Page 24 of Only in Our Dream
Cameron had no clue. She wished she had someone to talk to about it, but the person she would normally turn to about relationships was Melanie.
Not that that conversation happened often. Hell, Cameron couldn’t even remember the last time she’d dated someone. Maybe it was the blonde from radiology a few years ago? The one Melanie hated? Or maybe it was the redhead from OB that randomly transferred hospitals soon after they stopped seeing each other. Either way, the point was Cameron didn’t date much. Her kids and career always came first.
That’s not to say that Cameron hasn’tthoughtabout dating Melanie before. She had a lot. And even more so after the kiss. But she’d always kept those feelings tightly under wraps because she respected Melanie and her husband and their friendship too damn much. But now, Cameron had to wonder if things would change between them.
Don’t.
Cameron shook her head. There was no point in wonderingwhat if.She’d learned that lesson long ago. Life was about going out there and getting what you wanted. There was no sense in waiting for a perfect time or person that would never come. Instead, Cameron believed in taking life by the horns. It’s why she had two kids by herself and hadn’t ever married anyone.
Besides, even if thingsweregoing to be different for her and Melanie now, Melanie would still be in the middle of a divorce and figuring out her sexuality. There was no way she’d want to date Cameron, the single mom of two who can’t commit to anything besides a chocolate crème filled donut. In no universe would Cameron expect there to justsuddenlybe more between her and her best friend. They weren’t in a Hallmark movie. One kiss and a pending divorce didn’t change everything.
Pulling a towel from the dispenser, Cameron tucked it under her arm as she splashed some cold water onto her face. She carefully dabbed the excess water off and tossed the towel into the trash as the bathroom door opened. In the mirror, Cameron locked eyes with Melanie.
“Hey,” Melanie smiled, making Cameron’s heart flutter.
Shit.
Maybe shewasin a Hallmark movie.
Chapter 8
Melanie
Melanie had no idea how long she and Cameron stayed with their eyes locked in the mirror. They both seemed frozen; too caught off guard by being alone for the first time since Melanie had dropped two bombs on Cameron as if she were in the military. She’d debated even going to check on Cameron, knowing her friend was probably processing everything.
“Should we go check on her?” she’d asked Isla and Vera after Cameron had been gone from the table for over five minutes.
“I’ll go.” It was Vera, who had yet to take her eyes off the bathroom door since Cameron disappeared behind it.
“No,” Isla quickly said, shaking her head as she looked at Melanie. “You should. She needs to know things aren’t going to change between you two.”
“Change?” Melanie furrowed her brow in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Isla and Vera exchanged a glance that told Melanie more than words ever could. It was clear then that the feelings Melanie thought she’d been hidingso wellfrom everyone hadbeen apparent to her two best friends. And definitely her third best friend after that kiss.
Standing, Melanie took the last sip of her second cocktail. “I’ll go check on her.”
She’d had no time to plan a speech or hell, even a sentence to say to Cameron as she walked back to the bathroom. And when she found Cameron standing at the bathroom sink, Melanie knew words would be useless, anyway.
“You okay?” Melanie cocked her head at Cameron and smiled.
“I should be askingyouthat.” Cameron slowly turned around and leaned up against the counter. It was as smooth as could be, and Melanie hoped her smirk conveyed that much to Cameron.
“I’ll be okay.” Taking a step closer to Cameron, Melanie felt her smirk change into a smile. “I mean, I have the best friends in the world who will help me through this.”
“Oh yeah? Who?”
“You’resofunny.” Melanie took another step toward her. And another. All the words she’d wanted to say since the kiss came screaming back at her.
I like you, Cameron. I may even love you as more than a best friend. I know it’s crazy, but I do. I haven’t stopped thinking about that kiss since it happened. I’m just so scared of losing you as a friend that I don’t know how to make the next move.
Never in a hundred years would Melanie have imagined she would be at this point in her life. She had an imminent divorce with her husband and had kissed Cameron just a few days ago. And now Melanie had to fight the urge to kiss her again.
But they were adults. They didn’t have to go around sneaking kisses in bathrooms. They had homes for that.
Not that Melanie had any intention of inviting Cameron over. No. Not tonight. Yes, they had had plenty of sleepovers before but it was just as friends. Nothing more. Ever. And Melanie would be damned if she’d fuck up a friendship she’d had sinceher twenties after justonekiss. Because what if Cameron didn’t want to kiss her again? Then what?
“So,” Cameron licked her lips, “are you?”
