Love, Scars, & Shooting Stars

Chapter Forty-Eight

Julie slipped her hand into Cameron's, amazed at how natural the action suddenly felt. A chance meeting that was cagey at best, followed by weeks of sidelong glances and awkward encounters, had somehow culminated in what promised to be a glorious new beginning. He'd kissed her so tenderly, his mouth soft and sweet on hers while his hands remained virtuous at the small of her back—nothing at all like the vulgar, presumptuous pawing that seemed to pass for romance nowadays. They talked, and kissed, and talked some more, the time flying by much faster than Julie would have liked.

"I wish I didn't have to leave," she admitted, leaning her back against the driver's-side door of her car and looking up at him. "I don't want this night to end."

"It won't," Cameron assured her, his eyes smiling as he leaned in closer. "There'll be other nights, lots and lots of other nights. I promise."

Julie smiled. "I'm going to hold you to that promise," she warned, slipping her arms loosely around his waist. "I'm like an elephant, I never forget."

"That's good to know," he murmured, his lips brushing lightly over hers.

Julie tipped her head back and pulled him closer, her hands sliding along the firm contours of his back. He covered her mouth with his, one hand coming up to tangle in her hair as he left a trail of soft kisses along the line of her jaw. She shuddered when he reached the sensitive spot just beneath her earlobe, arching her neck in a silent plea for more. Cameron pulled her closer, the whiskers of his five o'clock shadow tickling her skin as his lips worshipped the delicate surface of her neck.

"Julie," he murmured breathlessly, his breath warm in the hollow of her clavicle. "What time does that movie end again?"

"Nine, I think," she gasped. "We've got time..."

Cameron dragged himself up with a groan and braced his hands against the car on either side of her head.

"Not for what I'm thinking of," he confessed with a wicked grin, and then planted a quick peck on the tip of her nose. "Go on, now. You don't want to be late."

Julie smiled up at him, grateful for his understanding and still in awe of the recent good turn that her fortune had taken.

Maybe the Universe has finally forgiven me... she thought.

Just then, a swath of headlights cut through the twilight and arced into the driveway, coming to rest on Julie and Cameron a split second after they had separated from each other. The glaring lights blinked out, and Julie immediately recognized the outline of Garrett's nineties-model Trans Am. A moment later the interior dome light came on as Finn climbed out of the passenger seat and scrambled up the driveway toward her.

"Hi, Cam!" he called, skidding to a stop in front of Julie.

"Guess what, Mom! Dad is taking me on a trip for my birthday next weekend!"

'Dad'? Julie's ears perked up at her son's sudden easy use of the term. When did that start? What happened to 'my father'?

"What trip?" she said instead. "He didn't talk to me about a trip..."

"I know," Finn said excitedly. "He said we had to ask you first, but I can go, right, Mom? You're gonna let me go, aren't you? Please, please, please?"

"We'll see," Julie said distractedly, her jaw clenching as she shot Garrett a stony look through the windshield. "I'll have to discuss it with your father first."