Really nice.
When the slapping and hollering is done, there’s a moment of silence. Paul, Andre, Trey and Hudson all turn their attention to Cam, and I freeze.
“Cameron,” Mack says. It’s not the politest of hellos, but he extends his hand. Cameron eyes it skeptically, but takes it and shakes it.
“Mack.” He smiles. They drop hands, and I notice Paul, Andre, Trey, and Hudson all look at Mack. Like he’s the leader of their posse.
I can’t help but grin at that.
“Congratulations, kid,” Alex says as he pulls me into a tight hug. He moves to hug Cameron, who actually lets him. “This is so fucking cool,” he says, looking around the building. A waitress comes by with a tray of champagne flutes that disappear too quickly into all our hands.
“Damn right it is,” Cameron says with a wicked grin. He slides his hand around my waist, pulling me close, and my cheeks heat.
Those damn butterflies start flying in my stomach, not because I’m scared, but because even now, here like this, there’s nowhere else I want to be. I lean into him with ease as Alex curses.
“Fuck,” he bites.
Mack takes a sip of his champagne. “What?”
“Mom and dad are here,” he complains.
“You knew they were coming, ” Mack says, and there’s a strange tension between them. I don’t miss the panic in my brother’s eyes, but before it can register for everyone else, he grunts and pushes away from the table.
“I need to take a piss,” he bites. Andre finishes his glass of champagne and slams it down like a beer bottle on the table.
“Me too,” he says. Paul, Trey, and Hudson grunt in unison, and I tightenmygrip around Cameron’s waist as they take their leave. My parents look all around at the building as they make their way over to us.
“H–hey,” I say nervously as they approach us. Cam’s grip on my waist is like a vice. I’m not the only one who’s nervous, apparently.
“Austen,” my mother smiles, pulling me towards her. I kiss her cheek, but I don’t move too far from my boyfriend. My father twists his lips, looking at Cameron. Sizing him up, most likely.
He just nods with a grunt in his direction.
Well, at least that’s something.
“Are you going to give us the tour?” my dad asks.
I blink, looking between them and Cameron.
“Uh… yeah, sure,” I say as he nods slightly. I move towards them. “Right this way.”
I get all but two feet into my tour before my dad says, “Aren’t you coming, Cameron?”
I stop dead in my tracks, next to my dad. I turn to look at him, unable to hide my grin.
His grey eyes sparkle as he smirks.
“Of course,” Cam says, wasting no time catching up to us. He grabs my hand, linking our fingers together and I smile the most genuine smile. My mother mutters something under her breath, but I ignore her. My dad clears his throat, reminding me I am actually supposed to be showing him the building.
“Right,” I say, clearing my own throat as I walk hand in hand with my boyfriend, showing off my accomplishments.
My mother doesn’t say much. My dad, Cameron and I do most of the talking once I get to going about the building itself, and explaining my plans forA War of Fire & Ice.
“Isn’t your brother supposed to be here,” my mother asks as we finish the tour. It’s not a huge building, but I’ve divided the spaces well. Of course, Cameron helped with that. He knows architecture way better than me.
“He is,” I say, looking over the crowd of people. I can still see the guys, but no sign of Alex. Or Mack, for that matter. “Somewhere.”
She purses her lips as my dad extends his hand to Cameron. He takes it, shaking it firmly, then offers me his hand to do the same.
