“I can’t trust myself.”
“Yes, you can. You and I were always meant to be this. We were only meant to have what we had for however long we had it. We just didn’t know it. Look at it like that.”
“What if River and I are meant to be friends and nothing more?”
“Do you really feel that way?”
“I didn’t feel that way about you in the beginning, either, Cameron.”
“No, but that’s because we let the lust get in the way, Ken. We dove in headfirst. We spent days and nights in bed together, and, yeah, it was amazing. We had great chemistry. But that made it harder for us to tell that we didn’t have that lifelong compatibility couples need. We kept pretending we did. We put on brave faces at times. We went to events and smiled, and I know we were happy in the beginning, but we haven’t been for a long time. I also know you have the lusty feelings for River, too,and you should. That’s a good thing. But maybe try not to let them cloud the rest of it, like we did, so that you can tell if this is for real.”
“Is that what you’re doing with Lacey?”
“Trying to, yeah.” She chuckled. “I don’t want to, but I am.”
Kennedy laughed and said, “Lusty feelings?”
“Definitely,” she replied, thinking about that kiss. “You?”
“Oh, yeah. I lust after that woman hard, but I know it’s not just that.”
“No?”
“We made candy together, Cam.”
“Metaphorically or literally?”
“Literally, you weirdo,” Kennedy replied with a laugh. “I helped her in the shop, too, for a few minutes before I got recognized, and it was like I could see myself doing that more. I mean, I love acting. I don’t want to stop. But I also wonder if maybe Icoulduse a break. Once I realized that, I thought about how helping River felt, and being with her in the back, just making candy and talking, I knew I wanted more of that. I… could tell on that weekend that it wasn’t just lust. I really like her. She’s enough like me where I won’t be nagging her all the time, like I did with you, and she’s different enough that I think it’ll be interesting. I don’t get the impression that she’s the kind of person who will let me walk all over her, either.”
“Well, that’s the dream, isn’t it?” Cameron asked.
“Maybe.” Kennedy chuckled. “So, second date?”
“Tonight, yeah. I need to get going, or I’ll be late. I don’t want to be late on her.”
“Don’t be. Go. Have fun. Just tell Jessie tomorrow or something.”
“I will. Then, we can maybe sit down and talk about the other stuff.”
“The house?”
“Yes,” Cameron replied. “And anything you want and what I want and all that.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you after you tell Jessie that you’ve already got a new girlfriend. If you’re still alive, that is.”
Cameron laughed and replied, “She’s not my girlfriend. We’re dating.”
“Right. Sure. Okay, Cam,” Kennedy teased. “Now, go. Don’t be late.”
“Thanks, Ken. And just… Trust yourself, okay? Even if we weren’t right about being meant for each other in a romantic sense, we were definitely correct about being meant for each other in another way, right?”
“Yes,” Kennedy said.
“So, talk to River, okay?”
“I will. Bye, Cam.”
Cameron hung up and felt a little better after hearing Kennedy’s voice. She was already dressed, so she grabbed her keys and wallet, tucked her phone into her jeans pocket, and headed out to her car. Tonight, there was no grand plan. No theme park or fancy restaurant with a ride running through it. It would just be the two of them having a relaxing night together, and she couldn’t wait.
