“No.” It slipped out before I could shield it.
Cameron’s eyebrows rose slightly, surprised but not mocking. “Me neither.”
A thread tugged tight between us, an acknowledgment, mutual and painful.
I cleared my throat, searching for safer ground. “Coffee?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
I poured a second mug, setting it on the counter. Cameron wrapped his hands around it, watching the steam curl upward.
Minutes passed. Quiet ones. Not comfortable, but not hostile either, just careful.
Cameron bit his lip as if weighing whether to speak, and I tried not to stare.
Since when did I find lip-biting so fucking sexy?
That was easy. Never.
Cameron cleared his throat. “Can I ask you something without it being weird?”
As long as you don’t ask me why I was staring at your dick the other day. Or anything about last night.
I gave a cautious nod. “We can try.”
“The group has a rehearsal tonight.” He hesitated. “Would it be okay if I came along? Just to watch?”
I froze.
Cameron rushed to fill the silence. “I’ll keep out of the way. I… I’d like to see you doing what you love. You talk about the group as though it’s this whole other world, and I want to know what that looks like.”
I knew I should say no. I knew all the reasons why: professionalism, distraction, the danger of seeing that warm, open gaze fixed on me in a room full of people.
But what came out instead was a quiet, “I’d have to ask them first.”
Cameron’s face lit up with a mixture of surprise and relief. “Seriously?”
I chuckled. “I said I’d ask—that doesn’t mean they’ll say yes.”
He pointed to my phone. “Then don’t waste time. Ask them.”
I rolled my eyes, grabbed my phone, and opened the group chat thread.
Remember Cameron? You met him at the bar that time. He wants to watch us rehearse tonight.
Julian: Ooh. The cute one. I vote yes.
Oliver: Me too.
Milo: Fine by me.
Finnley: I wasn’t there but I trust these guys. Sure. Bring him along. [grin emoji] Is he going to sing too?
I read that aloud to Cameron, who laughed.
Theo: I don’t think so. I placed my phone on the counter. “Looks like you’re coming to rehearsal.” My heart thudded. Cameron let out a relieved sigh and I narrowed my gaze. “Don’t make me regret it.”
“Never.” Cameron offered the first genuine smile I’d seen for at least a day.