Page 59 of Full Tilt
I glance at him. “Yeah. I figured.”
“He, uh… he might react.”
I huff out a laugh. “Cam, my brother reacts to breakfast cereal. If I tell him I’m going to see you play, he’ll be halfway to designing matching merch by lunch.” I’m also kind of surprised he hasn’t told his group chat he’s heading to the US. Though to be fair, Camden guards his privacy so closely, am I really that surprised?
He raises a brow, intrigued. “Has he always been like that?”
“Oh yeah,” I say, smiling despite myself. “I love the little chaos goblin, but he’s got two speeds: sleep and obsessive enthusiasm. Yesterday, a parcel showed up at my flat from him.”
Cam’s mouth twitches. “Dare I ask?”
“A cuddly gorilla.”
He blinks. “A… gorilla.”
“Holding a banana,” I clarify, fighting back a grin. “Big plush thing, smug as hell. No note. Just vibes.”
Cam’s laugh cracks the air. It’s low and surprised, full-body, and it hits me square in the chest.
“And this wasn’t random?” he asks, still chuckling.
“Not exactly.” I shake my head, biting down my smile. “It was a callback to a very Cosmo brand of advice. I was on the phone with him a few days ago—feeling like shit, convinced I’d messed everything up with you, actually—and he goes, ‘Don’t be the gorilla, man.’”
Camden stares, confused and amused. “What does that even mean?”
“Right?” I laugh. “So apparently, this gorilla got released from captivity and died like a day later in the wild. Completely metaphorical train wreck. Cosmo goes, ‘Don’t be that guy. Don’t let fear keep you locked up just to die when you finally try to live.’”
Camden doesn’t say anything right away. His expression shifts—open and serious, but softened. The hand not holding mine taps against his leg absently, like he’s trying to process the sudden thud of weight behind the words.
“That’s… kind of amazing.”
“Kind of typical,” I counter. “Cosmo hides his wisdom under layers of chaos and breakfast burritos, but when he lands one, it sticks.”
Camden’s still quiet, but he nods, and I can see the moment it settles into him—that idea.Don’t be the gorilla.
“Sounds like he’s good at calling people out,” he murmurs.
“He is. In the most ridiculous way possible. But yeah.”
He shifts closer, our shoulders brushing, and I can feel the warmth of him through his hoodie. “You gonna tell him about us?” he asks quietly.
I exhale, then nod. “Yeah. I want to. Cosmo, my family—they’d love you.”
Camden doesn’t look away, but something in his posture tenses just slightly.
“But,” I add gently, “I also get that this… whatever it is… it’s still early. No labels. No pressure. I don’t want you feeling exposed before you’re ready.”
His brows pinch slightly. “You sure?”
“Positive.” I nudge his knee with mine. “I’m not hiding you. I’m protecting what this is. Whatever we’re building—it matters to me. And I want it to be ours before it becomes anyone else’s.”
He’s quiet for a moment, then gives a slow, almost imperceptible nod. His fingers find the hem of my sleeve, tugging once. Not quite a thank-you, not quite a yes—but it says enough. So I lean in and press a kiss to his temple, quiet and unrushed.
And he lets me.
13
Camden
