CHAPTER 34
Cameron
She sat on her couch and looked around the living room for maybe the tenth time just that day.
This house hadn’t ever felt like her home, and she’d always been one of those people who believed that home wasn’t a house, but the people whom you shared it with; or the people you cared about and loved, at least. Her phone pinged, and it was a custom notification for Kennedy, so she checked the message immediately, knowing that Kennedy had had another conversation with Jessie that morning.
Cameron had wanted to be there for her when she had talked to Jessie and later, Zane, but Kennedy had insisted on doing it alone.
Cameron had wanted to give Kennedy whatever space she needed because she knew it would help them grow back together as friends, so she’d been forced to sit on the sideline and wait for texts because Kennedy hadn’t been ready for a call yet.
That was, apparently, until now, because Kennedy was asking if she could call Cameron.
“Hello,” she greeted when Kennedy dialed her after her affirmative response.
“Hey,” Kennedy replied. “I met with Jessie again today, and Zane called.”
“Okay. Is everything–”
“Jessie was able to get the charity not to post the video this weekend in exchange for a sizeable donation from us, and they’re going to stop posting the social spots advertising for the video until they can figure out what to do.
We sort of told people that they would get to watch the double date thing, so I think they’re going to re-edit it, making it a lot shorter, and maybe air it after. ”
“After?”
“After you and I tell the world that we broke up,” Kennedy said. “It’s not perfect; I know. In fact, it’s not good at all. We need to post something about how we’re not together and let that die down first. If they want to air it after, they’ll air the re-edited version. If not, they’ll scrap it.”
“What can I do?”
“Nothing right now. Well, you’ll want to talk to Jessie about…
whatever you might need to talk to her about.
I have not mentioned anything about the possibilities with Lacey.
She knew that you liked her and that I liked River, but I don’t know if you two have decided to pursue that, so you should call Jessie and tell her your plan with that. ”
Cameron nodded, even though Kennedy couldn’t see, cleared her throat, and said, “We’re dating.”
“Oh. Yeah, that’s good,” Kennedy said, and her tone was now different somehow.
It had gone from confused and sad to something else entirely. Cameron closed her eyes because she knew – telling your ex to move on was very different than hearing that she already was. She also knew that whenever Kennedy told her that she was moving on, it would punch her in the gut, too.
“How’s it going?” Kennedy asked after a long silence.
“It’s only been one date. I’m leaving here soon for date number two, but… It’s good, Ken.”
“Good. I’m glad. I mean that, Cameron.”
“Thanks. What about you and River?”
“Oh, I’ve just been confusing the hell out of her,” Kennedy replied with a laugh.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m telling her I can’t go out with her now, even though I want to, and then, going to her store and flirting with her. She’s calling me ‘babe’ because I’m flirting with her. I think it was more on accident than anything, but I loved it and hated it at the same time.”
Cameron smiled and asked, “Why are you hating it, exactly?”
“Because, Cam, if I can’t make it work with you, how can I make it work with anyone?”
“Oh, Ken.” Cameron leaned back on the couch. “You know that’s not how this works; any of it. You like someone. They like you. You see what there can be.”
“I can’t trust myself.”
“Yes, you can. You and I were always meant to be this. We were only meant to have what we had for however long we had it. We just didn’t know it. Look at it like that.”
“What if River and I are meant to be friends and nothing more?”
“Do you really feel that way?”
“I didn’t feel that way about you in the beginning, either, Cameron.”
“No, but that’s because we let the lust get in the way, Ken.
We dove in headfirst. We spent days and nights in bed together, and, yeah, it was amazing.
We had great chemistry. But that made it harder for us to tell that we didn’t have that lifelong compatibility couples need.
We kept pretending we did. We put on brave faces at times.
We went to events and smiled, and I know we were happy in the beginning, but we haven’t been for a long time.
I also know you have the lusty feelings for River, too, and you should.
That’s a good thing. But maybe try not to let them cloud the rest of it, like we did, so that you can tell if this is for real. ”
“Is that what you’re doing with Lacey?”
“Trying to, yeah.” She chuckled. “I don’t want to, but I am.”
