My Shot (Camren)

14.

I ran into the hospital as fast as I could, Camila wasn't too far behind me. I had been trying not to panic too much, but Chris hadn't explained anything over the phone. He just kept apologizing to me, and that made my panic really set in. Camila held onto my hand as I stopped at the nurse's station, "Hi, I'm looking for Nicolas Jauregui," I said urgently, "I'm his mother."

The woman looked up at me silently before returning her gaze to her computer, typing something in it before looking at me once again, "Just down that hall, fourth room on the left," she pointed.

"Thank you," I said as I turned to make my way down the hall towards my son's room. Camila followed silently alongside me, rubbing my knuckles with the pad of her thumb.

"I'm sure Nic is fine, Lo," Camila assured me as she looked over at me.

"I'll believe that when I see it," I sighed softly as I stopped at the door, instantly pushing it open. I was immediately met with my son getting a cast placed on his arm, and my brother standing in the corner watching on worriedly.

Nic was the first one to notice me, and he smiled softly at me, "Mom! Look at this cool cast," he held his arm up once the doctor released it, "It's green, my favorite color."

"I see, baby," I let out a breath of relief when I saw that other than his broken arm, he seemed to be okay. I released Camila's hand and walked over to him, reaching up to push his hair away from his eyes, "What happened?"

"Uncle Chris and I were skateboarding at the park, and I fell off my board trying to do a trick on the half pipe," Nic said before his eyes drifted over to Camila, who was still standing by the door, "Miss Cabello! You're here too!" Nic grinned widely at his music teacher, "Were you with my mom?"

"I was, buddy. How's your arm feeling?" she asked as she made her way into the room, stopping next to me.

"It still kinda hurts, but not as bad," Nic admitted, "What were you and my mom doing? Were you guys hanging out? Were you on a date?" Nic quickly questioned, and I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes at my son's questions.

Camila chuckled softly as she shook her head, "Your mom and I were just spending time together. Is that okay?"

"Yeah! If course that's okay," Nic grinned happily at Camila, "You know Camila you should think about taking her on a date. I can't even remember when was the last time she went on a date."

"Okay, that's enough from you," I reached my hand out and covered my son's mouth with. Camila was laughing softly at my obvious embarrassment.

"Alright, Little Man, that's enough of embarrassing your mom," Chris chuckled as he walked over and helped Nic out of the bed, "How about your mom and Camila go and fill out your discharge papers and I hang here with you for a few minutes?"

"But I was talking to Miss Cabello," Nic whined.

"You can talk to her more after we get you out of here, baby, we'll be right back," I assured before I turned to exit the room. Camila followed closely after me, a small grin on her features.

"I told you he'd be okay. That kid's got an amusing personality," Camila said as she turned her head to look at me. I felt my cheeks warm and I looked down away from the gorgeous music teacher.

"I swear he lives to embarrass me sometimes," I smiled softly, shaking my head.

"It's cute," Camila said as we stopped at the desk. She stood up at my side as I spoke to the nurse to fill out Nic's discharge papers. Once I had everything settled, we returned to the room and looked at Nic and Chris.

"We can go now," I said. Nic instantly hopped off of the bed and raced towards me. I took his hand in mine and smiled softly at him, "Miss Cabello is gonna give us a ride home. I left my car at the bakery. Is that okay?"

"Yes! Can she stay and hang out?" Nic asked me.

"I don't know. She may have plans, you'll have to ask her," I said with a shake of my head. Nic grinned before he turned his head to look at Camila.

"Well? Can you stay and hang out? We can watch Spider-Man," Nic offered.

"How did you know the way to my heart was Spider-Man? Now how could I possibly say no?" Camila laughed softly as she reached out to ruffle Nic's hair, "I'm there."

"Awesome! Come on, mom! Camila's coming over," Nic tugged on my hand, trying his hardest to drag me out of the room. I looked at Camila and rolled my eyes, but she merely laughed as she followed along after us.

"You didn't have to agree," I whispered to her as Nic released my hand and ran off towards the exit, "I'm sure he'd understand if you had plans."

"Who says I had plans? I'm pretty much free today except some work that needs grading later tonight. I can watch a few movies with you and Nic. Besides I like the kid. I want to spend time with him," Camila assured, "And you, our date was cut short and I know it was for good reason. But I still intend on spending the day with you, adding Nic into the mix is just an added bonus."

I stared at Camila silently as we exited the hospital. There was just no way she was real. She was too sweet, too understanding. For her to admit that she wanted to spend time with not only me but my son also had shocked me. Normally when the people I dated found out I had a kid, they were quick to leave. However, Camila was still here. It was so different, and yet so nice at the same time.

We made it to Camila's car, and she pulled open the backdoor and passenger door for me and Nic. Once we were inside, she shut the door and walked around to climb into the driver's seat. I turned my head to look back at Nic, "Seatbelt."

"Yes, ma'am," Nic nodded and instantly tugged the strap to the seatbelt over his body and buckled in. Camila climbed into the car and started it up, driving off towards my house.

Once we had arrived at the house, Nic wasted no time in dragging Camila into the living room and making her sit on the couch. Camila laughed as she sat down, "Didn't even give me a second to take my jacket off, kid," she said as she shouldered out of her leather jacket.

"I'm sorry! I'm just so excited! I always watch movies with my mom. And don't get me wrong, I love spending time with her but talks through movies a lot," Nic said.

"I do not!" I said as I entered the living after hanging my jacket on the rack by the door. I sat down in the armchair since Nic had occupied the spot next to Camila on the couch.

"You do too, mom. You ask a lot of questions," Nic laughed as he grabbed the remote to the smart tv and scrolled through Disney + to find Spider-Man.

"It's not my fault, I'm a curious movie watcher," I scoffed defensively.

"Whatever you say, mom," Nic deadpanned.

Camila laughed softly as she looked at me, "Did I mention how much I liked your kid?"

"You can have him," I joked. Nic turned to look at me and he shook his head.

"You wouldn't give me away, mom. You love me too much."

"Whatever you say, Nicolas," I mimicked the words he said to me minutes ago. However after the words left my mouth, I offered a smile in my son's direction.

Nic grinned at me before he turned to play the Spider-Man movie on the tv. The one movie turned into two, then three, and by the end of the third movie, Nic had fallen asleep under Camila's arm with Camila's head leaning against his. Sometime during the second movie, Nic had cuddled up against Camila's arm, and she lifted it and wrapped it around his shoulders to make him more comfortable. They both ended up falling asleep during the third Spider-Man film, and when I say my heart melted at the sight of the two fast asleep holding onto each other.

It was in that moment that I knew Camila would be good for not only me, but for Nic as well. For as long as I could remember, Nic had wanted another parental role in his life. With Zayn being absent most of it, Nic longed to have a connection with a second parent like his classmates. Then Camila came along and shook up our world by being a presence in his life. It had only been a short few weeks, and yet I had never seen my son so comfortable with someone as he was with her.

I smiled softly as I watched Nic mumble in his sleep, curling up