“I don’t know that part yet.”
“Are you going back to LA?”
“Not tonight.”
“Stay, Kennedy. Just… Don’t go back yet, okay? Please stay in town. We need to talk. I know you need to run now because the cameras could be on their way here; I get that. But please just really call me.”
“I will,” she replied and meant it.
CHAPTER 34
Cameron
She sat on her couch and looked around the living room for maybe the tenth time just that day. This house hadn’t ever felt like her home, and she’d always been one of those people who believed that home wasn’t a house, but the people whom you shared it with; or the people you cared about and loved, at least. Her phone pinged, and it was a custom notification for Kennedy, so she checked the message immediately, knowing that Kennedy had had another conversation with Jessie that morning.
Cameron had wanted to be there for her when she had talked to Jessie and later, Zane, but Kennedy had insisted on doing it alone. Cameron had wanted to give Kennedy whatever space she needed because she knew it would help them grow back together as friends, so she’d been forced to sit on the sideline and wait for texts because Kennedy hadn’t been ready for a call yet. That was, apparently, until now, because Kennedy was asking if she could call Cameron.
“Hello,” she greeted when Kennedy dialed her after her affirmative response.
“Hey,” Kennedy replied. “I met with Jessie again today, and Zane called.”
“Okay. Is everything–”
“Jessie was able to get the charity not to post the video this weekend in exchange for a sizeable donation from us, and they’re going to stop posting the social spots advertising for the video until they can figure out what to do. We sort of told people that they would get to watch the double date thing, so I think they’re going to re-edit it, making it a lot shorter, and maybe air it after.”
“After?”
“After you and I tell the world that we broke up,” Kennedy said. “It’s not perfect; I know. In fact, it’s not good at all. We need to post something about how we’re not together and let that die down first. If they want to air it after, they’ll air the re-edited version. If not, they’ll scrap it.”
“What can I do?”
“Nothing right now. Well, you’ll want to talk to Jessie about… whatever you might need to talk to her about. I have not mentioned anything about the possibilities with Lacey. She knew that you liked her and that I liked River, but I don’t know if you two have decided to pursue that, so you should call Jessie and tell her your plan with that.”
Cameron nodded, even though Kennedy couldn’t see, cleared her throat, and said, “We’re dating.”
“Oh. Yeah, that’s good,” Kennedy said, and her tone was now different somehow.
It had gone from confused and sad to something else entirely. Cameron closed her eyes because she knew – telling your ex to move on was very different than hearing that she already was. She also knew that whenever Kennedy told her that she was moving on, it would punchherin the gut, too.
“How’s it going?” Kennedy asked after a long silence.
“It’s only been one date. I’m leaving here soon for date number two, but… It’s good, Ken.”
“Good. I’m glad. I mean that, Cameron.”
“Thanks. What about you and River?”
“Oh, I’ve just been confusing the hell out of her,” Kennedy replied with a laugh.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m telling her I can’t go out with her now, even though I want to, and then, going to her store and flirting with her. She’s calling me ‘babe’becauseI’m flirting with her. I think it was more on accident than anything, but I loved it and hated it at the same time.”
Cameron smiled and asked, “Why are youhatingit, exactly?”
“Because, Cam, if I can’t make it work withyou, how can I make it work with anyone?”
“Oh, Ken.” Cameron leaned back on the couch. “You know that’s not how this works; any of it. You like someone. They like you. You see what there can be.”
