8. Cameron
My desk phone buzzes from my assistant Merna. “Cameron, I just got a call that your eleven o’clock with Tara needs to be pushed to tomorrow. Her flight has been delayed and won’t make it today.”
Ever since I’ve taken over this project in Seaside, Tara and I hold weekly meetings so we can keep each other up to date with what’s happening on both coasts.
Her focus is creating music festivals much like the one here in Seaside, along the East Coast, while I take the Pacific Northwest. Tatum and I divide our coast, since California is a beast all on its own.
When Emilia came into my life, I needed something predictable.
Rather than being out in the trenches for the label and traveling around the world at a moment’s notice, I’m stuck in countless meetings behind a desk.
Sure, I still work with many musicians behind the scenes, but it’s not nearly as glamorous as one might think.
I love my daughter and would make this choice over again, without looking back. But sometimes, I miss that carefree life. I miss being able to call up the woman I like and spontaneously take her out.
Hell, when was the last time before Lizzy I even went on a date?
Fuck, stop thinking about your kid’s nanny—you have a job to do.
Clearing my throat, I focus on my call. “Thanks for the update. Do you know if those mockups for the marketing proposal are done? I'm waiting to hear back from Raven so I can push those campaigns.”
Raven and I have been working together for the better part of a year since I transitioned into Tara’s position here and taken over the Seaside Music Festival.
How the hell did I not make the connection to her sister?
And now, I’ve gone exactly two seconds without thinking of Elizabeth Lancaster.
Fuck, I can’t believe how small this world is.
I knew Raven and Sloane were sisters—who wouldn’t— they’re twins and with their case of mistaken identity that went viral last year, the entire world knows it, too.
Apparently, I’ve never taken the time to get to know either of them beyond work events.
Not only do both of them work for the label, but they’re engaged to members of Ruby Freaking Frax—our hottest hitting talent, who tops all the charts.
Those guys are going places. With their next album coming out soon, I can only imagine how popular they’ll become on the worldwide stage. We’re still working out the details, but if all goes well, they’ll be on tour again by next summer with more international stops.
How the hell did I not know the Lancasters had a younger sister?
Am I so self-absorbed? Or did it never come up?
Sure, there was a sense of familiarity when I met Lizzy at the coffee shop. Could that have been it?
No, I’ve never felt that strong of a connection toward anyone.
I certainly wasn’t thinking about Raven or Sloane when we met.
“Did you see her latest email?” Merna breaks me out of my thoughts of Lizzy. “I think it came through this morning while you were on the phone with Colin.”
“I am just sitting down to go through emails,” I admit, opening the app on my laptop. “Thank you.”
“Well… I’m here if you need me. I don’t see anything else scheduled in your day, so I’ll let you be.”
With that, the intercom turns off, and the room is quiet once more.
That is, until my stomach rumbles so loud, I’m certain Merna can hear it from her desk outside my office.
Checking the time, I see it’s almost eleven.
Maybe I’ll go home for lunch. I can eat and check in.
Two birds. One stone.
That is the benefit of having my daughter here for the summer, right?
This has nothing to do with spending more time with Lizzy.
Without allowing myself to overthink my decision, I grab my laptop, shove it into my messenger bag, and then head home.
Maybe I’ll catch Milli before nap time.
*****
Instead of hearing the sounds of running feet to greet me, I’m met with silence as I walk into the house.
That’s strange. The car is here. Where are they?
“Hello? Anyone here?” I call out, letting them know I’m home.
No response.
Walking through the house, I see the kitchen is cleaned from breakfast, and toys are put away from this morning, but no one is in sight.
Maybe they went swimming again?
When the realtor first showed me the house, I wasn’t sure if I’d like an indoor pool.
However, I quickly found it is one of the best decisions I made this summer.
The weather in Seaside is so mild compared to southern California, it’s almost necessary to be inside.
Milli and I use it all hours of the day and never get cold or sunburnt.
