Page 59 of Frost Bitten
Star gasps, the beauty of the scenery taking her breath away. “Cam, this is phenomenal. I’ve never seen anything like this!”
“I just wanted to share something special with you, because you are special.” I duck my head, suddenly feeling kind of shy. Nerves suck when you aren’t sure how someone will react to what you have to say. “No random gift will work for you.”
Star pulls her gaze from the diamond-like blanket of lights spread across the valley to meet mine. I take a deep breath and dive in headfirst.
“Cait, you are one hundred percent not what I expected when I first met you. I thought you were just some regular college co-ed, here to flirt around. When Corey became infatuated with you, that didn’t help, because he doesn’t usually have the best taste in women, present company excluded. But then Bast fell for you. He fell hard, too. And early. I knew we’d all succumb to you because I’d heard Dom talking about the new girl at the coffee shop, and I became bitter. Between my past hurts, and feeling like I lost my chance, I became so bitter and hurtful. I’m so sorry, and while I know you’ve said you’ve forgiven me, I’m not sure if I can forgive myself.”
“I brought you out here tonight, because Cait, you are my Star. My guiding star to right my ship in life. I feel like in the past year or two, I’ve been moving through life without purpose. Gym, work, snowboard competitions. That was it. Even now, I still feel kind of lost, but you… You are the brightest star in my night, leading me back to the land of the living. You have found and saved each of my brothers, loving them as they deserve, and I just hope that I can have that with you, too.”
“I’m here, right now, to tell you that I’m ready. I’m interested in trying to include myself in whatever you and the guys have going on. Since I’ve been getting to know you, I’ve realized you bring so much brightness and love to those around you, and I’m in.I’m in.My Star, please tell me I still have a chance with you?”
She stares at me with wide, wonder-filled eyes, until finally, a smile curls up around those perfect lips. “Cam, I’ve been interested in you since that very first day. It wasyouI saw first. But it was Corey who found me and made the first move. I’m sorry it wasn’t you. I wonder if things might have turned out differently. If you’d started dating me first, then yeah, I probably wouldn’t have been assaulted, but we don’t know if that wouldn’t have happened another time. And look at the guys. Would you have been ok with sharing me after you’d had me first? They are happy; this is a chance for us all to be happy, so I’m not sorry that this is how things have worked out. Cam,” she pauses, and I turn to meet her beautiful, cloud-gray eyes. “Cam, you still have a chance. If you want to take that chance, I’m here. At least, I am right now”
When she whispers those last few words, I jump. I lean in to taste those luscious lips, and I fall. Electricity shoots through the kiss and waves of light flash through my body. This girl, my Star. She’s mine now. Well, as much as she’s one of the others. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get tired of kissing her; if I could kiss her all day long, I would.Fuck, she tastes as sweet as I imagined. Damn it. No, stop now. I’m not going to take her home right after I tell her how I feel.
Panting, I break my lips from hers. “Star, I don’t want to do wrong by you. I want to take the right pace. I’m going to take you home, and I’ll see you tomorrow, and just know, this right here is the best gift you could give to me. A chance with you is the best gift anyone of us could ask for.”
* * *
I wake up on Christmas morning with a smile on my face. I can’t help but remember how last night went. First, Star told me that she wanted me and was willing to give me a chance with her. Then, that kiss. Thatfuckingkiss. I can’t remember a woman with whom I’ve shared a kiss that great. Even Randi.
I stopped devouring her mouth in the car, and I took her home. I got out and walked her to the door, and holy shit, the kiss I gave her at her door was even better. Holding her in my arms, I leaned into her against the building and relished the feel. She practically melted against me, and I groaned when I pulled away. But I gave her one more kiss, on the back of her hand, before I let her close the door. I stayed until I heard it lock and then grinned like a psychopath all the way downstairs. I came home and worked out because I had so much energy, finally falling asleep around two-thirty.
I crack my eyes open and see the sun shining through the blinds in my east-facing windows. Confused, I wonder just how late I slept. Rolling over, I stretch and luxuriate in the best sleep I’ve had in a while. Whether that was progressing with Star or the late-night energy burn, I’m not sure.
When I grab my phone, I blink repeatedly. No way. It’s already nine-eighteen in the morning? Dad likely already had breakfast at this point. I should’ve too. I jump up, throw on some sweats, and head downstairs. When I walk into the kitchen, I find Dad sitting at the breakfast bar.
“I thought I was going to have to come upstairs and jump up and down on your bed like you used to do to me twenty years ago,” he says with a chuckle.
“Laugh it up, chuckles,” I call to him as I head to the coffeepot, laughing softly too. “I was out late, and then I came in and worked out.”
“Out late?” he questions, and I smirk as I turn around to join him.
“Yeah… I kind of secured things with this chick I’ve been talking to. Made things a little more official, after I screwed up a couple of months ago.”
“Ah, I see.” He didn’t, he was just transitioning, and that’s ok. “Well, I’m glad you’re up. I know you’re going to see the boys soon, but I wanted to exchange gifts with you. I also have some news, but that can wait. Here, open yours first.” He stands as he’s talking, and gathers a small pile of presents from the hall. I’m glad I moved mine to the pantry last night before I left.
Opening the gifts, they were nice. A new watch, a nice leather jacket, and a new iPad with a case and pencil. Perfectly Dad-style gifts. He’s thoughtful but usually goes for tech stuff. The jacket was a pleasant surprise.
After cleaning up the mess from my gifts, I hand mine over to him. He raves about the new cologne, but I knew he would like it; he wears a similar scent. I got him a backlit drafting board, so he has a lighted place to work from home if he chooses. I also got him his favorite shoes for work too, knowing he always needs a new pair.
We quickly clear the wrapping that we both paid someone to do, and then sat back down for another cup of coffee.
“Son, I have something to tell you.”
“Ok? What’s up?”
I wanted to tell you I met someone. Actually, I met her a while ago. We’ve been quietly dating, and, well, I finally proposed.”
Confused, I stare at him, waiting for the punchline.
“To be completely transparent, I actually flew us to Vegas last weekend and married her.”
“Um, what?!”
“Now, don’t be mad. You are a grown adult, and I’ve not met someone in nearly twenty years since your mother,God rest her soul, left us. I finally found a woman who is my match. I’d hope you’d be happy for me.”
“I am… I’m just in shock, Dad. You’ve known this woman for months, and yet I haven’t met her?”
