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Cam reached into his back pocket and pulled out an old card. “You can reach my agent here.”
Red Tie looked at the card as if he weren’t going to take it. Cam kept his hand out. This guy obviously had no respect for what he did, so he could go old-school on him. Blue Tie moved as if he were just going to take the card and hope to get things moving again.
“That’s hardly necessary.” Jonathan stepped in. “I have Camden’s number if you need to reach him.”
Red Tie stared at him a moment longer, then Cam tucked his card back into his wallet. “Suit yourself. I can tell you I will absolutely not be available by phone or appointment as I’ll be busy. You don't want to follow standard protocol for working with artists, that’s up to you. Or maybe it’s up to Jonathan.”
A few feet away, Spencemm-hmmedas if he had a lead on a big story.
“Camden, don’t be a child.”
“Jonathan, I’m not. I’m being a professional. I know this might confuse you, but as one of the most highly regarded wood artists in the country, I am not at your beck and call.”
“Stop overestimating yourself, Camden.”
Beside him, Jamie snorted. When Cam gave him a look, Jamie shrugged and said, “Hey. Thisisme trying to stay out of it.”
True, very true.
Since Cam was working incredibly hard to find each and every silver lining about leaving, he added “Jonathan” to the list, and felt his lips involuntarily curve in a goofy smile.
“What?” Jonathan demanded.
“Oh, nothing. Just, you know… you.”
Completely confused about what that meant, Jonathan just glared.
“You know,” Jonathan finally said. “I have the power to take this all away from you.”
“Actually—” Selectperson McCreary started.
“And don’t think I won’t,” he finished.
“Again, actually—”
Jamie snorted again.
“You know…” Cam turned to Jamie. “That’s not helping. Your snorting is as vicious as other people’s words.”
“Yes, and I worked hard to make it so, so don’t deny me when the opportunity arises.”
Cam just stared at him, trying not to be overly annoyed because of the level of ridiculousness they were already surrounded by.
He turned back to Jonathan, his last nerve finally hit for probably the first time in his very laid-back life.
“Let me stop you right there because you seem to be missing some very important facts. Red Tie here might want to be aware of them as well.” Both insurance guys looked down at their ties and Cam charged ahead. “You are not a town official. You do not make town decisions. I am not a public servant. I am a highly trained, highly regarded artist who is doing some very expensive work at a bottom-level cost because of my love of Starlight Harbor and Raymond Havester’s legacy.”
Jonathan went to cut in and Cam raised a hand, surprised but not really when he flinched.
“You do not make the final decisions on anything going on here except which day you write the check you’re obliged to by the council. Let’s get this thing done. The sleigh got damaged, it needs repair. The town has two incredibly qualified experts willing to do so at a very affordable price. Can we finish this so I can get back to work?”
“Oh, diva,” Jamie muttered under his breath with some pride.
“So—” Red Tie looked down at his notebook again, then glanced at Jonathan with obvious frustration. Apparently, the narrative had just shifted drastically for him.
And Jonathan, being only moderately socially an idiot, couldn’t help but notice either.
Cam glanced at Jonathan, feeling slightly bad even if the guy had brought everything on himself.
