Caught on Camera (Love Through a Lens, #1)

by Chelsea Curto

“Take all the time in the world,” he calls out. “You’re worth the wait.” “Do you use that line on every girl?” “You know there aren’t any girls.”

Tattooed arms, dark hair, light eyes that border on gray. Six-foot-six, with muscles in places I didn’t know people could be strong. He’s all-around handsome, but his smile is his most devastating characteristic. Wide and bright, it stops you in your tracks. It’s genuine and a little shy, like he can’t believe he’s lucky enough to live a life like this.

It’s jealousy, I think, not of the person but of their situation. Of having someone to come home to every night. Someone to share their day with, the good, the bad, and the mediocre moments in between.

Lacey tilts her head back and laughs, and it’s such a bright sound. It might be below freezing outside, but her laugh is warm. Inviting. Sunshine in human form, and one of my favorite noises.

A giant fuck you to anyone who’s ever told her she needs to tone it down, because Lacey laughs like she does everything else in life: without a care in the goddamn world. I like that about her.

A beaver after a Texas circuit, hitting Houston and Dallas in the same month. It's supposed to be the mascot of some gas station chain, but I don’t understand the joke no matter how many times he tries to explain it to me.

Aiden treats Maggie right. He loves her loudly and softly, in front of everyone and when no one is watching. I always catch him looking at her, this dopey smile of adoration on his face, like he can’t believe she’s his.

Shawn spins his finger and I roll my eyes, turning to show him his name on the back of the jersey I’m wearing.

When the huddle breaks and the defense takes the field, he’s still looking at me, and I don’t see an ounce of strain on his face.

When she doesn’t pull away, I smile big and wide. She gives me a shy grin in return and I press my lips against hers, kissing my best friend in front of seventy thousand people without a damn in the world, just as snowflakes start to fall from the sky.

“Doesn’t matter. Fake. Real. I don’t give a shit. I take care of what’s mine, and right now, you are mine.”

“Your smile is my favorite smile.”

Our relationship might be fake, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else either. Here with him is magic.

“Is there a reason you’re pretending to not know how to skate when I distinctly remember you winning the junior hockey league MVP when we were eight?”

“Why do you call me Lacey girl? It’s the only pet name you’ve ever used twice.” “Because I can tell you don’t hate it. And because you’re my girl.”

“You make it impossible to stay away,” I say. “So don’t,” she says, and the challenge hangs heavy in the air between us. “Fuck it,” I ground out, then I bend down and crash my mouth against hers.

“Going to fuck you raw,” he says through a strangled exhale. “Really make you mine.”

What I thought was the stupidest thing I could have ever done, the biggest mistake that would have ruined our friendship and everything I cared about, ended up being the greatest decision of my life.