“I really like her, Zane.”
“That’s good, too.”
“It is, but I think she’s worried.”
“What about?”
“This being too hard. We had kind of a strange date. I stayed over, and we talked, but it was still awkward. Then, the next morning, the news posted about Ken and me. Lacey was with me, and it was better with her there. I didn’t want to be alone, and she held my hand and took my phone away when I kept trying to check the comments. She had to go to work after that, and her job isn’t easy, and it means she has to be in Anaheim, where her clients are.”
“And you’re here,” Zane said. “And famous.”
“I’m famous, yes, and I didn’t even think to tell her to go to a less busy restaurant or get us a room instead of having her come back here, to this house.” Cameron looked around the room. “I think we’re okay, but I want her to feel secure in this and know that I’m really in it because I’m about to change her life, you know? There were pictures taken of us in that restaurant, and people are starting to talk now that they know that Kennedy and I broke up. Lacey can still go back to being anonymous right now if she wants. The YouTube thing isn’t going to air, so people will forget about the double date soon enough if they haven’t already.”
“And if she’s never seen with you again, she can stay right where she is?” Zane guessed.
“Yeah.”
“But you don’t want her to do that?”
“I want to be with her,” she confessed. “So, no. I don’t expect her to walk a red carpet tomorrow or anything, but it’ll be harderfor her to just grab a cup of coffee once we tell the world that we’re dating or together.”
“Have you asked her whatshewants?”
“She wants us to keep dating and not come out to the world for a while, which is fine.”
“Okay. So, what are you worried about?”
“My drama getting in the way of us.”
“So, have less drama. Or, better yet, no drama at all. Cam, just make sure she knows you’re in it and that you’ll figure things out together as you go. That’s really all you can do.”
“You’re right,” she replied. “And I won’t have many red carpets to walk anytime soon, so now might be the perfect time for us to see what this could be.”
“Exactly. When do you see her again?”
“We were going to FaceTime tonight, but I don’t know when we’re going out again. It’s been hard because she’s there and can’t always get all the way up here due to her job.”
“Can you go there?”
“Yes,” Cameron replied.
“Then, don’t FaceTime the woman. Go see her.”
“She said she doesn’t have a late appointment tonight. I guess I could.”
“It’s not likeyouhave anything going on.”
“Hey, Iammoving,” she said. “But this could be good. I have the key for the rental already.”
“Good. Drop your shit off there and go talk to her.”
“You’re full of good ideas today, Zane.”
???
Lacey pulled open the door, wearing only a towel.
“Uh…” Cameron’s eyes widened, and she swallowed hard before she could gather herself enough to point and say, “Towel.”
