Page 86 of Made to Be

“Excuse me, could you please tell Dolly or Delia that Cam is here to see them?”

Her eyes brightened. “Cam? Wow! So, you’re the one they’ve been gushing about for the past few days. Nice to put a face to the name!”

Cam and I exchanged a look. So, theyhadbeen talking about Cam. As heartwarming as it was that the women seemed to care for him like a son, it also meant that it was very possible the wrong person could haveheard about Cam’s presence here. And his very-much-aliveness.

Cam returned her smile, but it was tight.

“Dolly is in the back,” she told him. “I’ll go fetch her for you.”

Once she was gone, Cam leaned back in his seat with a heavy thump. I reached across the table and grabbed his hand, lacing our fingers together.

Even though the surrounding chatter would drown out my words, I lowered my voice to a whisper, “Remember the alley incident on our first date?”

Cam blinked before a playful smile took front and center, blue eyes twinkling with amusement.

“How could I possibly forget?”

“Well, we should probably make a game plan if it is that piece of shit.” I glanced around suspiciously, unsure if said shithead was loitering among the crowds of people watching us like some cliche villain. I didn’t spot anyone sitting in a corner with a newspaper held up to their face with eyeholes cut out either, but one couldn’t be too careful. “The invisibility spell I have is in its test stages, but it seems to last for a few minutes at least. If we get him alone and knock him out, that gives us enough time to get him into the trunk-”

“Cam?”

My rapidly formulating plan was interrupted by a curious voice coming from behind me. Cam’s eyes settled over my shoulder and grew wide.

Shit, shit shit. What if it’s the guy? What if he heard me?

I couldn’t tell if Cam's expression was wide with surprise or fear, but I didn’t hesitate before I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small fabric pouch. It was either a Glitter Fun-Stun spell, Week-Old-Chili-Gas-Hex, or the Thousand-Spiders illusion, but I didn’t care which one it was in my unbridled anger. But when I went to stand and hurl the spell at whoever the stranger was, Cam’s grip on my hand tightened, keeping me sitting. So instead, I turned in my seat.

The young man approaching us was... not what I had expected.

I knew appearances could be deceiving, but there was no way this guy was the ex-gangster who’d been imprisoned for his crimes. He looked like a strong gust of wind could blow him over. And that was coming from me, mister lean and lanky.

He was obviously shorter than me by several inches, slim but not gangly. His short hair was dyed a deep wine red, and his androgynous face sported several piercings: one through the center of his bottom lip, two in his nose, a hoop in his eyebrow... Even his ears were decoratively adorned. His smile was hesitant but not unfriendly, and his eyes seemed to sparkle with familiarity. His... violet eyes. Wow, those were pretty contacts. My mouth would have fallen open had I not been so tense.

Fuck was he cute.

When Cam didn’t react with fury or lunge from the table to punch the guy in the face, I relaxed. But only marginally.

Cam smiled back and jealousy panged in my gut. This guy was clearly attractive, and Cam was smiling at him.

I didn’t like that combination.

Cam released my hand and stood as the man stopped next to our table. Cam towered over him and the moment he fully recognized Cam, his grin widened showing off perfect, white teeth.

“Well shit Cam, when did you get so tall?”

Cam chuckled and embraced the stranger, engulfing him within his big arms.

"Avery, it’s good to see you.”

Cam patted the man’s small back before releasing him to smile down at him. All the while, I sat there feeling slightly awkward at witnessing the – admittedly unexpected – friendly exchange. That didn’t last long before Cam turned to me,

“This is my boyfriend, Victor.”

The unsettling insecurity fizzled out in an instant as Cam returned his smile to me, bright and proud. I nearly melted on the spot.

Standing, I met the man, Avery’s, gaze and shook his hand in greeting.

“Nice to meet you,” I told him politely.