fanning the flames

"I'm just saying you've got a lot to live up to. That's all." He was glad that their friendship still remained intact, but feared what Rachel thought about the two of them. Granted, they'd never been anything more than casual partners, but the way it had ended had shown him more than he'd expected. At least Cam was spared of his mess. "Exactly." He watched her intently as she looked over the drawing, his heart thundering against his chest in anticipation. He always liked making his clients happy with his sketches, but it was something far more than that with her. Her compliments and confirmation of liking made a wide smile stretch onto his mouth. "You like it? It took me a couple of tries to figure out how I wanted to do it, but I started that and I don't know. It felt like the best attempt." He'd replayed their conversation in his head time and time again and by the final touch up, it'd been the very thing he'd imagined and apparently, she had too. "Told you, I'm the best," he teased quietly.

"I love it, Max. Honestly, it's perfect. There isn't anything I want to change about it." Cam glanced down at the artwork again, taking in every little detail of the piece he had done. Max was a gifted artist and she would be more than willing to showcase his work on her body. She placed the sketchbook back on his desk and walked over to embrace the tattooed male in a quick hug. "Thank you, I can't wait to get it." It felt safer to keep their physical contact brief with the bits of lingering tension still hanging in the air around them. "I never had a doubt." Cam winked, taking a step or two away from Max. "I'm going on vacation in a few days and I'll be gone for over a week, so would it be cool if I book the appointment for when I get back?"

He was a big guy, but after several safety demonstrations and a step into the plane, he felt tiny. The hum of the front propellers left his heart buzzing and the feather lightness that consumed him during takeoff had kept him silent until Cam spoke up and caught his attention. "Uh, yeah. Sure we'll go with that," he countered with a nervous hum of laughter that was barely audible over the noises of the plane. "You're jumping first, right?"

"Yep, I'm jumping first. I thought maybe watching me leap out of an airplane first would make you feel better." Cam continued to joke with Atlas, trying to keep the mood light. You could see he was putting on a brave face, but his nervousness could be felt throughout the plane. One the instructors informed Cam and Atlas that they were nearing the jumping point. Giving her friend one more reassuring smile, the club owner carefully made her way to the door with her skydiving partner already strapped to her back. They opened the exit door to the plane, filling the small space with the sound of the wind wiping through the air. Cam's heartrate raced with excitement. Grinning from ear to ear, she turned to Atlas. "See you at the bottom!" Cam called out before leaping out of the airplane.

“fire in her bones, honey in her soul. she’s sweet when she has to be, and fierce when she needs to be.”

He was at least thankful that their friendship hadn't ended over a simple misunderstanding. Was it disappointing? Slightly, but he figured that it would save them both from future confusion and any kind of heartbreak that could have ruined the friendship anyway. At least, that was what he tried to convince himself of while he stood in the other's presence with a half cocked smile on his mouth. "Sounds like a deal to me. Just make sure it's a good one, alright? You've got a lot to live up to," he teased with a low hum of laughter. His movie pick hadn't been the greatest, but they'd been too caught up in one another to really care. "Patience isn't a strong suit for you, is it?" With a shake of his head, Max turned on the heel of his boot and led her towards the back where his work space was. He held open the door for her to slither inside and once she was, he stepped in and slowly pushed it closed behind him. "It's on the desk," he pointed out with a nod towards the open sketchbook that displayed her piece.

"Calm down, Mr. Movie Critic. I'll pick something good." The sound of his laugh brought a genuine to her lips. He seemed somber and distant when she first arrived. It was a welcomed change to see his mood lighten up before her eyes. "Patience is for people with too much time on their hands." Cam shot back the teasing quip. She brushed past Max and hurried over to his desk, eagerly scooping up the sketchbook into her hands. She glanced up at Max for a split second before turning her brown hues back to the drawing. Her fingertips swept gently along the outline of the tiger. "It's perfect. This is exactly what I had envisioned." Cam's gaze returned to Max, her smile widening. "You really knocked it out the park with this one."

"Sorry if I don't think there are enough words in the dictionary to explain what I should expect when we jump. Seems like something you can't really prepare for until you do it?" He was a daredevil, perhaps not by comparison to the tatted woman, but he was willing to give it his best shot because he knew that she'd never put him in harm's way. "I'm good to have someone on my back," he quickly countered, hands up and palms facing her in playful defeat. He wasn't about to do it alone. "Yeah, we better get up there sooner than later or my common sense might kick in."

