Page 11 of Only in Our Dream
With a laugh, Dylan gathered her bag and exited the car. Cameron followed behind with her own bag in tow. As Dylan crashed out on the couch watching TV, Cameron stood in the kitchen mindlessly munching on M&M’s as she thought about what Dylan had said.
You’re the happiest with Aunt Mel.
Was that true? Was it so obvious that her kids had picked up on it? And if they had picked up on it, who else had? Vera? Isla?
Melanie?
Cameron’s stomach did somersaults at the thought. Melanie was married. Had been foryears.Sure, Cameron knew Melanie and Rob weren’t the happiest in their marriage. But she’d never wish for their divorce for her own selfish, hidden desires.
Although apparently nottoohidden.
“Get your shit together,” Cameron whispered to herself as she closed the M&M bag with a clip. “Mel is married and your best friend. You can’t keep having these thoughts.”
Not even after New Year’s Eve.
Not for the first time since the holiday kiss, Cameron mentally kicked herself for doing it. It had done nothing but confuse the shit out of her since then. Because why did Melanie turn toward her lips as Cameron went in to kiss her cheek? Especially when she knew Isla was taking their picture. The question would haunt Cameron forever.
Or until she got the nerve to justaskMelanie.
The alarm over the front door dinged, signaling someone had opened the door. Cameron knew by Dylan’s less-than-excited chatter it was Jonah and not Melanie. She didn’t know why, but she felt a pang of sadness knowing it wasn’t Melanie.
Oh, my god. Relax. It’s just Mel.
But that was the problem. It wasMelanie.
The one Cameron was happiest around and whom she’d been dreaming about kissing for months.
Shit.
Forcing a smile, Cameron headed for the living room to join Jonah and Dylan.
Chapter 4
Melanie
Movie nights with Cameron and her kids had been an ongoing tradition as far back as Melanie could remember. She could recall cuddling with Jonah and Dylan when they were just babies as she and Cameron watched movies together. Melanie had always loved her friends’ babies as if they were her own, but there was something different about Jonah and Dylan. Maybe it was because Melanie was around them more than anyone except Cameron.
Whatever it was, Melanie’s connection with the West kids had been established since the day they were born. And, of course, Melanie had been there for both of their births. Not only had she been among the first people to hold them, she’d also been the one to cut both of their cords. It was an honor Melanie didn’t take lightly, even years later.
And especially not now with Jonah and Dylan growing up so fast. She was thankful every day they still wanted her in their lives as their crazy Aunt Mel. Jonah had texted earlier in the day that he’d aced his math test, while Dylan had been texting her all afternoon trying to convince her to watch a scary movie for movie night. Normally, scary movies were reserved for when thekids were asleep or staying at a friend’s house. But Dylan was old enough now that it was time.
Or, well, probably past time. She was twelve, after all. Melanie was much younger than that when she watched her first scary movie. And promptly spent the next three weeks cuddled in bed between her parents every night.
Pulling into Cameron’s driveway, she parked her car in front of the garage. Cameron lived in a two-story Craftsman-style house in an older subdivision. The front porch wrapped around one side of the house and led back to the fenced-in backyard. Two Adirondack chairs sat on the front porch, and Melanie could recall countless conversations she and Cameron had there.
Cameron had been her closest friend for over two decades. She had been there for Melanie through the loss of both her parents, her relationship with Rob, and all the ups and downs in the career. Just like Melanie had been there for Cameron anytime she needed help with the kids or a shoulder to cry on after she lost a patient. Their friends often joked they’d make the perfect couple, but they had never crossed that line.
Not until that kiss on New Year’s Eve. It wasn’t uncommon for them to kiss each other on the cheek. They were both openly affectionate with most of their friends. What was uncommon was the way Melanie had turned her head toward Cameron as she leaned in for the kiss on her cheek. Cameron’s lips made contact on the corner of Melanie’s mouth as they awkwardly laughed it off after it happened. They hadn’t talked about it since then, but Melanie thought about their almost kiss way more often than she’d let on.
Because, if she were truly honest with herself, she wanted to kiss Cameron again. Correctly this time. Full on lips and everything.
But Melanie wouldn’t do that while still married to Rob. She couldn’t. That wasn’t who she was. Besides, Melanie wasn’teven sure Cameron was interested in her. For all Melanie knew, Cameron saw her as just a friend. Nothing more.
So, no. Melanie would remain loyal to Rob. He was her husband, after all.
Not that that matters to him.
Melanie scoffed to herself as she thought back to Janet Doka’s picture on Rob’s phone. If Rob could cheat on her, then why couldn’t she cheat on him? That would be fair, right?
