All At Once (Completed) - Finding You Book 1

Camden, cont.

"This is the best burnt pizza I have ever had," Harper teases, pressing her head against my shoulder as we sat cross-legged on the ground by the coffee table.

"Yeah it's kind of like a surprise. I don't know what I'm eating right now," Chase smiles. "Is this an olive or a pepperoni? I don't know and I don't care!" he says and a laugh escapes from Harper's beautiful lips.

"So I dozed off for a minute," I say, wiping my hands with a napkin.

"Okay, this is hilarious, but I'm ready to shower and crash," Chase says. He's seated on the floor across from us, his back against the couch and his legs stretched out under the coffee table. "School in the morning and all that. Just a few more days and it's officially summer," he yawns and stands up to carry his paper plate to the garbage can. "I'll be home later than normal, I hope. If I'm lucky, coach will let me back on the team. If not this year then at least next. No more missing practices for me," she shakes his head.

It's 10 p.m. we've been home from the airport for three hours. Just before Chase headed off to his room, he looked me in the eyes and gave me a nod of approval. I know exactly what he means.

Our time together in the car had turn out to be more productive than I would've guessed. He only had his headphones in for two songs before he took them out and we talked.

His announced exit from the living room just now wasn't just about needing rest; he wants to give us time alone.

"See you for breakfast?" He calls out to Harper and she nods with a smile before he walks down the hall to his bedroom.

I reach for the remote and push the power button to off.

"No CSI:Wherever or Unsolved Mysteries for us tonight," I say. I stand up and reach my hands out to her. She takes them and I pull her gently to the couch. I crash down on the soft material, and she sits between my open legs with her back to my chest. Her hair smells amazing, and I twist the ends of it around my finger and rest my forehead between her shoulder blades.

"My answer is yes," she says quietly. I lift my head for a moment to look at her. She's staring at a framed photo of the three of us hanging on my wall.

I love that picture. It was taken that night at her parents' house when we'd just started out. We've made strides since then, even though it wasn't long ago.

She shivers as I press my lips into the nape of her neck.

Afraid she was going to lose herself in the moment and never get the words out "Did you hear me, Camden?" she asks, and as I nod against her.

"I heard you," I say with a smile. "But I've asked you so many questions these last few weeks that I'm afraid we're talking about different things," I tell her before continuing to kiss her neck. "You'll have to be more specific," I whisper in her ear.

She shivers again, and I love that I do that to her.

"You're too good at distracting me," she says, scooting forward a little and looking over her should to face me. "Wait here," she says as she hops off the couch and runs into the other room.

She's back in less than a minute, standing before me with a goofy smile.

"Close your eyes and hold out your hand,"

"The last time someone told me to do that, I got handed a pile of dog shit,"

"Camden," she says, hiding her smile. I flash her a grin. "Just do it, okay?"

So I do, and when she presses the cold metal key into my palm, my heart pounds. I open my eyes and the smile on her face is incredible.

"My answer is yes. I want to move in here with you," she points to the key in my open palm. "I'm going to put it on my ring right now. I talked to Amy and we're working out the rent details. No turning back," she says, lowering herself to sit on my left knee. She runs my fingers through my hair; it feels so damn good, but I'm still trying to process what she's just agreed to.

"This is what I want," she tells me, searching my eyes.

I close my fist around it and tuck it into my back pocket. Harper frowns. I can tell she's freaking out and that's not my intention. I'm just trying to work up the courage to say what I'm dying to say.

"You still want me to move in here, right?" she whispers. "I know you've got a lot on your plate right now. I can help with the rent, or if you'd rather we wait until things with Chase calm down a little, that's fine,"

I can barely hold it in. If she keeps staring at me with her big eyes I'm going to break.

We've been desperate for normal and that's exactly what I want to give her. Normal isn't a tiny, grimy apartment that barely accommodates two, let alone three. Before the madness, before the Henry drama and the unexpected trip to Seattle, the possibility of a future with Harper seemed far away. Unrealistic. I gave her the key right in the middle of it all and now it feels selfish.

Welcome to my world of crazy. Here's a key, but make sure you lock the deadbolt because I have a drug-addict ex-sister-in-law and a murderer for a brother...

What's changed between us over the last few weeks is more than I could've hoped. And although I chose quite possibly the worst time to ask her to be a bigger part of his life, she was diving in headfirst and fearlessly. She's made so many little changes for me; it's time I make some changes for all three of us.

"Let's take a walk," I say, pulling her closer and kissing her forehead.

"What's the matter?" she asks, her voice breaking. "Just be honest with me, please. If you're not ready for this after all,"

Her eyes are filling with tears. Oh, shit. This isn't going according to plan.

"Just a walk, Harper," I repeat. "Please,"

"No," she shakes her head and takes a few steps backward. "I'm too tired tonight. And honestly? You're confusing the hell out of me," she frowns. "Maybe we should just go to bed and talk about this tomorrow when you get home from work,"

"Do you trust me?" I ask, cupping her face in my hands. I want to be good at romance, but I know I'm not. This moment is the proof.

"You know I do," she lets out a breath.

"Then what's the matter? Take a walk with me," I tip my head toward the door. "Fresh California air will do us some good. You know, little smog...little diesel...so romantic," I wink.

She doesn't say another word until we're outside.

"Don't break my heart," she begs softly as the breeze blows through her hair.

I nod, repressing that's dying to find my lips. Breaking her heart is nowhere near my agenda. Ever. I'm just not the smoothest when it comes to surprises. My stomach jumps with nerves as the moment gets closer. This is it; she'll either completely melt or completely freak out. Right now, it's hard to guess. I take a breath to clear my head.

 I'm never gonna know her answer unless I try.