Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Cam
“Well, that was horrendous,” I state as we finish with the long media day. We’re finally done with filming. We have a few media obligations when the show airs in a few weeks, but other than that, the competition is officially over.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Fletcher says as we pack up our things.
Apparently, because of my room situation, Felicity has gotten the filming company to comp me a weekend at another property. I don’t have time to use it now, but I promised her I’d let her know when I had a free weekend.
Against my better judgment, I let Fletcher call his car service. I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything that’s happened over the past two days.
My phone pings with an incoming text and I look down.
Drew: Celebratory happy hour tonight. Bring the enemy if you like.
I roll my eyes. I haven’t told anyone yet that Fletcher and I slept together. I don’t even know where to start with that or how I feel.
I’m considering what to text Drew and then I realize I haven’t heard from Max in a few days. Normally we text daily.
I’m about to text him before responding to Drew when Fletcher comes up behind me and buries his face in my hair. “I know what I want to do later,” he says, pressing his growing erection into my back.
“Too bad. We have plans,” I state as I hold up my phone, showing him the text from Drew.
He groans. “Can we rain check?”
I shake my head. “Nope. They will not let it go…” I trail off and turn around to face him. “What…are we doing, by the way?” I ask the obvious question because we haven’t discussed what has happened between us.
He steps forward and cups my face. “I have absolutely no idea. But if you don’t want to tell anyone yet, I’m alright with that.”
I purse my lips as I consider what he’s saying. “Let’s keep it to ourselves for a little while. At least while we figure out what we’re doing.”
“OK, we’ll keep it between you, me, Helga, and Heidi,” he says. I roll my eyes and give him a little shove and he chuckles.
“Come on, the car is waiting,” he says and we head out of the estate. It seems odd re-entering the normal world.
I’m quiet as the driver takes us back to my apartment building.
Fletcher reaches over and grasps my hand, placing it in his lap, his thumb stroking my palm.
I look down at our joined hands and wonder what upside-down world I’ve fallen into.
I feel like Alice and I just went down the rabbit hole. Nothing makes sense.
I should hate Fletcher McDowell. I should be focused on using my winnings to ensure my business outperforms his. I should text Max and ask his advice, but right now, I just want to hang out with the people I care about, and if I’m honest, Fletcher is one of them.
The car stops outside my building and Fletcher helps me with my bag. We walk up to my apartment and drop it off before going up to the rooftop. There’s a light snow tonight. Al has the heat lamps going and the fire pit.
Everyone turns when we open the door and yells, “Congratulations.”
They have a cake and champagne. I get hugged by all my friends. They even shake Fletcher’s hand, well, everyone except Margie and Cornelia who give him big hugs. He clearly won them over at the last happy hour with his discussion of Frank Sinatra songs.
“Pizza’s hear,” Hutch says as he walks onto the roof with a stack of our favorite pizza from the place down the street.
Everyone digs in. I grab two slices, realizing I haven’t eaten since this morning. I’m famished and exhausted. But excited to be home.
“Are you famous now?” Ava asks as she sits on Bray’s lap and eats a slice of cheese pizza.
“No. Not famous,” I assure her.
“Oh. Well, maybe you’ll be famous soon,” she says with a big grin that’s covered in pizza sauce.
Carly hands her a napkin and she rubs her face, smearing it more than wiping it away. Bray takes the napkin and wipes her face and she giggles.
“Unca Bray!” she yelps.
I’m two glasses of champagne into the evening and feeling great. I turn to Fletcher and decide now is the perfect time to mess with him.
“Frank,” I state as I look at him.
He smirks and shakes his head.
“George?” I ask.
“Nope,” he says as he takes a large bite of pepperoni pizza.
“Who’s George?” Ava asks.
“No one. I’m just trying to…guess the name of Fletcher’s very short, skinny friend with giant dark bushy hair,” I say, my lips twitching.
Fletcher glares at me. “Hey, my friend is not short and skinny, and just so you know, he doesn’t wear his hair long.”
“What am I missing?” Drew asks, looking between us.
“Oh, nothing. Just a funny little inside joke,” I state. I look back over at Fletcher and wink. He gives me a pointed look.
“Charles?” I mouth.
A smile ghosts his lips and he shakes his head.
“Is your friend’s name Peter?” Ava asks.
Fletcher nearly chokes on his drink and I pat his back.
“Nope,” he manages after a beat. I notice his cheeks are pink and I press my lips together to keep from laughing.
“Well, I think Peter would be the perfect name,” I say giving Ava a big smile. She grins back at me.
“Me too,” she says happily oblivious.
“Anyhow, thanks for throwing us a party,” Fletcher says to Al.
Al nods and looks between us. “So, are we allowed to tell anyone that you won?”
I shake my head. “I cannot confirm nor deny that we won.”
Everyone laughs.
