I'm surrounded by a sea of blue and gold. There's glitter splattered across my arms and a whole scene of nauseating school spirit and I absolutely love it. I may have lost my mind but I've got a whole cheesy smile glued to my face as I hang another sparkly pom pom from my team's float.

It's tradition in this town that every athletic team decorates one of the homecoming floats. I've done it every year. Despite my overall lack of flare for frilly school spirit, I've always loved bringing the floats to life. There's an art to it. A thrill to transforming something so drab into something the whole town will get lost in.

I reach for another pom pom when a firm arm wraps around my waist, quickly pulling me back and causing a squeak to sail past my lips. It catches the attention of my teammates, but I don't have time to care about their stares before I'm spun around. My back is pushed up against the float and Cam's warm chest is suddenly flush against my own.

That sexy smirk falls across his lips before they're pressed up against mine. He tastes sweet, like the delicious scent of a candy shop. It has me reaching for the back of his neck and pulling him in tighter. He doesn't miss a beat as he pushes into me, cupping my face within his hands to tilt my chin up higher.

Thing is, since we made this thing real, we've actually been spending less time together. With his uncle being in town this week and our athletic schedules, we just haven't had as much free time together.

If it weren't for the boisterous hollers by the one and only Apollo, I think I would have completely forgotten we're not alone at the moment. I let my grip loosen. My fingers trail a gentle path along his shoulders as his soft emerald glow comes into view.

"Hi," he whispers past the cutest smile. It has my insides flipping and my legs turning to jello.

"Hi." I smile up at him.

"Are you ready for tonight?"

Tonight would be our first official date. Yes, Camden Beck is taking me out on an actual date, you know, one of those things that couples do. "Are you ready for tonight? An actual date. You know, this might put a damper on that reputation of yours."

He leans in, the smirk I love to drool over falling helplessly across his lips. "The only reputation I care about is letting everyone know that I'm yours. Only yours."

That heat he likes to make sure is always flooding my cheeks is taking its rightful place across my face, glowing brightly in all its fumbling glory. He drops a kiss to my flushed skin before whispering, "I've always liked that I make you blush."

"I used to hate that you made me blush."

He laughs, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "You only hated that I could see the effect of my words, but I think you kind of loved the rush."

"Ah, there's that cocky side I've missed. I thought maybe you've gone soft on me."

That spark that hits his eyes has me reaching for my words, trying to pull them back but it's too late. "I'll never be soft for you, Kenze."

"Why? Why do you always have to ruin a moment?"

"See, some would say I'm enhancing the moment."

"Well it's a good thing I'm not some."

"You, Mackenzie Cooper, are certainly not some."

"I'm taking that as a compliment."

"Good," he adds, dropping a kiss to my lips. "Because I meant it as one. There's no one else like you, Kenze. No one else I want to spend every minute with, no one I want to open up to, to hold, to kiss, to do absolutely nothing with. You're the only one that has got my heart racing all funny. It's you, Kenze. Just you."

His eyes hold mine, the soft gentle warmth of their embrace rooting me in place. I reach for him, sliding my hands into his hair and pulling his lips to mine. He doesn't hesitate, pulling my body to his and pushing me up against the float behind us.

I've spent so much time hiding, so much time fading away and making sure everyone around me was taken care of. In this moment, despite everything that still feels shattered around me, I feel like I might actually have all the pieces to be put back together.

The sudden jerk of the float has us pulling apart, our breaths tangled together as Cam pulls me away. He wraps me into his chest as we turn to see Adam and Brittney climbing onto the float. They're both smiling, hand in hand as they take a seat on their thrones.

There's a pang across my chest. It's not the same one that's been there each and every time I've watched Adam and Brittney together. There's no jealousy or upset behind it anymore. If I'm being honest, the warmth of Cam's arms is more than I've ever felt with Adam. And it sends a comforting blanket around the part of me that used to feel broken.

But there's something else splintering my chest as I watch my ex and my once best friend smile atop the float.

As if he can feel my wavering heartbeat, Cam hugs me tighter as he lowers his mouth to my ear. "That should be you up there."

