Free Mistletoe Between Friends by Samantha Chase Page A

experiencing the same scene, Lily was able to have several conversations with different people as she made her way through the group and into the kitchen where she found her own parents and said hello.
    Cam was by her side with his hand low on her back, and Lily couldn’t help but smile. He might not want to touch her, but she knew that deep down, he couldn’t help himself. Was he even aware he’d done nothing but touch her since they’d left the hotel that morning? He’d held her hand, touched her arm, kept his hand on her back… Other than while she was getting ready at her apartment once they got back into town, Cam had always had his hands on her in one way or another.
    It was both amusing and arousing.
    Cam had stepped away for a moment to tell his father and Lily’s dad about the conference when he noticed his mother heading toward Lily.
    â€œSo what’s new with you, Lily?” Angela Greene asked as she handed Lily a glass of wine.
    â€œWell,” she began and then looked over her shoulder at Cam. He nodded, so Lily turned back and faced their parents and siblings. “Cam and I just got back from New York.”
    â€œOh really?” Angela said. “Did you have business in the city too?”
    â€œNo,” Cam said, coming over to stand beside Lily and put his arm around her. “I invited Lily to come with me. I thought it might be nice for us to get away before the hectic holiday schedule kicks in.” The room fell silent as their parents all looked at one another and then back to Cam and Lily.
    â€œI-I don’t understand,” Angela said, confusion written all over her face.
    â€œWell,” Lily said with a shy smile, “Cam and I wanted to have a little time away before we came here and told all of you that”—she looked at Cam again for confirmation—“we’re dating!”
    The room became a flurry of activity, and it was like walking in all over again. Everyone began talking at once and asking questions. Lily and Cam were so in sync with one another that even though they had never discussed their “story,” their accounts were close enough that no one seemed to notice.
    â€œIt’s just so romantic…”
    â€œWe always hoped the two of you…”
    â€œSo it was a romantic getaway?”
    â€œHow long has this been going on?”
    The questions came at them in rapid-fire succession, and they each took turns answering. Lily had to wonder if their announcement was real or fake because they seemed to be pulling it off. They really weren’t lying, because in her mind, what she and Cam were doing was one hundred percent real. She just had to convince Cam.
    Conversation moved to the dining room as dinner was served. Angela made sure the two of them sat together, and by the time everyone was seated, their mothers seemed to be of one mind. “So this is real? This is serious?”
    Cam picked up one of Lily’s hands and kissed it. “Yes, it is. I’ve been in love with Lily for a long time, but I never wanted to risk our friendship.”
    â€œSo what changed?” Mary Cavanaugh asked, grinning from ear to ear.
    Cam looked lovingly at Lily as he spoke the truth for what seemed like the first time tonight. “Some things you just can’t fight. We didn’t plan this. It just sort of happened, and now that it has, I’m sorry we waited so long.” Lily’s gaze softened at his words, and it took all of Cam’s strength to not lean in and kiss her right now. But he remembered his rules. Although he knew he would have to kiss her in front of other people at times during the upcoming weeks, he had to be strong and only do it when absolutely necessary or he’d make himself crazy.
    â€œThe trip was amazing,” Lily said while everyone at the table simply sat and grinned at them. She told them all about Times Square and their hotel and the dinners they’d