“But it was a great experience,” I say. I can see Roxy and Jocelyn give me suspicious looks and I know they are going to ask a ton of questions later. I’ll need to come up with some explanation of why Fletcher and I are still being civil with one another.
Damn, this just got complicated.
“Did you talk to your family yet?” Al asks.
I shake my head. “Not yet. Winston is traveling for work and my parents are about to head out on a cruise. We’ve texted but I haven’t spoken to them.”
And I haven’t texted Max yet, I remind myself.
“So now what?” Hutch asks as he looks between the two of us.
I furrow my brows in pretend confusion but I know exactly what he means. Will our truce continue? Are we back to being mortal enemies?
I have no idea how to answer that. Oh, yeah, I’m fucking my rival now, so it’s all good. Nope. Fletcher’s dick is so good, I’ve forgotten all about that little competition between our stores. Yeah, no.
“We actually found that we work well together and have a lot in common. So, for now, we’re going to try to stay friends, right?” Fletcher answers him and I give him a grateful smile.
“Right,” I agree.
Drew gives me a look that says we will most definitely be having a roommate conversation later tonight. I suddenly wish Fletcher and I could have remained in our little estate bubble for a few more days.
“We have some more media to do over the next week,” Fletcher says. I glance over at him in confusion. We do not have any media. I have no idea what he’s talking about.
“Right,” I say, downing the rest of my drink.
“The show has us booked tomorrow night downtown, remember?” he says.
“Oh, uh, yeah,” I play along.
“I thought you had no more media for, like, two or three more weeks?” Drew asks. Fuck, why do I have to tell my bestie everything?
“That’s what we thought, but Felicity apparently added some additional interviews,” Fletcher lies as he glances over at me.
“OK, I need to hit the hay,” I state as I toss my paper plate away and set my champagne flute on the bar. We all take turns cleaning the dishes. “Shall I wash them?” I ask Al.
He waves me off. “Nope. The party is for you, we’ll take care of it,” he assures me. I hug him.
“Glad to have you back, kiddo,” he whispers in my ear. And I squeeze him a little harder.
“It’s nice to be home,” I reply. While I love my family, there’s just something about my apartment family. I’m not sure I’ll live here forever, but I do know I will always be friends with them all.
I look over at Fletcher. He’s standing and tossing his plate away too.
“I’ll walk you out,” I say, hoping for some privacy.
He nods, and with some goodbyes and hugs, we walk downstairs. His car is already waiting. “So more press, huh?” I ask.
He winks. “I needed a way to get you all to myself, Hollywood,” he confesses.
“Nicely played, McDowell,” I reply.
He looks around and then pulls me against him and kisses me, and not just some little peck. A full, open-mouth, tongue-against-tongue kiss that leaves me weak in my knees and wishing this pretend press event was tonight.
He pulls back and cups my jaw. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
I nod.
“Behave tonight. No spiders,” he says.
I glare at him. “Not funny.”
He smirks. “It’s a little funny.”
I roll my eyes as I fight a grin. I love hating this man. Maybe a little too much.
I walk back up to my apartment and immediately flop down on my bed. It feels good to be home.
“So are we going to talk about the fact that you are totally fucking Mr. Satan Reincarnated?” Drew says as he leans on my doorjamb.
I prop myself up on my elbows and look at my friend, the one man I tell everything to.
I smirk. “Nope,” I say as I flop back down and stare at my ceiling. “We are not going to talk about that.”
Drew comes into my room and lies down next to me.
“So we won’t be talking about how he gave you I want to fuck you right now eyes all night? Or how he kept touching you or how when you weren’t paying attention he was watching you?” he adds, turning his head to look at me.
“Yeah, we’re not going to talk about any of that,” I say.
“A shame, I could use some good raunchy details of a torrid love affair with one’s mortal enemy. I guess I’ll just have to go steal a book from Roxy’s bookstore,” he says with a sigh.
“I don’t think it’s stealing when you buy them,” I say with a laugh.
“True. But back to you. Please tell me he was a god in the bedroom,” he pleads.
I giggle and pretend to zip my mouth closed.
Drew turns on his side and looks at me. “Like you’re sore big or you won’t be walking for days big?”
I turn on my side. “Like I’m ruined for all men from here out big,” I answer.
“Damn,” he says and rolls onto his back. “Too bad we won’t be talking about that hypothetical life-altering sex you had.”
I roll onto my back again and lean my head against his shoulder. “Yeah, it really is too bad. Because I’m pretty sure his tongue was made to please.”
“Damn, this hypothetical is hot,” Drew murmurs.
“It really was,” I reply.
“Was?” he asks.
“Is, was, I don’t know,” I admit.
“Sounds like you have some thinking to do,” Drew says as he sits up and pats my leg. “I’ll leave you to it. I need a cold shower after all this hypothetical sex talk.”
I giggle. “You’re sick.”
“Takes one to know one,” he says and air-kisses me before leaving me alone with my thoughts. But I only have one thought…could this thing between Fletcher and me actually work?