by Lula Woods
Cameron
I was only able to stop by for about fifteen minutes at the Career Day event, since I had classes in the morning and afternoon, that day. But from what I had seen in the hall where it took place, there were many participants, and Gabby’s booth was pretty active, too.
“She draws people in,” Wendy said, coming to stand next to me as we surveyed the small crowd around Gabby’s booth.
“Yeah, she does,” I replied. “I don’t think she realizes the effect she has on people.”
“And you, in particular?” Wendy said.
“Guilty as charged,” I replied, not ashamed to admit it.
“You like her a lot, don’t you?” she asked, tucking a braid behind her hair.
“Yeah. I’ve known her for a long time, but we never really connected until recently. I’m hoping that I’m not rushing into anything, but I haven’t felt this way about anyone, ever. No offense.”
Wendy laughed. “None taken. I say, take your chance and run with it. It’s what I did with my husband, and I’ve never regretted it.” She squeezed my shoulder and headed off to one of the booths where someone was waving frantically in her direction.
I caught Gabby’s eye and smiled at her, giving her a thumbs-up sign. She grinned and gave me a little wave before focusing again on the crowd before her. I left the hall to prepare for my next class, thinking about what Wendy had said. Was it too soon to tell Gabby how I felt? Would she feel the same?
With those thoughts running around my head, I taught my classes and thought about the next time I would see Gabby, which would be on our run the following day.
This time, when I saw her running in the opposite direction, I stopped and jogged in place. “Morning, Ms. Bank President,” I said, and she scowled, also running in place.
“I will get you to stop saying that one day.”
“Doubtful,” I replied. Still running in place, I said, “You coming over tonight?”
“If you want me to,” she replied.
“I always want you to come over, Gabby. Never fear.”
She smiled. “Okay.”
“Great. Enjoy your run.”
“You, too.” I finished my route and got ready for work. The marathon would only be in a few days, and while I wasn’t running to win, I wanted to beat my time. A few more morning runs, and I should be ready.
****
When Gabby came over that night, she brought lasagna. “It’s one of the few things I can make with mishaps.”
“You won’t hear me complaining. I burn air, so…”
She giggled. “Nice.”
“Tell me about the Career Day,” I said as we sat down to eat. I had also poured us both some wine. “Did you enjoy it? Think you’ll do it again?”
“I did enjoy it. As for whether it will happen again depends on whether or not I stay with the bank.” Then she frowned. “There’s going to be a merger, and I’m not in favor of it.”
“You think you’ll move to another bank?”
“I don’t know. It’s what I’ve been involved with for years, but I am trained to do other things, too. I have enough savings to last for a few months, should that be necessary while I make my decision. Maybe I’ll open a consulting firm, do investing, financial planning. Who knows?”
We discussed the merits of self-employment while we ate, then after dinner and cleaning up the kitchen, we snuggled together on the couch. “Are you worried?” I asked as I brushed back her hair and rested my head atop hers.
“For myself? No. Not even for my staff, because they will keep their jobs. What troubles me is the way the decision was made without even consulting me. What is the point of being the president of a bank of I’m not even consulted on big decisions like this?”
“I know what you mean. I’ve been in a similar place before. It’s why I downsized my “job view” and choose something that made better sense to me.”
“That’s pretty much where I am, too.” We remained like that, Gabby’s head on my shoulder as we relaxed into each other. “I could love you, you know?” I whispered.
Gabby pulled back and looked at me with wide eyes. “You…did you just say what I think you did?”
I caressed her face. “I know it’s crazy. Sure, we’ve known each other for a long time, but this short period of intimacy between us has me thinking that I would love to have you in my life permanently. You have so much to give, Gabby, and I want to give something back to you, too. Me. My love, any way you’ll have me.”
“I…that’s a lot to take in, Cameron.”
“I know, but I’m fine with things as they are. I just wanted you to know I think you’re pretty special, and I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.”
“Wow. I…you’re the first person to ever say anything like that to me. I like spending time with you, Cameron, and I like you a lot.”
“That’s a great place to start. So, now that we’ve gotten over the awkward bits how about a game of Scrabble?”
“You just like to torture yourself, don’t you?” she said as I grabbed the box under the table and started setting it up.
“I think it was a fluke last time. No way can you beat me that badly twice.”
“I think I can,” she replied as I set out the paper and pencils to keep score.
“How about a wager?” I asked
“I’m listening.”
“I win, I get to use one of those vibrators I showed you the other day until you come all over the bed.”
Predictably, she blushed. “And if you lose?”
“You can use the vibrating cock ring on me, to your heart’s content.”
She smiled. “You’re on.”
It ended up being a draw, and we wore each other out in the most pleasant of ways. I didn’t even care that I was exhausted in class the next day, because Gabby was the reason, and that would never be a bad thing.
Chapter Nine
Gabriella
On the morning of the marathon, I rode with Cameron to the race, both of us wearing our numbers and timing chips. “See you at the finish line,” I said and gave him a quick kiss before finding my spot and doing some stretches.
“Have a great race, love,” he called out before performing his own warm-up routine.
Then, I put everything out of my mind and focused on the race. It was grueling, but after weeks and weeks of training, I was prepared and simply paced myself. When I crossed the finish line hours later, I was exhausted, ecstatic, and proud. I had beaten my previous finishing time by ten minutes.
