“I know that. I’m not asking you to move.” Cameron chuckled and turned right at the next light. “Is it wrong that I really do want to buy you a new bed, though? Not just because of you and River, but because you said it’s old and it hurts your back.”
“But mostly because of River, huh?” Lacey teased. “You know she wasn’t the only woman I’ve been with, right?”
Cameron turned and gave her a glare.
“Possessive?” Lacey joked.
“Yes,” Cameron stated. “Especially becauseIhaven’t even done that with you yet.”
“Yet?” she asked.
“I’m optimistic,” Cameron replied.
Not much else was said until they pulled up to the valet in the parking lot, which Lacey hadn’t anticipated but should have. It was LA… Every decent restaurant had a valet in Los Angeles. Cameron got out of the car and handed the guy her keys before she hurried to Lacey’s side, closed the door for her, and reached for Lacey’s hand.
“Cam,” Lacey whispered.
“Oh, shit. Sorry.”
Cameron dropped the hand she’d held out and nodded for Lacey to walk inside with her. Lacey gave the hostess her name, and they were sat right in the middle of the restaurant.
“I should have given themyourname, huh?” she joked when she noticed half the restaurant staring at her date.
“I’m used to it, but we can ask to move, if you want.”
“It doesn’t bother me, but you’re still with Kennedy, according to the world.”
“The statement is going out tomorrow,” Cameron said. “It’ll be over soon.”
“But we can’t exactly be a couple the day after that. It would look bad for you, right?”
“Hello,” their server greeted. “Can I start you off with something to drink?”
“Can you give us just one minute?” Cameron asked.
“Cam, it’s fine. Can I get a water, please?”
“You only want water?”
“Right now, yes,” Lacey said.
“Okay. Two waters, please, and the chips and salsa.”
“Great. I’ll be right back,” the waiter replied and walked off, leaving them sort of alone, but Lacey looked around and noticed the phones aimed at them.
“It’s bothering you, isn’t it?”
“Not because I can’t handle it. I know what it means to be out with you, Cam.”
“Because they think I’m with someone else, but I’m here with you. There’s also this little red candle between us on the table, and the way I look at you, it’s pretty obvious that I’m into you.”
Lacey smiled softly and replied, “I love how you look at me.”
“So do I,” Cameron said. “This part really will be over soon, Lacey, but I didn’t think about the other part.”
“What other part?”
“We didn’t talk about whether we wanted to be out right away. We had a pretty private first date, even though we were surrounded by people, and our second date was at your apartment. Now, we’re in the middle of a restaurant, and Kennedy or no, people are going to want to know who you are and who you are to me. Soon, we can tell them, but I should’ve asked if you even wanted this part. I didn’t, and I’m sorry.”
