Walking through the front door, they paused as Cameron called out. There was no answer.
"Wait here," he said, swiping through his phone, presumably checking his family's texts as he went to the garage. "Okay, I guess everyone is at the theatres. The traitors went without me."
Ebony laughed. "What movie did they go see?"
"Mmm, knowing my sister, they probably went to see the dog superhero movie."
"Ah," Ebony nodded in agreement. She had seen the trailer for the movie and it looked exactly like something his ten-year-old sister would love to watch.
"You want to watch some TV? I'm not sure I can find that naked Neanderthal dating show, but I swear to God I saw a show about some strippers stating that their pole dancing was a praise and worship dance for God."
"Baring it for the Lord?" she supplied, already knowing the show he was talking about. "Yeah, I saw a commercial for that." When she had seen it, she had thought of Gavin. She had thought about going to his room and asking him if he would want to watch it but her pride wouldn’t let her.
Cameron let out a laugh. "Good God, I should've known you would know about that. You want to watch it?"
No.She wanted to watch it with Gavin. Ebony wanted to slap herself. No thinking about Gavin. No thoughts. Just do, she commanded herself. Annoyed and a little antsy, she shook her head and fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. "I want to see your room,” she blurted.
Cameron's eyes widened and for a split second he just stared at her in shock. A second later he lifted a brow and tilted his head with an easy smile. "My room? I mean I have no problem showing you but it's nothing fancy. Nothing like your room or his." He let that statement hang there almost like a silent warning.
Ebony folded her arms and returned a look right back at him. "I'm not an idiot." His house was a lovely but small split-level house done in a midcentury design. Unless the second floor had the power of the Tardis, she was well aware of the approximate size of the bedrooms in the house. Besides, she was pretty sure the square footage of her parents' bedroom alone was more than his entire house. "Are you going to show me or not?"
He didn’t argue. "Follow me."
As she followed him, Ebony racked her brain as to why she would request something so bold. Going to his bedroom hadn't been her plan. Hell, coming to his house was a spur of the moment idea. But sitting down there in his quiet living room watching TV would not stop her racing mind. It wouldn’t stop the memories of that moment. That kiss.
"Little coward."
Again, his words replayed in her mind.
She needed a full-on distraction and right now that had to be Cameron.
Inside his room, she paused.
"If you say it's small I'm going to hit you with a pillow." Cameron pointed at a pillow and then to her.
Ebony shook her head with a smile, still unable to keep her eyes from popping all over the room. It was such a boy's room. There were posters of athletes on the walls, mid action pose, determination and sweat defining their faces. By the window was a wooden desk and chair, next to that a closet stuffed with clothes. His bed, which took up most of the room, was neat and tidy with only a stack of folded towels sitting on the corner. Ebony's heart softened. It was no doubt something his mom had done.
"I like it," she said softly, walking further in to examine the swimming medals hanging on the wall.
"Really?" he could hear the genuine shock in his voice and turned back to him.
"Yeah, of course. Why? Did you think I wouldn't?" she gave him a questioning look.
Cameron shrugged. "Maybe a small part of me."
"You jerk. You think I'm a snob, don't you?" Ebony swatted his arm, completely offended.
Cameron didn’t laugh, he just smiled and shook his head. "Never. Never in all my life knowing you did I ever once think you were a snob."
He was close now, standing just a few inches from her. Ebony could feel the back of the bed against her knees. "Then what did you think?" she whispered, the joking mood evaporating as something heavier descended in its place.
His voice lowered as he stepped closer, erasing the distance between them. "I think you're the most beautiful thing on this planet."
He kissed her. A slow and certain kiss. He eased her back onto the bed, his touch reverent as the soft sheets curled around her. She lost herself in the sensation of him, his warmth, his weight, the press of his mouth. She ignored the promise in his eyes and the warning in her head. Just this once, she let herself feel.
Chapter twenty
The front door wasn’t locked. Gavin didn’t knock. He was inside in one second and taking the stairs in the next. He didn’t stop when he reached the door. His best friend's door, he just kicked it in.