-time jump-

It shocked her that people chose to vacation in places that weren't at least currently 80 degrees. The thought of her having to pack warm clothes for a trip nearly made her sick. "Ibiza," Romina began, her eyes growing wide at the thought. "I've heard good things. Just, difficult to find good lodging without having to book a year in advance. Perhaps you know of some secret? Some connection you might have?" she asked her. She had nearly taken a day trip there once many years ago. She had decided to tour the Mediterranean coast after graduating from law school. But, one thing led to another which was the usual case for Romina. There was a tendency to over schedule. It was true her eyes were large than her proverbial stomach, in almost every sense of the phrase. "I actually hear that there is quite a jazz influence in France. Is that still true?" she asked her.

"I do have a phenomenal travel agent I could recommend. They're the one who helped me plan my trip to Europe. I'll text you his number." Cam nodded, making a mental note to send the info to Romina. She was happy to help a fellow traveler explore a new destination. "It is. Some of the best jazz I've ever heard was in France. If you ever go, I strongly encourage you to check out some jazz clubs while you're there." Finishing off the rest of her champagne, Cam rested a hand on Romina's arm. "I should be getting back to the party. It was great seeing you, and thanks again for coming out."

"There goes my plans for the tattoo chair," he teased lightly with a roll of his brown hues. He'd deal with the attraction he'd felt towards her, just like he assumed she was doing the same for the sake of her friendship. "I'm glad. Rachel... she's good. She's the best." He wondered if the woman had thought any differently of him after finding out about the tension that had lied between he and Cam, but he supposed that was a thing he'd have to figure out on his own. "Hey, don't apologize for it. I appreciate you giving me the heads up and listen, I would like to catch another movie sometime." It wouldn't be nearly as intimate as it'd been the first time around, but at least there was the chance of saving their friendship. "Good news, sure. It's back in my office. If you're sure that you're ready to see it... then I don't want to keep you wanting."

Cam nodded back with a soft smile resting on her lips. "She is." It was a hard pill to swallow. Dating had proven to be harder than expected when she moved back to Providence. At first she blamed work. Getting the clubs up and running had been her main focus, leaving very little room for any semblance of a dating life. That was over a year and a half ago. While certain aspects in her personal and work life had changed, there was still one that remained the same. It made Cam start to question.. was she the problem? She shook the silly thought away before it had any chance of lingering. It was just a case of bad luck that would eventually run it's course. She had other things to focus on until then. "Good, I get to pick the movie next time." Her brown hues brightened with excitement. "Yes, I'm sure. Stop being a tease and show me the goods already."

"Do you normally make promises you can't keep?" He couldn't hide the smile on his mouth, let alone the pounding against his ribcage. If she came close enough, surely it would be a giveaway to every emotion that coursed through him rapidly — excitement, fear, and plenty of other stuff he couldn't begin to explain. "What does a safety course look like? I don't have to answer questions on a scantron, right? Do we jump on our own or am I going to have someone strapped my back?"

Cam chuckled as Atlas threw a series of questions at her. "No, dork. They go over the safety rules and show you how the parachute works and what to expect when you jump. You can ask them all the questions you want," she teased. "Yes, you are going to have someone strapped to your back. First timers don't jump on their own. Unless you want to. We can't do it here, but I'm sure I can find someone to fly a plane and let you jump out of it." Cam grinned. She stepped out of her car and walked over to Atlas, looping her arm with his. "Come on, let's get you in there before you change your mind."

He gave her an amused look. No doubt it would be impossible not to have fun with Cam around, but it sounded almost like a challenge. “Nonsense, I'm more worried you wouldn't be able to keep up.”

"I wouldn't be able to keep up? This coming from someone who just declared themselves to be a bore." She quipped back. "Really? I've only been there once, but it was love at first sight. I can't wait to see it again." Cam was counting down the hours until she was on a plane, crossing over the big blue ocean to begin her grand adventure. Traveling had always been such a huge part of Cam's life. Going so long without indulging that passion eventually started to eat away at her. She needed to fill the void it was leaving behind.

"Let me guess... they found out quickly that no one wins that game?" He couldn't say that he blamed anyone for wanting her attention. The few nights he'd had it, he had quite enjoyed where conversation had led them. There was a level of disappointment that came with the silence, but with as busy as things had been for him, along with the big truth that had been dropped on him, it was probably for the best. "I guess it's a good thing then, huh? Can't complain about that."

