Every Touch

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"Hey," I called as she walked past me.

———

The gig last night lasted until 2:30 in the morning and the hour drive time wasn't the funnest at that hour, but I eventually made it back to a small hotel to for a day and a half. I headed back to Rosie's Diner in the morning to see the girl I danced with, but she didn't work until the evening. And, from what Rosie said, she wasn't the biggest fan of being disturbed on the job. So, I decided to come back when the diner closed and see if I could talk to her then. I waited outside the backdoor around 11:30, hoping I'd catch her in time.

———

"I want to talk to you." I stated, walking in front of her. She rolled her eyes.

"Have you been waiting all day to talk to me?" She asked with a smirk.

"Well...I...maybe, but that's not the point!" I smacked my forehead. That came out wrong. Come on, stay focused and get to the point. I gently put my hand on her arm. "Can I give you a ride?" I asked her, gesturing to the vacant seat on my motorcycle.

The girl looked past me and then back. "And why should I take up your offer? I barely know you." She asked, raising a her brow in amusement. "I mean, you probably don't even know my name."

"You got me. All I remember is that smile on your face when you talked about music. I actually came up with a hook and verse yesterday. When I heard you studied music, that got me excited.  I don't have a degree in something that prestigious but I was wondering if you'd be interested in helping me finish the song. What do you say?"

The girl was silent. She didn't do anything but look at me unsurely with intrigue. I couldn't blame her. I was asking her to trust someone she knew for barely a day to go with it. But with a bat of her lashes, she nodded. "Okay." She said as she took my hand. It felt soft in mine.

"Also, before I forget, what's your name, señorita?" I finally asked.

"...it's Camila." She said, looking into my eyes.

Camila. I never would have guessed that to be her name. But I couldn't help but think the name fit her face quite appropriately. I guided Camila over to my motorcycle and started up the engine. "Hold on tight." I said to her as I felt her arms wrap themselves around my stomach as I let go of the clutch.

We breezed down the streets and highways with city lights tailing behind us. Purples, yellows, greens, and reds blurred around us as the wind filled our clothes like parachutes. While I was focused on the road, I could feel Camila pulling me closer with her head on my back. I smiled contently as I heard the song start playing in my head again.

__ __ __

"...her heart was racing in my hands la-la-la
It felt like ohh la la la..."

"I think you're hook is really good."  Camila nodded, stroking her chin with her thumb.  She leaned forward from the chair opposite of me.  We were back in the hotel I was staying at and Camila had been critiquing my song for about a half an hour.  "I like the place you put the ooh la la las and the scene is set really well.  However, some of the lyrics are a bit off. The lyric Her heart was racing in my hands sounds off tempo. I also interpreted it as you just ripped her beating heart out of her chest and you find that beautiful."

I pursed my lips as I lowered my guitar on the table.  "You're right.  I just can't seem to find the right words.  It just goes blank after that. Did you ever have a block when writing songs?"

Camila nodded.  "Oh, yeah.  Many a times.  It all just came down to what you were trying to communicate.  Like this song. It sounds different from your other ones.  Not overly constructed or composed as the others.  This one is more laid back but very close, seductive even.  Almost like to the beat of a salsa. Keep it on that track with something like this." Camila point at me. I picked up my guitar and played the hook.

Camila sang a verse. Not my verse, but her own.

"Locked in the hotel
  There's just some things that
   never change
  you say we're just friends
but friends
don't know the way
you taste la la la"

She shrugged and sat down, crossing her arms in satisfaction.

Did she come up with that on her own? Her singing....she didn't use head voice, she belted from the stomach. And in the softest delivery. Wow, that was...amazing. "That's how it sounded in my head," I exclaimed, "an encounter or dance where you click and can't help but come back because the bond was strong.  I just wish I had more experience with that level of emotion or passion."

"I'm sure you have experienced it.  You just..." She stroked her fingers through her hair, without looking at me. I just what?  What was she talking about?  "How about this, Shawn.  So...um, real talk. Okay, don't laugh, but, did you feel anything...when you twirled me?"

I looked up at Camila as she got up.  I blushed.  "M-maybe a little." I stuttered as her hand brushed my cheek. Then, my arm and hand, goosebumps trickling down my body.  My breathing was uneasy and my heart was racing.  Why wouldn't it stop?

"How did it feel?" She whispered into my ear.  "Be honest."

"I...felt like that moment could have lasted for hours.  Your...body fit right in my hands." I breathed, entranced by her closeness, awakened by her touch and whisper.  Camila twirled a strand of my hair with a smirk.  It felt weird and I could feel myself wanting to run away, but at the same time want to stay or act on it.

I leaned forward as Camila pulled away and sprang back into her chair.  Her face was red like mine.  "I think you should change the lyric to Her body fit right in my hands..."  She whispered.

"Why did you do that?"  I asked, swallowing the sudden need to catch my breath.

"Sometimes...coming up with lyrics means to recall the experience of the thing you are writing about."  Camila cleared her throat.  "So, I just burst your social bubble for a moment to rekindle that experience." She shook her head and laughed a little. "I'm sorry. It's embarrassing to assume you'd feel something like that just from my closeness..."

We sat in silence for a moment. I mean, her approach was productive, but I couldn't help but feel more than one part of me aching. I wanted her to invade my social space again. And, from the looks of things, I think Camila was feeling the same.  Though she was shifting in her seat and pressing her fingers to her lips, I could see a small curl up at the farthest edge of her mouth.

"Well, I really felt it."  I said.  Camila's eyes lit up, but she scoffed.

"Oh, stop it."  She said blushing harder.  "I'm just a waitress in a diner.  No one say that to girls like me."

"Well, I'm just a traveling musician, and I'm saying it." I said standing up. "How about you, Señorita? Do you feel it too?"

Camila blinked rapidly. With that said, she slowly walked over to me, got up on her tiptoes, and kissed me.  Her lips were smooth and touch was still so gentle. I began kissing her back. My hands moved from her waist to her shoulders and she wrapped her arms around my neck. I pulled my shirt off and kissed Camila again. I stroked her back and she caressed my cheek as she moved her other hand along my side. I turned around and laid her down on the bed. Neither of us wanted to stop.

"I think I love you, Shawn."

"I think...I love you too, Camila."

💋⭕️❌🛌❌⭕️💋

(A/N: Keeping it PG, folks. 😉)

———

Contentment and belonging. That was what I felt and it was true. I hadn't felt it in such a long time I almost forgot the feeling.

But what scared me the most was one question: was it truly enough for me to stay?

*****

Thank you for reading and I hope to see you in the next chapter! 😽

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