Reclaim (Release, #2)

by Aly Martinez

Choices. Everyone makes them. From mundane and monotonous to life-changing and unimaginable. But regardless what that choice may be, life is lived in the consequences.

I’d been wrong. Camden Cole wasn’t a genius. He was the genius who taught the other geniuses. He was next-level genius, and at the moment, he was my business partner. And it had not escaped me how he’d put my last name first in our company.

When you’re scared and alone and you need something to be true so badly that you start to believe it yourself, it’s not hard to lie to other people anymore.

Nora started taking care of me too. She might not have had much, but she gave me more than anyone else ever had: real, honest friendship.

“Friends stick around even when they live three hours away. Even when their parents ground them for a century. Even when their parents are idiots and take off. Even when all the worms in Georgia have been caught. Friends—true friends—always come back.”

You’re patient. I’m no fool—you couldn’t care less about the books I read, but you listen. You’re reliable. I never had to worry about you not showing up.

Money solved all problems, right? In my experience, it made them worse.

She wasn’t mine to catch. Yet.

But she was smiling—a real, genuine Nora Stewart masterpiece.

“When I left the ten-dollar bill on your nightstand, I genuinely thought you’d find your way back to me. A phone call. A visit. Anything. But as time passed and I got older, I realized I fell in love with a girl who had no idea how to be loved.”

“All the pain. All the devastation. All the heartache. Something good has to come from this.” He took my hand and intertwined our fingers. After bringing my knuckles to his mouth, he kissed each one. “Let it be you, Nora. Be the good.”

Fuck the candy. I was a Camden Cole girl, any and every way he came. Or at least I wanted to be.

I wanted the world for Camden Cole even if I wasn’t the one who could give it to him.

I could never explain to her how watching her choose to live again had been the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

“You’re the only man I’ve ever thought about.” Her warm breath filled my every inhale. “Every night, Cam.”

“You know I love you, right?” she rushed out. My chest got tight. “I know.” “No, Cam. I mean I really, really love you. I always have.” “I know that too, babe. And I love you too. Always.” “Then show me.” Her mouth claimed mine. “Show me what love feels like.”

We were clumsy and inexperienced, but we learned together. We were teeth clanking and a slip out here and there. But eventually, we found our rhythm. Our stride. Our version of physical love.

Our story was a tangled tale of time and distance. Choices and consequences. Love and longing.

After giving me what you just gave me, trusting me to be that man for you—you’re exactly who I want you to be.”

With you, I breathe and I laugh and…and I feel, Camden. Good things. And I don't even have to try.

You were enough for me at twelve, yelling at me for not choosing you, because whether you understand it or not, just knowing that someone cared if I chose them changed my entire outlook on life.

Timing is everything and we’re not there yet. But don’t you ever fucking let me go. Do you hear me? Never.”

Her shoulders shook with a cry. “I don’t deserve you.” “I know. You deserve better. But you aren’t the only selfish one in this bed.”

The clock was always ticking with me and Nora.

There aren’t enough words to adequately express the gift you gave me last night. The hope. The unconditional love. The understanding that, while now is not our time, there might a future where one day the two of us find ourselves on the banks of our creek again, this time with free minds, whole hearts, and a lifetime to share. Until then, wherever you go and whatever you do, I love you.

Long story short: I was fucked and not in a good way.

I was a sucker who would have done any and every damn thing in the world to make her happy. Fuck. Me.

But she was still mine. Or at least I was hers.

“Perfect doesn’t exist! What I deserve is someone who wants to be with me. Not because I’m here. Not because it’s convenient. Not because you need something or I need something. I’m talking someone who cannot physically stay away for one day, much less five fucking years.”

“Five years, five hundred years—it doesn’t matter. I want you, Nora. In my life. In my bed. At my side. Any and every way I can have you. I only want you. I don’t care if it’s messy or complicated. I don’t care if you are still working through the shit-hand life dealt you. I don’t care how it comes or what it looks like. I only want you.”

“Every day. Every night. This need for you never stops,”

“Don’t you ever fucking tell me you aren’t perfect,” he rumbled. With Camden, I’d always felt perfect.

“Swear to me this is it. I can’t take another fucking goodbye. Never again. Do you understand me?”

“If it means I’m lucky enough to keep you, I’ll take my chances.” But as I lay there staring at him, sated and languid, my heart so full of love, I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to process it all, because he was wrong. I was the lucky one.

“I’m not sure if you’re aware or not, but you, Camden Cole, are pretty damn amazing.”

“You make me feel free.”

ebbed into nothingness. Life wouldn’t be perfect with Camden. My life would be a never-ending work in progress, but with him at my side, it didn’t seem so damn daunting anymore.

Fuck me. I was a grown ass-man with a career and a car payment the way God intended, but I was damn near giddy at the idea of being Nora’s boyfriend.

Choices. Everyone makes them. And by some miracle I would never understand, Camden chose me.

It would have been wasteful, stupid, and flat-out disrespectful to the Lord. And. I. Was. Stoked.

I loved my life. I loved my wife. I loved my kid. As far as I was concerned, I had it all.