into the pockets of his jacket for extra snacks. Seemed its many zippers came in handy for smuggling contraband goodies into a theatre.

We had looked up some of the movies playing before coming, and I’d had Cam pick. He’d chosen a horror romcom, and I had almost squealed with delight seeing as it was the one I would have chosen.

Because it was a matinee, the theatre was nearly empty as we made our way through the low-lit room and found our seats.

I heard Cam stumble a few times behind me, and I quickly realized he was probably having trouble seeing with the sunglasses still on. Well, it was darkenough in here and no one would be paying us any attention anyway. So, after we’d sat, I leaned over and pulled the glasses from his face.

He stiffened, seemingly unsure of what I was doing. Once they were off, I found myself staring directly into his pale eyes. Only a few inches separated us and the light from the big screen playing the pre-movie advertisements and trailers set his face aglow. We watched each other for several long seconds that seemed to stretch almost expectantly, as if we were both waiting for something to happen while simultaneously being too afraid to act on it.

My gaze flicked to his lips, eyes catching on the way his lip ring glinted in the lights. I wondered what it would feel like to kiss him. None of my exes had ever had lip piercings. I bet it would feel so uniquely sweet against my own lips. A delicious contrast of hard and soft, warm and cold.

I only let the thought linger for a moment before I snapped to attention and leaned back into my seat with an awkward cough.