Page 52 of Frost Bitten
“The worst she can say is ‘no,’” he says slowly, “but I honestly doubt she would. She’s determined to get to know us all, and I get it. I’m really into her, and I’ve been thinking more and more about asking her out on a date. But she’s already dating Corey and Bast, so I doubt any move I’d make would make her disregard you. Shoot your shot, man.”
“You think?” I roll my eyes, frustrated with myself that I’ve taken this long. “You asking her out means less time for me to dedicate to spending time with her. Of course, I’m the last one, and I’m dragging my feet.Fuck!”I throw my head back, feeling defeat crowd my insides.
This girl has me completely twisted up inside. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to make it up to her for abandoning her that night, but each and every moment I interact with her, she’s breaking down my walls, opening up my heart. It dawns on me that I don’t know if I’ve ever “loved” before, and this whole situation is wrecking my sanity.
Love.Fuck. Do I love her? I think it’s going that way. This girl is paving the way for new feelings, and I’m not sure what to do. Being vulnerable is not something I’m good at doing, but with her guiding me…
I’ll be a damned lucky man if I can follow her. She has so much love in her heart; it’s like she is the fucking North Star… I smile to myself. That’s Cait. She’s going to be my guiding light; my star I follow because if I can get a piece of her like the other guys, I’ll be happy. I can’t believe those first three months of knowing her, I dismissed her. I was miserable and alone, and I didn’t want to believe Corey when he said she could be it. Bast knew, too. He told me she would heal us all. Why couldn’t I have opened my eyes sooner?
I sigh, looking back at Dom. The smirk on his face tells me he gets it. He may not have been the one to push her away, but he can understand my guilt and the new realization that she’s a fucking goddess. “Just take it one step at a time, man. She’ll meet you where you need her.” With those parting words, he moves to enter the bottom floor of the mansion. Whether to work out or to plan for the spring, I don’t know. But what I do know is that I need to work on getting this girl. It’s not going to be easy, as I’ve made a lot of hurdles for myself, but she’s going to be worth it. I just know it.
TWENTY-THREE
COREY
I never thought I’d return from a run to overhear that conversation. Cameron Wilkins, admitting deeper feelings for a girl. I mean, Caitwouldelicit those sorts of feelings from anyone, but I never thought I’d see the day when Cam would admit to it.
I smirk to myself as Dom says, “Just take it one step at a time,” because it seems like common sense to me. But Cameron is different, and I’m glad Dom can get through to him. When Dom leaves to go inside, I make the decision to talk to both of my friends. Approaching Cam first, he doesn’t hear me until I step into his periphery.
“Fuck, bro,” he yells out, halfway jumping in his boots. “Why do you have to sneak up on people?”
“Whoa, man. I didn’t mean to scare you, chill,” I say gently, attempting to calm him. “Listen, I didn’t mean to, but I overheard what you told Dom…” A sharp inhale told me he was wary of my response, and I quickly reassured him. “Don’t worry, bro. I’m ok with it. In fact, yes! It’s about fucking time! Yo, listen, she’s ready. I promise. Bast and I have been slowly dropping comments since he started dating her. It’s time, dude. You deserve to be happy.”
“You sure she’s ready? I don’t want to blow it. It would kill me. I mean, I don’t open up to anyone. It would take years for me to try again. If ever. I swear to god, Randi really fucked me over. I’m never this nervous when talking with chicks,” he replies, doubt and anxiousness lacing each of his words.
“Cam, listen,” I begin tentatively. “You are one hundred percent right. You are never nervous with ‘chicks’, but Cait is more. Taking this next step is scary, I get it. But you know what? Bast and I are here to pave the way for you. We’ve been doing that the whole time, before you even knew you were ready. But bro, youareready. You deserve love, and Cait? She can love you. I know it. She’s ready. For you, and for Dom. Plus, I’m not sure if there have been any developments with the sicko, so she’s going to need us all.”
Cam’s eyes grow dark, fury flowing through them at the mention of the psychopath. While he doesn’t love easily, Cam is dedicated once he does love, and fiercely protective. We need him on Team Cait if she’s going to survive whatever the creep has in store.
“She won’t suffer at his hands anymore, whether I’m actuallywithher or not. She’s our family, and I won’t let it happen.”
I grin, glad for him to be on our side. “So, what are you thinking? How are you going to make your move? How can I help?”
Cam’s expression shifts suddenly from angry to shocked, then perplexed, as he contemplates my question. “I’m not sure… I guess I need to interact with her more in person when we’re all hanging out, at least for a bit. Then I was thinking of asking her if she wants to hang, just us.”
“But I’m going to have to make my moves slowly, because I don’t want things to be awkward, and I can’t risk hurting her again. I need to build that friendly rapport and trust with her. I guess you can help by including me when you do things. Give me an opportunity to chat her up around everyone else?”
A smile pulls at the corners of my lips as I hold my fist out to acknowledge his request. “No problem, man; I got you. Alright, I want to chat with Dom, too, before I find Cait, so I’m going to head inside, but I’m glad we got the chance to talk.”
“Me too, bro,” he says with a smirk. “Me too.”
I turn and head inside, not having to look far to find Dom. He’s leaning over his desk looking at the laptop screen, trying to read an email. Knowing him, it’s something regarding the rules for one of our early spring competitions or something. I knock lightly on the door frame to alert him I’m here, and as he looks up, I meet his smile.
“Hey, man, how are you?”
”I’m good. I haven’t seen you in a couple of days,” he says, reaching out to shake my hand. Returning his grip, I pull him in for a hug.
“Yeah, man, I’ve just been missing you. I’ve been working out in the gym, and I’ve hit the simulator twice this week.”
”Listen,” I say, taking a step back. “I saw you with Cam, and I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard what he said. I’m actually on my way in now to go see Sunshine, but I wanted to chat with you, too. How have you and she been? I know you’ve been chatting. I was thinking about making some chicken and rice bowls tonight for us for dinner. Want to stick around and eat with us?”
Dom stands and blinks at me for a second. I guess my rapid-fire questions are tripping people up today. “Um, sure, that’d be nice. We’re ok. We’ve been pretty friendly lately, and I was considering asking her out soon. Is that something you would have an issue with? Or do you think Bast would mind?”
I grin while bumping my eyebrows a few times. “Oh, yeah? Not at all, bro. We have been waiting for you to come around. Make sure and tell me if you need a moment tonight, I’ll skip out for a bit.”
”Yeah, whatever, dude. Yeah, tonight might be a good night to ask… I can plan something this week if she’s available.”
”Alright, man, good luck. I’m here for comedic relief if you need me. I’m going to go shower and snuggle my Sunshine for a bit. We’ll see you when you’re done working.”
