Page 62 of Only in Our Dream
Every bone in her body wanted to wake up beside Cameron every morning for the rest of her life.
Stirring awake, it took Melanie a moment to remember where she was and whose arms were around her. But when she did, she snuggled closer to Cameron as she pulled her closer. Their legs were intertwined under the sheets and it felt like the safest place in the world for Melanie to be. When Cameron kissed her shoulder, Melanie felt the love from her lips radiate throughout her body. Not even the fabric of her borrowed pajamas could stop that.
“Good morning,” Cameron had mumbled sleepily into Melanie’s ear. “How did you sleep?”
“Better than I have in a long time.”
“Me, too.”
“Yeah?”
“Mhmm.” Cameron kissed her again. “If I didn’t have to pee so bad, I’d say let’s never leave this bed.”
Even three days later, Melanie could still feel Cameron’s arms around her. She desperately wanted to ask when they were going to have their next sleepover, but didn’t want to seem too desperate. After all, she’d waited until after her divorce was final to truly pursue Cameron. Melanie could wait a bit longer to have their next sleepover.
Checking the clock, Melanie sighed. It was after eleven p.m., which meant Cameron was most likely already asleep. They had texted their goodnight messages over an hour ago, so Melanie wasn’t about to risk waking Cameron up. Not when she was just being needy.
I need to get off night shifts.
Melanie knew getting switched back to days wouldn’t be a problem. She had one of the highest seniorities of anyone in her department. That coveted day shift could be hers again if she just asked. Especially since she knew the way to the heart of the woman who made the schedules.
At Taylor Memorial Hospital, the job of creating and managing schedules fell to Laura Rodgers.
Although they worked in the same hospital, Melanie rarely saw Laura. Her office was on the top floor, which was always eerily quiet except when a helicopter would land on the helipad. Melanie preferred to do all her schedule requests via their online portal, but this one required a little something extra. After all, Melanie had just asked to be switched to nights not that long ago.
A quiet night in the labor and delivery floor gave Melanie the perfect time to plan. Or scheme. Whichever. She waited for the hospital’s gift shop to open before purchasing a small bouquet ofpre-arranged flowers. Stopping by the cafeteria, she snagged two bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits and two coffees. Arriving at the elevator, Melanie somehow balanced everything in her hands as she used the toe of her shoe to press the buttons.
When the door opened on the top floor, Melanie cringed. It was a sterile white hallway with obnoxiously off-white fluorescent lights that hummed an annoying tune. There was no way Melanie could work up there and she had no idea why the top brass at the hospital hadn’t spiced up the place.
She made her way down the hall to Laura’s office, passing several empty offices also on the way. It wasn’t even eight a.m., which meant most of the office staff wouldn’t be in for another hour at least. But not Laura. She was always there by seven-thirty. Laura had been in that habit since her kids were young. After dropping them off at school, she’d head on over to the hospital so she could leave early to pick them up.
Melanie had no idea how single mothers did it. Laura and Cameron were amazing, raising their babies on their own. Their circumstances were different, but Melanie would always be impressed by both of them.
Taking a deep breath outside the office door, Melanie put a friendly smile on her face. It was the same one she used when she was entering a new patient’s room.
“Hey, girl,” Melanie grinned at Laura, who was already furiously typing away on her keyboard. “I brought you breakfast.”
Laura didn’t stop typing to look at her. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”
“Hmm?”
“I knew you wouldn’t want to be on nights with Cameron,” Laura stopped typing and looked at Melanie, “on days.”
Melanie could feel herself blushing as she handed a biscuit and a coffee to Laura. Slowly, she sat down in the uncomfortable leather chair across from her desk.
“That’s why you’re here, right?”
“I brought you breakfast,” Melanie sheepishly smiled.
“To bribe me, no doubt.” Leaning back in her chair, Laura chuckled. She took a sip of her coffee, nodding happily which Melanie took as a good sign. “So, are you and Cameron official now?”
“Laura,” the flush was back in her cheeks, “who told you?”
“You, goofball.” She laughed again. “I swear, you and Cameron are perfect for each other. Neither of you can hide your feelings for the other. It’s written all over both of your faces.”
“You mean Cameron told you about us already?”
Nodding, Laura took a bite of her biscuit. “Yup. A few weeks ago. We met up at Carlson’s and she told me. Well, I figured it out. Your woman ismadlyin love with you, FYI.”
