“What?” I pushed.
“And you happened.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. That first day of semester, I saw you and it was like I was seeing you for the first time again.”
“Cameron…” I ducked my head, my cheeks burning.
“Hey, don’t hide from me, Hailee.” His fingers slid under my jaw coaxing me back to him. “Don’t ever hide.”
“I just… this, us, it wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“But it did, and I meant what I said, the only thing I regret is that it didn’t happen sooner.” He tucked me into his chest, running his hand up and down my back, eliciting shivers up my spine.
“Cameron?”
“Yes, Sunshine?”
“Kiss me.”
His hand glided up to my face, angling my head back so I could see his gray-blues glittering at me. He smiled warmly, setting off a legion of butterflies in my tummy, and said, “That I can do.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Cameron
I tugged at the collar of my shirt. It was a dark gray color, rolled up at the sleeves; worlds away from my usual football jersey or polo shirt. But I wanted tonight to be perfect which is why I’d called Flick asking her for some advice.
Taking a deep breath, I knocked on Hailee’s door, praying to God she opened it and not her mom, or even worse Mr. Ford. It swung open and my heart skipped a beat. Hailee stood there in a denim skirt, a white t-shirt that scooped low on her chest, and wedged sneakers. Her dirty blonde hair was piled high on her head, her glasses keeping the loose strands off her face. It was simple, understated, but I’d never seen anything more beautiful.
“Hey,” I finally said finding my voice. “I got you these.” Thrusting the box of brownies at her, I rubbed the back of my neck.
“Have you been speaking to Flick again?” Her brow quirked up.
“Maybe.” I smiled. “She mentioned you liked them when I came by... but we didn’t get around to eating them.”
Hailee’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, her eyes darkening. I leaned in, unable to resist the pull, and kissed her cheek. “I missed you.” I grazed my lips against her ear, and her fingers curled into my shirt, dragging me closer.
“It’s only been a few hours.” She turned her head slightly, her lips hovering over mine. Electricity crackled between us, the hairs on my arms standing to attention, along with other places. I was so gone for this girl, I might as well have handed over my heart and my balls in a neat little package and told her to give them back when she was done with them.
Stealing a quick kiss, I pulled away putting some distance between us. “We should probably get going, I made a reservation.”
“You did?” Her mouth curved and I couldn’t resist dipping my head to claim her lips again.
“You look beautiful, Sunshine.”
“Cam...” Hailee sighed against my mouth, the soft noise a direct line to my dick. “Are you sure you don’t just want to stay in?” Her arms looped around my neck.
I wanted nothing more than to take her up to her room and sink deep inside her, to lose myself in her, but I also wanted us to go out, to enjoy a night together before next week.
“We need this.” I smiled against her. “Besides, I don’t plan on letting you out of my sight tonight.”
Hailee pulled back, frowning. “I can’t stay out all night.”
“Is your mom or Kent going have a problem with it?”
“Well, no, I don’t think so, but—”
“Go and grab a bag, Sunshine, and I’ll meet you in my truck.”
“So bossy,” she grumbled before turning on her heel and marching back up the stairs. But I didn’t go to my truck. I waited. Unable to tear myself away from her even for a second.
When she came down the stairs a few minutes later, I pushed off the doorjamb and went to her. “Ready?”
She nodded. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
Hooking my arm around her waist, I kissed her head and said, “It’s a surprise.”
Ten minutes later, I pulled the truck into a parking spot and cut the engine.
“The Alley,” Hailee said. “We’re going to The Alley?”
“Yeah, is that okay?”
“Yeah, I mean, I love it here, but are you sure you want to be here?”
“What’s wrong with here?”
“Nothing, it’s nothing...” She pressed her lips together.
“Did I do the wrong thing? It’s just Felicity said—”
“Felicity told you to bring me here?” Hailee stared at me with disbelief.
“Well, yeah. I wanted tonight to be perfect. She said you loved those brownies and that I should avoid wearing my football jersey and that you loved The Alley... so, here we are.”
Her expression softened as she shuffled across the seat and leaned over to me. Cupping my face in her hands, Hailee kissed me. “It’s perfect. I just didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
That had my attention. “Why would I feel uncomfortable?” It was just bowling and a dinner. Nothing special.
“Because this is Switzerland.”
“Switzerland?” Now I was the one gawking at her.
“Yeah.” She chuckled. “In there you won’t be Cameron Chase, wide receiver for the Raiders; you’ll just be Cameron, my date.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” Because it sounded damn near perfect to me.
“Well, no, I just thought... it doesn’t matter, it’s silly.”
“Hailee, stop. Nothing you could say or do is silly. Now tell me what’s going on in that head of yours?”
“It’s just you’re used to hanging out at Bell’s, or parties at Asher’s house. This,”—her eyes flicked over to The Alley—“isn’t exactly what you’re used to.” Hailee lowered her gaze and my chest tightened. She genuinely thought I gave two shits about where we were? We could have been in the school cafeteria surrounded by our nosy classmates and it wouldn’t have mattered.
I stole another kiss from her before flashing her a smile. “Come on, or we’ll be late.”
“Late, but—” Her voice drowned out as I climbed out of the truck waiting for her.
“Ready?” I held out my hand as she came around to me, still frowning.
“What are you planning, Cameron Chase?”
“Why don’t you come find out?”
Tate, the owner, met us inside. “Cameron, Hailee, glad you could make it. Your table is all set.”
I glanced down at the girl beside me, grinning when I saw her dumbfounded expression. “Hmm, Tate,” she said quietly. “What is happening right now? And how do the two of you know each other?” Hailee looked from him up at me and back again.
“My lips are sealed, Hailee, sorry.” He gave me a knowing smile, leading us to the diner part of the building. I’d asked for a specific booth overlooking the river. The Alley might have been Hailee’s Switzerland, but it didn’t take long before people noticed us, whispering and pointing as we followed Tate, my hand on the small of Hailee’s back.