There was a fraction of a moment I thought that maybe, just maybe, I'd get to be on that float. But as I watch them smiling in their seats, I realize... "I think I like being right here," I say, leaning into his chest and reveling in the way his arms hold me steady.

He bends forward and presses a kiss along my temple.

"Hey, Prince Charming!" Apollo shouts across the room. I can't help but chuckle as I turn to see him waving an arm at Cam. "Your throne awaits, my lord."

"Always with the dramatics," Cam mutters with an eye roll, fighting a smile as he presses another kiss to my lips. "I'll see you tonight."

"Yep." I watch as he jogs over to his friends. He leaps up onto the float, Porcia quickly at his side before the two of them take their seats, checking that everything feels right for the big day in just over a week.

"Hey," a voice comes in beside me and I turn my attention to see Brittney standing a step away. She's fiddling with her fingers as she hesitantly glances up at me.

"Hi."

She pauses, and for a moment I think she's about to walk away, but then she speaks, "I just wanted to say that you look really happy, Mack. It's good to see you smiling." There's sincerity behind her words, and it's within that honest look that a bit of the Brittney I used to know comes fluttering back.

"Thank you."

"I really am sorry," she adds. "I hope you know that. I know I didn't handle this whole thing well. I should have told you the moment I developed feelings. I shouldn't have said some of the things I did that day on your porch. And I should have never kissed him when you two were still together."

There's this heavy weight that releases itself from my chest, a burden I didn't realize I was still carrying. If she would have said this just a few weeks ago, I don't think I'd feel the same sense of freedom. I think they'd sink into the murky water I was swimming in. But they don't. Instead, they flutter in front of me, taking flight in feathery bliss.

"You're not just trying to get my vote for homecoming are you?" I smile, watching as she chuckles. "Honestly," I continue, "I think everything worked out how it was supposed to, Brit. And you look happy, too."

She smiles, a glow flashing across her eyes as she gives a small nod. "I am happy."

"Good." I offer a nod. I glance over her shoulder, catching Cam's eyes on me. I give a smile, letting him know I'm good. When he smiles back, a bit of that warmth floods my chest again.

Brittney shifts in front of me, her gaze turning to see who I'm looking at before she's turning back to me. "He's good for you, you know? And I'm not just saying that as some justification for my mistake. I meant it when I said what I did was wrong. But Camden lights up when he looks at you. You deserve that, Mack. Someone who looks at you like you're the whole world."

There's a good chance she's kissing my ass right now, but looking back at Cam, seeing that smile glisten across his perfect features, it heats a piece of my chest. A darkened corner I never thought would see the light again.

"Thank you, Brit." And in some strange turn of events, I actually mean that. I don't see a version of a world where she becomes the first person I call again or the friend I reach out to to head to the beach with. But I don't hate being around her either. I don't hate what she did. I think I'm just at peace with where we've landed. In a sea of meant-to-be.

She nods, hesitating for a moment before taking a step closer. "I know it's absolutely none of my business," she jumps back in and it has me holding my breath for her next set of words. "But I've been dying to know how your brother took the news of you two dating. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall to see his reaction."

My heart lurches in my chest, that warmth I felt a moment ago frozen over in an icy chill. Brittney has always been one for drama, and she knows Jare and his crazy protectiveness just as much as I do. In fact, she's been my ear to vent to over the years. I don't blame her for being curious.

"He, uhm..." I fumble for the words, feeling a bit of panic rattling my hands. "We haven't actually told him yet."

"Really?" Her eyes grow wide before a soft understanding falls over her. It's genuine in the way she nods. "I mean, I don't blame you. He's going to lose his shit."

Yeah. That's exactly what I'm worried about.

I search for Cam again, glancing over Brittney's shoulder. He's busy working on the float, laughing at something Apollo is saying. I have no idea how my brother is going to react, but I know that I'm not ready to find out.

All I want right now is to enjoy the moment. To feel what it's like to be the only one Cam wants to be with. When the time is right, we'll tell Jare. And hopefully, by then, he'll see that this is real.