Cam experienced a slight sinking feeling in her stomach once everything was out in the open. The vibe she had with Max wouldn't really be the same anymore. She would have to let her attraction to him be a thing of the past, and hopefully it stayed there. It was disappointing, but at least their friendship would remain intact. "You didn't, really. Rachel and I are totally cool," she reassured him. "I'm sorry I came bearing bad news. If it's any consolation, you're still welcome to come over and take advantage of my movie room." A warm and genuine smile reached her lips. "How about some good news, yeah? You finished the sketch for my tattoo! I'm dying to see your next masterpiece."

Even in jest it was an admirable ambition. Nathan smirked imagining the tight ship they'd run together. For all his grabs for power, there had never been any desire in his to place himself in a position of political authority when there was so much red tape involved. He preferred to pull the strings behind the curtain. He tilted his head in agreement. "It most certainly, I look forward to seeing you on the ballot paper."

"Are you worried that you might actually find yourself having a good time?" Cam questioned with a teasing arch of her brow. His immediate decline to the invitation had been expected. Asking someone to drop everything they're doing to be whisked away to Europe for ten days was a lot. Nathan had his own responsibilities that he had to deal with on a daily basis. Cam felt a break might do him some good, but could she convince Nathan of that?

"Anything more than that would have been a treat." He'd joked about shooting his shot with the older Le sibling, but her brothers threats had kept him in line. After all, it was bro code and as bad as he'd hated it, it was solid. "Real talk? I'm trying to figure out some big excuse to get out of here right now. I'm thinking I left the stove on," he trailed off, grin growing wider as his gaze found hers. Was he afraid? Sure, but there was a high level of thrill that came from the idea itself. "You know what? Fuck it. Let's do it. I trust you. It can't be that bad, right?"

She clapped her hands together, a gleeful grin stretching wide across her lips. "Yes! I'm so glad you're in! I promise that you're going to love it." With her excitement bubbling over, Cam leaned over to give Atlas a quick hug. "This is going to be so much fun." The club owner pulled back from the embrace and grabbed her car keys. "We have to take a safety course first before we jump. I've jumped with these guys before and they're great. Very knowledgeable and professional."

"Oh, I love a good challenge. What do I need to do? Spend half of my income on your lovely whisky? I'm willing to do it. Winner's curse." He clicked his tongue, making himself comfortable in his seat. "Well, I'm rather disappointed you're not half robot as I'd envisioned. I do like the steampunk feel of that thought. Steampunk. That's another idea for your business adventures." He winked, rambling on. "I'm another great business adventure. Who doesn't love poetry?" And he was perfectly aware of the irony there. "It's been a few years since I've had a band, but trust me when I say I can still make people get off their seats. I can't tell you where they'll be headed, but I can do it!" He jested with a nonchalant shrug. "How are you doing, Cam?"

"That's a good place to start. I'll let you know if I think of anything else to get you ahead." Cam smirked, offering Theo a reassuring pat on the arm. "This might be an unpopular opinion, but I think the Steampunk theme for clubs is a little overrated. I feel like it's been done over and over again." She chuckled as Theo randomly rambled on throughout their conversation. There was never any dull moments, or awkward pauses when he was around. "You were in a band? What kind of music did you play? I'm doing good. Going on adventures whenever I can. I went skydiving the other day."

Romina smirked at the figure of speech Cam used. "Oh please. As if I need more of an excuse to pamper myself," she joked. That was really only half-true. She certainly enjoyed it, but didn't treat herself enough to experiences like that. Perhaps enjoying it with Cam would give her more of a reason. "Is that so? I'd love some suggestions. Just -- please, some place warm. I do not do well in cooler climates," she said, placing a hand on her chest as she spoke. She then took a sip of her drink, hoping that this wouldn't mean her businesses would be closed with her absence. But she figured as much, giving responsibility to her employees. "Mmmmm," she hummed as she finished her sip, then pulled her glass away. "What part of Europe? Have you been before?" she asked.

"Some place warm.. let me think." Cam tapped her manicured nails against her flute of champagne. "Ibiza, Spain has beautiful beaches. Santorini, Greece is amazing too. I visited both mostly during the summer and I always had a wonderful time. The food alone is worth going." She hummed to herself, thinking about all the delectable dishes she dined on during her travels. "A few parts. France, Italy and Ireland. I've been to all three before. I actually used to live in France before moving back here."