Not So Broken (West Coast College Book 3)

Chapter 43

Ava - Three weeks later

Cameron jolts beside me which causes me to jump awake, especially since I'm cocooned into his side under a blanket he must have thrown over me before he passed out.

We've had sex a couple more times since the first and after every time, Cameron has made sure I'm extremely comfortable afterwards-like right now, tucked into his side-giving me baths and washing my hair multiple times, making sure I'm fed and hydrated afterwards as well.

He's also taken me on a couple of book dates where we each pick out a few books we want to read together. When he first suggested it, I thought he was joking but when he dragged me to the romance aisle, I realized he was actually dead serious.

We're currently reading The Twisted Series even though I said we should start out with something less smutty but he told me it's totally okay and he would gladly read it without complaint and he stuck to his word.

Delilah and Cooper were extremely shocked when they figured out Cameron had been learning sign language but that was the last thing Cooper needed before he gave my boyfriend the stamp of approval-the only approval I care about.

Connor and his wife Amelia were in Vancouver a few days ago so with Cameron's push, I reluctantly agreed to have dinner with them where I told them everything about our parents from when I was young and desperate for their attention to now, where Mom and Dad think they can try and barge into our apartment demanding to see me like they did a few weeks back.

Before Cameron and Mike could drag them out, I gave them absolute shit. How they have no right to come into my home and demand to see their daughter who they've verbally and mentally abused since I was born and I told them how they will never see me again. Ever.

Hudson was holding back tears like something finally clicked inside his head while Meredith's head was hanging on her chest with shame. Fucking good.

And after that dinner with Connor, they lost not one child but all three in the matter of moments. I heard they're planning to move down to The States to branch their law firm out but we all know it's because after Connor publicly exposed them, more than half of their clients and employees quit.  

"What?" I sign groggily, blinking away the sleep in my eyes as they try and focus on Cameron's screwed up face. He just juts his chin towards the front door.

Mike slams the door shut behind him-loudly judging by Cameron's flinch. My brows fly to my hairline as I watch Mike stomp all over the kitchen, opening and closing the fridge.

Cameron translates for me as he speaks. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Mike shoots daggers at him, glancing at me for a moment before turning back to rummage through our pantry. "Hey!" I write down on the whiteboard we keep in the living room for this reason. "Those are my gummy bears!"

Mike just rolls his eyes, his Marvel shirt hanging wrinkled off him. My lips turn down. "Are you okay? Is there anything we can do?"

Cameron shifts beside me, clearly worried about his best friend who looks extremely distressed at the moment. He opens his mouth to speak but Mike beats him to it.

"I was training, okay? Minding my own fucking business before your fucking coach-" He points a finger at me as Cameron translates since I can't read his lips from the couch. "-decides to start training as well. My blade broke and when I asked for help, she laughed."

That does sound like Tatum. I cringe internally, knowing if Mike, calm and collected Mike is freaking out over this then she really must have took a hit at his ego.

"She laughs, asks about my fucking dick and then skates off once she hands me my broken stick. And get this. She called me Michael. Fucking Michael. That's not my name!" Mike seems to shout and I roll my eyes at his dramatics. Men.

"That's just Tatum. She's harmless." Most of the time. I flip the board towards him and he just scowls, grabbing one of his vitamin drinks before stomping down the hallway. I snicker at his little outburst wondering what else Tatum said to him.

Cameron wraps his arm back around me, dragging us both back down into the comfort of the couch with Seinfeld still playing on the TV. "Why are hockey players so dramatic?"

"We picked it up in tiny tots. But to be fair, he hates when people call him Michael." Cameron signs, slyly reaching over to massage my boob. I slap his hand away and he pouts dramatically before I kiss it away, smiling against his lips when his hand curves up to cup my neck.

"You think they're gonna have hate sex?" Cameron asks and I think about it for a moment. Tatum hasn't fully moved on from Atlas and Mike seems to have his own shit going on but...

My head nods. "For sure. It'll be fireworks of hate and passion."

Cameron laughs, shaking his head as he buries it into my chest, no doubt burying his face into my tits-yep. "She's gonna destroy him," He signs, grinning. "Oh, he's gonna be so pissed."

I smile. Maybe it'll be good for the both of them. We stay wrapped around each other for a few more moments before Cameron lifts me, something he's taken custom to apparently and walks us to our room-his bedroom.

We both change or more like I strip out of my clothes until I'm left in just my underwear and Cameron's t-shirt while he just sleeps in his boxers. We go through the exercises my speech therapist gave me and he gladly helps since he knows how much I would like to be able to keep my voice.

"That was really good, Sunshine. Loads better than yesterday." He says, grabbing me against his chest and turning off the main light. He installed a little bedside push light in case I need him in the middle of the night and I almost cried when he did.

Flicking it on, I sign, "Whatever happens, we're gonna be okay."

He raises a challenging brow like he knows that but still asks, "And what makes you so sure, Sunshine?"

A soft smile tilts my lips up. My finger grazes his bare abs. "Because you're you and I'm me. That's all we'll ever need, Cameron."

His face goes all jelly under the dim light and he smiles right back, the sight of his dimples making me melt even more. He places a soft kiss on my nose before turning the light off again, turning on his side with my front pressed to his.

I sigh, so utterly happy in that moment with many more like it to come. And I can't wait for the day they do because I know as long as Cameron is right there beside me, moments as small as these one will make me just as giddy as the last.

My eyes are heavy when his hand skims my side and for a moment I think he's gonna pull me even closer into him-which isn't possible since I'm as close to him as I can fucking be-but instead his fist taps over my heart three times, my nose tickling with the effort to hold back my tears. I love you.

Squirming slightly, I do the same, tapping his chest three times before just letting my hand rest there, his own coming to swallow it up, his thumb making small strokes against my pointer finger.

I fall asleep holding his hand and waking up with it still tightly secured, his body curved over mine protectively. It's how I fall asleep and wake up for the rest of my life, not that I mind one bit.

I love you.

The End.