Chapter 99 - Be Careful With My Heart

"Here is my beautiful Cinderella." Cameron made me twirl around.

"And this is my castle," I said floating as I twirled around and opened my hands to gesture at the palace we were in.

"Would you like to come to my place to get to know Joanna?" I asked.

Cameron nodded, "yes. Whatever my girlfriend wants."

I took his hand and we walked outside, then we drove to my house.

I didn't inform Joanna of Cameron's presence because I wanted to make her a surprise.

I rang the doorbell and when she opened the door she dropped her jaw and widened her eyes at Cameron's sight. I hid behind him and I came out screaming "surprise!"

She took a long relieved breath when she saw I was there, and opened the door widely to allow us in.

"I wanted to introduce Cameron to you."

I said as I took his hand and pulled him through the corridor.

A tasteful scent came from the kitchen so she was probably cooking.

"There's a delicious scent, Lily told me how good chef you are and from what I smell I can already say she is right."

Joanna smiled, "thank you." She offered him a shy smile, "Cameron. I have heard a lot about you and read some gossip too." She giggled pretending the source of the gossip was me.

"Did you? Well, Many people write a lot using my name and I didn't even speak to them so I can't confirm anything you read or saw was truthful even the positive ones."

Was he saying that because he remembered the interview I saw on the internet?

"We would like to talk to you about something," I said, raising my eyebrows to let her deduce it was time.

She tensed her muscles not to let any expression be revealed.

We both watched Joanna cooking, "I invited him to dinner if it's not a problem."

Joanna immediately replied, "it's fine. I hope you will like my dishes then."

"I am sure I will," Cameron replied.

we prepared the table and then when Joanna put food on the dishes I glanced at Cameron to make sure he wasn't having second thought about his decision.

He nodded so I cleared my voice mentally preparing myself to give the news. Joanna already knew so I didn't know why my heart was pondering in my chest so heavily that I could barely breathe.

I was agitated about the entire situation, two of the most important people in my entire life were standing in the same room and I was both nervous and at the same time so excited.

"Cameron and I are seeing each other."

Joanna dropped her jaw and blinked a few times pretending to be shocked -or maybe she truly was.

"We're dating and I wanted to introduce you to him since you are my best friend," I commented.

"I am glad, so tell me more how did you two meet? At work?" 

I loved how she was pretending she never heard that story already from me, if she wasn't so good at cooking I would have told her to audition to be an actress.

"We met in a pub," he turned around to look at me and we both shared a giggle, "then we also met at work and started to collaborate and we got to know each other better day after day."

I nodded hearing Cameron's explanation and Joanna did the same.

we tested the mac and cheese pasta and then Joanna threw the second question.

"You saw each other often outside work too?"

I guessed she wanted to fuel her curiosity and finally answer the doubts I never answered her.

"Yes, we went to eat out often..." Cameron replied.

"What about you? Are you seeing someone?" Cameron switched the spotlight on her and her eyes lit up at the thought of Justin.

"I am. For a short time not as long as you two..." She immediately bit her tongue to stop herself when she heard what she was going to say.

"I mean..." she cleared her voice "... I suppose you're dating for a long time."

We both gazed at each other hiding the panic under the surface and my heart skipped a beat hoping Cameron didn't realize that Joanna knew more than she was pretending to know.

"Yes, we had been dating for a few months now but only officially today." He forced a breath and both of us took a relieved breath.

I smiled, Cameron said it so proudly as if he just announced he won the lottery.

We spent dinner chatting about work, food, movies, and many other things. Cameron and Joanna got along very well and he seemed comfortable being around her even if I knew he struggled with opening up and letting new people in.

I was glad he was giving Joanna a chance.

When we finished our dinner Joanna insisted for us to go into my room to have some privacy as she took care of the dishes and the table.

So I took advantage of her kindness and drove Cameron into my room. 

"This room speaks about you." He said.

"Because of the books?" I asked curiously. 

My room was simple with only a few types of modern detailed furniture. The bigger wall was filled with a bookshelf which contained all my favorite books and a few ones I haven't found the time to read then.

"What's your favorite book?" He asked stopping his gaze darting on the bookshelf and walking closer to it.

"I have lots of favorites, I can not pick one." 

having to choose a favorite book is like having to decide who your favorite son is. You hardly have a favorite and even if you did, you never had to reveal it.

"Then list three of your favorite books." 

"Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, and The Notebook are some great ones I'd suggest everyone."

He smiled, "noted down. I will read those." he leaned forward and pushed me closer to him.

"good. Let me know what you will think about them then." I answered.

Just like in music my favorite kind always was romantic stories and I even liked some good twists with a tragic ending. I guessed some sadness always helped the book to seem more realistic.

"Be careful, some of those books may break your heart," I warned.

"Not possible. Only one person can do that. And I am looking at her right now."

Was that a compliment?

"I heard that person has no intention to do so."

"Good then." He cupped my chin and pushed his lips against mine.. Our tongues danced together and I inhaled his taste.