That’s a win in my book. I’ve taken to swimming laps early in the morning or late at night once she’s sleeping.
To make sure I’m not missing anything, I open the door and go inside the pool room.
Nope. Not here.
Where could they be?
The car is in the garage. Maybe they’re at the beach or going for a walk?
I pull out my phone to call but think better of it.
They’re obviously enjoying their first day together, and I’m not expected home.
Sure, I want to see Milli as often as possible, but it’s also important she builds a bond with Lizzy, too. After all, they’re the ones spending the summer together. Besides, I’d hate for Lizzy to think I don’t trust her.
Flopping onto the couch, I stare at the wall. The unusual silence of my home is deafening, and nervous energy flows through me. There are a million things I should be doing, but my concentration is shit now that Lizzy’s back in my life.
Images of our time together flash through my mind. It was one of the hottest nights of my existence. Before Emilia, I had my share of playing the field. But I swear, I’ve never had more of a visceral connection to anyone than Elizabeth Lancaster.
Hell, from the very first time I laid eyes on her, she’s captivated me.
Obliviously, I’d been standing in line at the coffee counter, minding my own business when the barista called her name. I didn’t think anything of it. But when Lizzy turned and accidentally bumped into me, my world tilted.
When our eyes locked, all the air from the room disappeared. I still remember the feel of her hand on my chest and the way her cheeks darkened as she looked at me in shock.
She was mesmerizing.
Of course, I immediately apologized. But I couldn’t move to get out of her way for the life of me. Hell, I don’t even know how long I stared. I must’ve looked like a complete idiot.
Just standing there, blocking her way.
Eventually, she broke eye contact and went back to her table.
Having already made a fool of myself, I grabbed my coffee then walked out the door, kicking myself the entire way back to my office for being such a tool.
I kept berating myself because I’m freaking twenty-eight, not twelve.
I know how to talk to girls.
Hell, I wasn’t even interested in dating, but for some reason, I couldn’t get my mind off her the entire night.
The next day, I was running late thanks to Milli’s unwillingness to get dressed. I stopped in mid-afternoon for a pick-me-up to get through the day. Imagine my surprise seeing that same gorgeous girl suddenly behind me as I ordered.
The moment I turned around and our eyes met, a playful grin swept across her face. She wasn’t wearing any makeup that I could tell, but her long, dark lashes lined the most stunning hazel eyes I’d ever seen. “We’ve gotta stop meeting like this.”
“I sure hope not,” I admitted. “It’s been the highlight of my day.”
Yes, I was cheesy as hell, but it was sincere.
My morning had been a shitshow and seeing her in that moment, made it all worth it.
We chatted until her peppermint latte was ready.
She was a spitfire, and I pushed right back.
Even in that brief conversation, our chemistry sizzled.
I don’t remember the specifics of what we talked about, but I distinctly remember the way she made me laugh.
Thankfully, I brought my A-game, but I was late for a meeting, so I had to cut the conversation short.
I left her with a promise I’ll never forget.
“Unfortunately, I’m due at a meeting, but I’ll tell you what… if we happen to meet again, would you let me sit with you and buy you something more than coffee?”
“Hmmm… If we were to randomly meet again, maybe the third time will be the charm?”
It soon became our thing. We didn’t meet every day, but we did bump into each other often over the next few weeks—which led to our one and only official date.
Suddenly, my stomach growls in hunger, drawing me out of my trip down memory lane.
Fuck, I came home for lunch, not to reminisce about Lizzy.
Dude, you’re sitting here like a fucking creeper.
If she comes in, what are you gonna say? Don’t mind me, I’m just stalking in my living room, waiting to see you again.
Fuck, man, get it together.
You’ll see her plenty—she’s your daughter’s freaking nanny.
The only one who was remotely qualified for the job. You’ll see her plenty of times in the coming months—don’t fuck this up on the first day.
Making a snap decision, I do something I rarely experience.
Go out to eat.
Alone.