“Congratulations, sweetheart!” I heard Cameron say and turned to see him standing next to me before he gave me a tight hug and a big kiss.
“Thank you and the same to you. How’d you do?” I asked as he handed me water, two bananas, and a few granola bars.
“Shaved fifteen minutes off my time, so I’m a happy camper.”
“Well done, you,” I said as I followed him over to a bench that just happened to be empty right then. “Want to go have lunch somewhere? Or should we just go home and veg out on pizza?”
“I second that notion. While I drive us, you order the pizza, yeah?”
“Done.” He helped me up, and together, we walked through the crowds to his truck, and I placed the order for two large pepperoni pizzas to be delivered to my house as soon as possible.
“Shower and then come over?” I said.
“Yup. Be there in a few,” he replied, and we both went our separate ways.
Half an hour later, we were seated on my couch, eating pizza and drinking Gatorade, my feet soaking in Epsom salts while his were propped on an old ottoman I had. He had ice packs on his knees.
“God, I hurt,” he said as he closed his eyes while chewing on his fifth slice of pizza.
“But it’s worth it, yeah?” I said before grabbing a bottle of water from the stash on the table between us.
“Absolutely. I always tell myself that I’ll never do another one, once the race is over, and then I get the
bug, and I start training again. It’s a never-ending cycle or a curse.”
I nodded. “Yeah, but there are worse things.” I added, “Hey, I have a girl’s night tomorrow evening, so you won’t see me until Sunday, maybe, unless you want me to come over late on Saturday night?”
“Whatever works for you, love. I can give you a key if you want it.”
I gaped at him. “Isn’t it a bit…early to be offering me a key?”
“It just makes sense,” he replied, but I knew it meant more than he was letting on.
I studied him for a moment. “Well, if you’re sure.”
He smiled. “Believe me, Gabby, I’m sure.”
As tired as we both were from our day, we ended up spending the night together, platonically, as we held each other close. It was nice. I could get used to this.
****
“So, hold up,” Danita said as Roxanne and I had chicken and sausage gumbo at her apartment. “You actually asked the guy over to your house? You?”
“I know, it’s shocking,” I said as I drank some wine. “I just…something about Cameron makes me bold, and he’s so sweet and thoughtful, and the things we do in bed…”
“Aw, she’s gushing,” Roxanne said. “Gabby never gushes! It’s a good look on you, love.”
“I agree,” Danita added. “And it’s been too long since we’ve all hung out together. We need to try harder, now that we’re all in relationships, to keep this going. We can include our boyfriends, too, you know. Maybe have a combined boys’ and girls’ night out, or men vs. women games or something. You think they’ll like that?”
“Oh, I know Mason will,” Roxanne said. “He’s up for anything.”
“Cameron, too,” I added.
“Saul wouldn’t mind, either,” Danita said. “Great! It’s decided. Let’s toast to a new era in our lives and wish each other the best in our relationships.”
We clinked our glasses together before finishing our meal. “So, um, Mason asked me to marry him last night,” Roxy said as she pulled out a small box and opened it. Damn, that bling was bright!
“Wait, what?” Dani said. “Girl, put that ring on your finger, right now.”
Giggling, Roxy did just that. “I wanted to surprise you all first before wearing it.”
We all duly admired the humungous rock on her finger. “I assume you said yes, right?” I asked, and she nodded.
“Mason is the best thing to ever happen to me. I couldn’t say anything, but yes, you know?”
“Congratulations, sweetie,” Dani said, and we all exchanged hugs. “I’m gonna need sunglasses now that you’re wearing that thing.”
“Funny.”
We finished dinner and had strawberry cheesecake ice cream for dessert. “Do you see yourself marrying anytime soon, Dani?” I asked as the three of us sat on the couch.
“Perhaps. We’re not in any rush, though. You?”
I said, “Cameron already said he’s interested in more, but he’s willing to wait.”
“Sounds like a keeper to me,” Roxanne said.
“Agreed,” Dani added.
And I felt the same way.
Epilogue
Cameron
Life with Gabby was an adventure. She was always willing to try something new, and I was there to support her when she made the decision to leave her job at the bank a few months after the merger. Wendy was still trying to get her to teach at the college, but for now, Gabby wanted to start her own consulting business and pursue her personal goals.
We continued our running routines, and though we didn’t always do the same marathons, we were always supportive of each other. I loved her enthusiasm for life, and I loved her, period. She hadn’t said it back to me yet, but I could see it in her eyes, the way she looked at me and smiled that she loved me, too. Gabby was the woman I wanted, and no other would do.
And today, one of her best friends got married, and she was a co-maid of honor. She gave a moving speech about finding friends to support you through thick and thin and wished the happy couple joy. I couldn’t wait until the reception was over because I had a surprise for her, and a ring burning a hole in my pocket.
When I got down on one knee, naked, in her bedroom a few hours later, she cried as I asked her to marry me. “Yes” was the sweetest word I had ever heard, but “I love you” sounded even better on her lips after we screwed each other into a coma a short while later.
The future with Gabby was bright and full of promise, and I couldn’t wait to get started.
The End
