Page 88 of Curious
Everyone raises their glasses. “To Camden and Shelby.”
“Kiss!” Danny says, so we do, and everyone cheers.
When the room quiets down a little bit, Jules takes out an acoustic guitar, and we all stop what we’re doing. He clears his throat. Given who he is, his smile is surprisingly shy as he starts speaking. “I got to thinking about your love story. You told me and Sam that you eloped, but then when I found out more about it, about how much you two had helped each other and sacrificed for each other, I was inspired to write a song. So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to sing it to you as a vow renewal present.”
I blink and whisper in my husband’s ear, “Um, Cam, do you mind the biggest rock star in the world serenading us?”
“It’s amazing,” he murmurs back.
“We’d love to hear it,” I say.
Jules nods and takes a seat, then strums his guitar. “It’s called ‘Enough.’”
After playing an intro in a minor chord, he starts singing about how one person escaped a tough family and said, “That’s enough.” A stranger rescued him from being hurt, saying, “Enough is enough.” Their relationship grew, and “Love became enough.” The final verse describes how even though they were powerful as one, “Each is enough on their own.”
I lose it, tears streaming down my face as I clutch Cam’s hand. His face is damp, too. The world seems to shift as Jules puts our story into musical form, and between his soulful voice and the quiet guitar, the song is pure magic.
When Jules finishes, the entire room is sniffling, then bursts into vigorous applause.
“What I wanted to say,” Jules says, “is that yes, you two love each other, and you are loved by all of us, but you alsoarelove and areworthyof love on your own.”
“Thanks,” I whisper. “That’s amazing. And it’s not just us, you know? That song is for everyone.”
Jules smiles. “Yes, I think it is.”
Cam kisses me, and for the rest of the evening, we mingle with our friends and loved ones—who are the same.
* * *
I skip into the bowling alley we rented for our firm holiday party, tugging Cam along with me, both of us laughing.
“Hello!” I call.
“The newlyweds!” Alden replies, and there’s a round of applause.
It’s not really new, since we’ve been married for a while now. But we’re newly remarried? Newly married for real? Newly married for love?
That’s it: we’relovenewlyweds, and I’m enjoying every moment of it.
Cam’s face is flushed, because I blew him right before we left to come here, and his hair is a mess from when I kissed him after and mussed it up. Not sorry.
He doesn’t look sorry in the least, either. Not when he slings an arm around me and pulls me to him, kissing the top of my head and then leaning down to kiss my lips.
“Get a room!” Charlie yells.
“We already did!” I yell back, and everyone laughs.
I’m so happy. Against all my expectations, I found a man who protects me and treats me the way I want to be treated. One who is kind and generous and giving and better than anyone else I’ve ever met.
And he’s hot, too. Like, damn.
Even though it’s awkward with so many people around, I can’t seem to let go of his hand—and he doesn’t seem to want me to. Both of us have spent enough time on our own, or alone in crowded rooms. Those days are over.
And yeah, I’m happy. I’m allowed to be. I’m adjusting my happiness thermostat to go up and up and up. I’ve learned that I don’t have to always be waiting for the other shoe to drop. Things don’t have to go wrong just because they’ve gone right.
I’ve started believing in love, in things getting better and better, and in the true heart of the man I married.
When I was scheduling the party, I made sure to order all our favorite foods, so we get plates and join the crowd. Cam still doesn’t leave my side. He’s not controlling. He just likes to touch me and be affectionate.
