After taking the last turn before they entered a straightaway, Emory clasped Cameron’s hand on top of the gear shift. “I love you, too.”
Emory, or maybe his lion, chanced a quick look at Cameron’s bare fingers, and he was hit with the shocking realization that he was going to need to start looking for rings.
The rest of their evening was filled with laughter and love, with Ronan joining them for dinner at one of their favorite childhood diners. They stopped in at the ice cream parlor and ordered far too many scoops, but it was worth every penny and overly-sweet bite for the smile on Cameron’s face.
After they were all thoroughly stuffed, Cameron paraded around town proudly in Emory’s jacket, and a few of the shopkeepers hooted and cheered for them both. As they neared the end of the small downtown area, Ronan led them into one of the boutiques specializing in more femme-presenting clothes.
“I don’t know…” Cameron tried to say, but Ronan took Cameron’s hand and pulled him into the back of the shop. Emory followed close behind as they headed straight for a rack of pretty skirts.
Ronan expertly began flipping through them one-handed. “You don’t know because you’re not sure if a skirt would go with Em’s letterman jacket? Or because you’re worried about what we’re going to think about you wearing a skirt?”
Cameron slowly locked eyes with Emory in the mirror behind the rack. Emory tried to convey all the love and pride he and his lion felt. He would never fault Cameron if he was tired and just wanted to go back to the house. But he would also never want to rob him of this moment.
“I… guess I’m not sure if it would go with the jacket?” Cameron said, his smile timid, but his eyes brimming with happiness.
Ronan confidently held up a pleated skirt in the matching gold and blue of Emory’s jacket. It would actually go perfectly with the button-down Cameron was wearing, too.
“I feel like it’s too perfect not to at least try it on,” Emory coaxed, laying a gentle hand on Cameron’s back. Cameron took the skirt and, with one last backwards glance at Emory, he disappeared into the changing room.
Emory was pleased, but not surprised, to see a similar look of pride on Ronan’s face. He wasn’t sure what god or goddess he had appeased, but he must have done something right to have fate bring him someone who was not only perfect for him, but also perfect for his friends.
When Cameron emerged, his octopus’ energy was practically leaking out of him. He did a slow twirl, his fingertips brushing the hem of the skirt as it spun around his long, pale legs.
Ronan burst into applause, and Emory pulled Cameron off his feet and into a crushing hug. “My perfect, beautiful Cameron,” he said, and Cameron wrapped his arms tightly around Emory’s back.
After trying on a few more things, Cameron ended up buying the skirt and three others. He timidly asked the woman behind the counter if they could be wrapped up to go. Maybe one day Emory and his family could make Cameron feel safe enough to wear them home, but they’d clearly messed things up this go around.
When they returned to the mansion, there were more family members than he’d been expecting. Cameron’s octopus sent out small waves of joy that Emory’s lion eagerly lapped up.
The after-dinner drinks turned into dessert, which lasted for almost two hours. Finally, after Emory’s mother and most ofthe relatives called it a night, Cameron allowed Emory to pull him into his lap, and they chatted easily with Ariel, Corin, and Ronan.
“You must come back to visit under better circumstances,” Ariel said, hugging Cameron tightly before passing him to her mate.
“Yes, we would love to hear more about your parents and sister. Maybe the next time we’re in the city, we can all get lunch,” Corin said.
Cameron leaned into Emory’s side, exhaustion clear on his face, but he smiled and promised they’d all be seeing a lot more of each other moving forward. Emory led Cameron back up the stairs to his childhood room. He stripped them both down until Cameron was back in his pretty pink panties that, hours ago, had been abandoned on the floor of Emory’s closet.
As it had earlier, the weight of the day settled around Emory, but this time, it felt more like an extra blanket he could use to tuck himself and his love into bed. He would by no means ever want to go through this past week again, but it had led him and Cameron to declare their love for each other, so at least there was that.
As Cameron snuffled against his chest, pressing his now familiar body against Emory’s, it felt like maybe they were closing in on the start of their forever.
Chapter Thirteen
Cameron
Cameron felt seasick.
He’d never been seasick before–he was an octopus for gods’ sake–but for the rest of the weekend and the majority of the following week, he was overwhelmed with the strangest sensation. It felt like the ground wasn’t stable under his feet, or maybe his center of gravity was off.
Emory had a lot of fallout to deal with from their trip to his house. The family had officially approved of their mating, but that had been overshadowed by confirmation that Jonathon was, in fact, returning home that week to speak with Emory about the company. He and Christopher were preparing to meet with him, but for some reason, Jonathon refused to speak to anyone but Ronan.
Cameron tried to follow the updates in the group chat, but staring at his phone for too long made him want to throw up. Instead, he spent most of his time lying on either Christopher and Ronan’s or Emory’s couch.
“I’m sorry, hon. We’ve never experienced what you’re describing,” his ba said on their second group call of the day.
“I really think you need to go to the doctor,” Pa fretted.
“I don’t want to get on the bus or tram right now,” Cameron groaned, burrowing deeper into Emory’s couch cushions. Emory was in his office on a conference call, and even the up-and-down staccato rhythm of his voice through the closed door was making Cameron nauseous.
