“Cam and Kam.” The moderator smiles. “You agree with the statement, and group two, you disagree. You may use your phones to help research your arguments and statements. You have thirty minutes, starting now, to prepare. Good luck.”
My shoulders relax immediately. This is not the first time I’ve spoken about this topic to someone, including Cameron. It is something I’m oddly passionate about.
“The closing statement is yours, Morales,” Cameron says to me.
He agreed with me back then on all the facts I’d collected in high school on the topic, and it seems like we’re still on the same page.
“Hell yeah, it is.”
Three hours later…
Cameron lifts his beer. “To a respectable eighty-eight.”
“Here, here.” We clink our glasses together, and I take my first sip. “You know I usually don’t like beer, but this one isn’t half bad.”
After we kicked ass at our last debate, Cameron and I ate lunch and received our grade. After the good news, he convinced me to let him drive us two towns over to Kingston to celebrate. I was hesitant, even so I didn’t want to break the friendly momentum we have going. We’re now sitting on stools at the bar in a cozy local pub with a fireplace near us.
Cameron clears his voice. “This is my one and only drink today, or else I won’t be able to drive us back.”
I nod at him. “How’d you find this place?”
“Through a friend who used to go here. Do you like it?” He waits for my response as if he really cares about my answer.
Deciding to be honest, I say, “I do, it’s cozy and different from the bars near campus.”
He smiles shyly. That’s a first. “So, did you happen to get that internship at King’s Wolf?”
I raise a brow. “How did you know about?—”
“Zoey,” we both say in unison.
That girl knows how to keep big secrets yet believes that all other personal information is fair game.
“I got a call to schedule an in-person interview, and after next week, I’ll know.”
He taps his fingers on the counter. “It has something to do with their social media platforms, right?”
“Yep,” I say lightly.
He shuffles in his seat. “Well, if you and I ever manage to get along professionally after we graduate, maybe I can take a look at your resume, and you can help me with the PR for the tattoo shop I’m going to open.”
A small gasp escapes me. He spoke about this during high school, and I always thought he would change his mind. Sure, he has tattoos, but I never thought the passion ran this deep.
“No way. You’re opening one up with Ethan?”
He nods and smiles proudly. “We’re going to start looking for a space during my last semester here.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Congratulations. How is Ethan doing?”
“He’s good. I saw him while I was back home.”
“Let him know that if he ever wants to hang out, I’m free.” I grin, remembering how goofy his cousin was when I last saw him. “He’s very talented.” And so, so hot. Not that I’d cross that line now that Cam and I have seen each other naked.
He tilts his head and narrows his eyes. “Andvery gay.”
What? That makes my beer go down the wrong hole, and I start coughing up a storm. The bartender brings me some water,and I quickly gulp it down. Cam is in tears, hunched over and holding his stomach while he laughs.
“When did he come out?” I ask while taking in deep breaths.
