"I was downstairs," he shrugs. That means he was talking football with my dad. Dad's a fan of Cam's too. I pull him by the sleeve into my room so I can close the door. "Your dad was grilling me about your date," he smirks.
Really?Though, I don't know why this surprises me. My father is only interested in my life when a Forbes is involved. I'm sure "grilling" is an exaggeration, but the thought that my dad might care about me or something I do gets my attention. The thought of him worrying after me positively melts me.
"What'd he say?" I ask. Because he's said nothing to me. Not one word.
Cam rolls his eyes. He gets along with my dad just fine, but I know Cam doesn't like the way my father's ignored me lately. Cam is the only one who knows how much I crave my father's affection, even if I put up a good front, even to him.
"He asked me if Forbes' intentions were honorable," he murmurs, but I can tell from his tone that there's more, and I look at him expectantly, knowing he won't lie to me, not even to spare my feelings. Cam sighs. "He wanted to know if Forbes might get serious about you or if he's just messin' around. I think he wants to know if he should get his hopes up at the chance of bein' future father-in-law to the great Robin Forbes." He speaks quickly, hating reporting anything that might hurt me, even though I just laugh it off like I always do. It's not as if I wasn't aware of the impetus for my father's sudden interest in my life.
"What'd you say?" I ask. I know Cam can detect the disappointment in my voice - there's no sense in trying to hide it from him.
He slings an arm around my shoulder. "I told him that if a guy like Forbes was gonna get serious about anybody, it'd be you Rory girl," he says meaningfully.
I turn to face him. "Do you really think that?" I don't think Cam would say something he didn't believe just to make me feel better, but I can't be sure. I know he doesn't lie to me, but I also know he'd do practically anything to keep me from being hurt, and this me-dating thing is new territory for the both of us.
"Is that what you want, Ror? To get serious with Forbes?" Cam's voice has grown quiet and I can't account for its intensity.
"I don't even really know him. I just know I don't want him to, you know, just be messin' around," I admit.
Cam offers me a half smile tinted with a hint of relief. "Look, I'm not in his head, but if he was just looking to get laid, he'd just keep doin' what he's been doin', right? He wouldn't be pursuing a good girl like you. I can't blame him though, you're beautiful, sweet... the kinda girl you marry. Not the kind you mess around with. He knows that."
I know Cam's sincere, but just because Cam believes it doesn't mean it's true for Robin. "You're just sayin' that 'cause you love me," I grumble and flop dramatically down onto my bed.
Cam stares down at me a moment, seemingly bemused, before smiling the warm, familiar, best-friend smile he reserves just for me. "Yeah, I'm sayin' that 'cause I love you," he agrees. "Anyway, why you freaking out, Rory girl?" He sits down beside me.
"I don't know how to go on a date, Cam, you know that."
"There's no 'how’ to it, Ror. You just go, be yourself, and have fun. Don't do anything you don't wanna do. Don't do anything youdowanna do if you thinkIdon't want you doin' it."
I sit up. "So you mean, don't do whatyouusually do on a date."
Cam shakes his head. "I don't 'date', Ror. I don't give girls roses or say pretty things. But yeah, don't do what I usually do." He's looking at me meaningfully and waiting for me to call him out on his hypocrisy, which I normally would. But I don't, because I'm nowhere near ready to do any of those things anyway. Instead, I change the subject.
"Cam, he's gonna kiss me," I mutter shyly. Why am I suddenly shy with Cam? I've slept with him in his bed a hundred times for God’s sake.
Cam scowls for a moment, but wipes it off quickly on an exhale. "Yeah, Ror, I imagine that he is," he concedes.
"I don't know how to kiss."
Cam gives me one of our conversational looks. He's asking me where I'm going with this.
"Will you teach me?"
"There's nothing to teach, Ror. You either let him or you don't. Do you want him to kiss you?"
"I think I do," I admit. There's his scowl again. "But I don't know what to do! I won't be any good at it, can't you show me?"
"Showyou?! Rory girl, I think you've up and lost your damn mind." He shoots up from the bed and faces away from me. Not what I expected.
I get up and follow him. "But you know how to kiss - you've kissed tons of girls! And from what I hear you're pretty good at it." I play to his ego.
"Pretty good?" he smirks wickedly. "Now I doubt that's the way you're new little girl friends described me."
He's right. According to Lacey he's incredible, and I can't help but let my gaze drift to his lips.
"Don't you look at me like that, Ror," he whispers.
I meet his eyes again. "Like what?"
