CHAPTER 28 #2
“No, she didn’t. But Kennedy’s not the woman I’m sitting across from, asking–” Cameron stopped, realizing something. “Wait. Fuck. We can’t talk about this. You have a girlfriend. I’m sorry. I got away from–”
“I don’t,” Lacey interrupted. “Anymore.”
“What?” Cameron asked, leaning a little over the table. “You don’t?”
“I should’ve messaged you that when we confirmed this coffee thing, but I don’t know… I felt weird doing that right after River left my apartment. I needed a little time to think.”
“Lace, you’re single?”
“Yes.”
“I’m single,” Cameron said, pointing at her chest.
Lacey chuckled, and Cameron took a deep breath. Then, she saw someone approaching her from the side and looked up.
“Are you Cameron Levine?” the woman asked.
“I am, yes. But I’m–”
“Would you mind taking a selfie with me? I’m a huge fan.”
“I’m having coffee with my–”
“It’s okay, Cam,” Lacey told her with a genuine smile on her face. “I can take it for you if you want,” she offered.
“Oh, my God! Yes, please. Thank you,” the woman said and handed Lacey her phone.
They stood up, and the moment they did, Cameron knew what would happen next. Everyone stared as Lacey took a few shots and handed the woman back her phone.
“Thank you so much,” the woman said.
“No problem,” she replied, and when she sat back down, she told Lacey, “I’m going to have to go soon.”
“Why?”
“Can we, I don’t know, go somewhere else?”
“Are you asking for me or for you?” Lacey asked back and took a drink of her coffee.
“Both, Lace. This is my life, but you haven’t signed up for it. If you want to go, we can. I also don’t look great today, for obvious reasons.”
“I think you do,” Lacey replied. “I always think you look great, though. On a big screen, a billboard, the TV, in a bikini top and board shorts, after you just woke up and walked into the living room with somewhat messy hair. I can go on.”
Cameron smiled at her and replied, “Lacey Sue, are you flirting with me right now?”
Lacey chuckled and asked, “Do you want to go?”
Two people off to the side aimed their phones at them and could’ve been taking photos or recording. Cameron didn’t know which, but she didn’t want anyone to overhear this conversation or have it recorded.
“Yes, let’s go. If they post any of those online, paparazzi could be here soon. It’s not LA, but anyone with a phone can get paid for a picture now, so I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“Want to go to the park down the street?”
“I’ll get us coffees to-go,” Cameron offered.
“They were pretense anyway, Cam. Let’s just go.”
Cameron nodded, and when they stood, she wanted to take Lacey’s hand and walk her out of the café past the now two more people holding out their phones at the door.
“Excuse us,” she said and motioned for Lacey to go first before she held the door for her and followed her out. “I’ll drive.”
“You’d have to. I walked here.”
“You walked?”
“I live down the street. And I can’t stay long. I have an appointment in an hour and have to get home to get my table and car, obviously.”
“Okay. Well, by the time we get to the park and actually sit down, we–” She paused and looked over at Lacey. “You totally did this on purpose, didn’t you? Gave us less than an hour to hang out and had an excuse ready to go?”
“Excuse? Cam, I work for a living,” Lacey told her with a little laugh. “It’s a weekday. Why do you think I asked if you could meet so early? I didn’t have an appointment first thing today, but I… I didn’t want to wait until the weekend to see you, either.”
“I’ll drive you home, Lace.”
“I don’t need to go now. We can go to the park.”
Cameron noticed a few people on the sidewalk, suddenly very interested in her conversation, so she nodded for Lacey to head into the parking lot. Once they were inside her car, Cameron turned it on and pulled them out of the lot as quickly as she could.
“I’m sorry about that. No one knows yet that Ken and I broke up. We still need to tell Jessie and figure out a plan to announce it. I also don’t want you to have to deal with a bunch of people asking you to take a picture for them. I’m not trying to scare you off.”
“Cam, I grew up in Southern California. I’ve spent a lot of time in LA. I know how this works. It’s weird, yeah, but it doesn’t bother me.”
“It will,” she said. “Like when you’re just minding your business, sitting at a table, trying to ask a beautiful woman to go out with you, but you get interrupted by someone wanting a picture.”
“You were going to ask me out?”
“Yes,” she said. “Wait. Where am I going?”
Lacey laughed and told her, “Straight through this light. Then, next right. That’s my building.” She pointed up ahead. “And you’re sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. I know you and River just broke up, so if you need time, that’s fine, but I’m sure, Lacey. I want to see what this can be.”
Cameron made the right turn.
“How would it even work? I live here. You live there. I have–”
“Let’s not worry about that part yet. Are you saying yes to a date? One date?”
“You can pull up here,” Lacey said, pointing to the building’s entrance. “And I’m scared, Cam.”
Cameron pulled the car up and turned to her.
“I am, too, but I think it’s worth it, Lace.”
“I’m honestly not scared that it won’t work out, Cam. I’m a little scared that it will.”
“What? Why?”
“As okay as I am with taking pictures and, I don’t know, going to things with you, if you want, should it even get that far – I am not Kennedy Gannon. I don’t know how to be her, you know?”
Cameron cupped Lacey’s cheek and said, “I just broke up with Kennedy Gannon, Lacey. I don’t want you to be like her. I want you to be you. I’m asking you out, remember?”
Lacey nodded and leaned into her touch.
“I want to kiss you right now,” Cameron admitted. “So much. But I won’t because we’re going on a date, and I want to wait until then.”
“Did I say yes yet?” Lacey teased.
Cameron tilted her head and asked, “When can I call you later? When are you done with work?”
“Never,” Lacey replied with a laugh. “But I’ll be home around seven.”
“Can I call you at, say, seven-thirty so that you have time to eat or do whatever? We can talk more about this and set up our date.”
Lacey nodded and asked, “Will you text me when you get home, too?”
Cameron nodded back and replied, “Definitely.”
Lacey moved out of Cameron’s touch and said, “Okay. I should go, then.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to kiss you, too, but I like what you said about the date thing. We’re also off the main road, so people come and go here all the time. Anyone can see us.”
Cameron smiled as Lacey opened the door and replied, “See? You’re already getting the hang of this.”
“Shut up.” Lacey laughed. “Call me later?”
“Seven-thirty on the dot. I can FaceTime, if you want.”
“I’ll be in my comfy clothes and probably eating a Hot Pocket. Not exactly sexy.”
“Oh, count me in.” Cameron laughed.