Kennedy laughed and said, “Lusty feelings?”
“Definitely,” she replied, thinking about that kiss. “You?”
“Oh, yeah. I lust after that woman hard, but I know it’s not just that.”
“No?”
“We made candy together, Cam.”
“Metaphorically or literally?”
“Literally, you weirdo,” Kennedy replied with a laugh.
“I helped her in the shop, too, for a few minutes before I got recognized, and it was like I could see myself doing that more. I mean, I love acting. I don’t want to stop.
But I also wonder if maybe I could use a break.
Once I realized that, I thought about how helping River felt, and being with her in the back, just making candy and talking, I knew I wanted more of that.
I… could tell on that weekend that it wasn’t just lust. I really like her.
She’s enough like me where I won’t be nagging her all the time, like I did with you, and she’s different enough that I think it’ll be interesting.
I don’t get the impression that she’s the kind of person who will let me walk all over her, either. ”
“Well, that’s the dream, isn’t it?” Cameron asked.
“Maybe.” Kennedy chuckled. “So, second date?”
“Tonight, yeah. I need to get going, or I’ll be late. I don’t want to be late on her.”
“Don’t be. Go. Have fun. Just tell Jessie tomorrow or something.”
“I will. Then, we can maybe sit down and talk about the other stuff.”
“The house?”
“Yes,” Cameron replied. “And anything you want and what I want and all that.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you after you tell Jessie that you’ve already got a new girlfriend. If you’re still alive, that is.”
Cameron laughed and replied, “She’s not my girlfriend. We’re dating.”
“Right. Sure. Okay, Cam,” Kennedy teased. “Now, go. Don’t be late.”
“Thanks, Ken. And just… Trust yourself, okay? Even if we weren’t right about being meant for each other in a romantic sense, we were definitely correct about being meant for each other in another way, right?”
“Yes,” Kennedy said.
“So, talk to River, okay?”
“I will. Bye, Cam.”
Cameron hung up and felt a little better after hearing Kennedy’s voice.
She was already dressed, so she grabbed her keys and wallet, tucked her phone into her jeans pocket, and headed out to her car.
Tonight, there was no grand plan. No theme park or fancy restaurant with a ride running through it.
It would just be the two of them having a relaxing night together, and she couldn’t wait.
◆◆◆
“Hi,” she greeted when Lacey opened the door.
“Hey,” Lacey said. “Come on in.”
Cameron walked into the apartment, and Lacey closed the door behind her.
“So, what do you want to do?” Cameron asked.
“Well, I was thinking that, since we can’t exactly be in public for a while, we could just stay in. That way, we can be ourselves and not worry about anyone seeing us together and drawing conclusions.” Lacey motioned to the round table in the eat-in kitchen. “So, I made dinner.”
“You cooked?”
“I did. I hope you like it. I went to the store tonight and grabbed stuff for this chicken dish my mom used to make for us growing up. There’s wine, but it’s the grocery store kind.
It’s probably not what you’re used to, so I have beer, too.
I saw you drink one at the beach house, and I picked up that kind. I hope it’s okay.”
Cameron smiled and said, “It’s all perfect, Lace. I don’t need fancy wine. I’m much more of a beer girl, and I haven’t had an actual home-cooked meal in forever. You really did all of this for me?”
“I didn’t want to order in. Ordering in is easy, and we have a ton of restaurants in this city, but River and I got into this habit of doing it nearly every night, even though both of us can cook.
I’m no chef, but I can put a meal together, and whenever–” Lacey stopped herself before she added, “You know what? No. I wanted to cook for you. I wanted us to be able to hold hands over the table because no one else is here to watch. I wanted to be able to snuggle up with you on my couch and watch some lame movie later. So, I cooked, and I hope you like it.”
Cameron leaned over then and kissed her quickly before she explained herself.
“Since we’re here, I can also do that whenever I want,” she said.
“You could do it again and longer, if you want,” Lacey challenged.
“Oh, I want,” she stated, cupping Lacey’s cheek again, and went for another, longer kiss this time. “But you cooked, and I don’t want it to get cold, so maybe after.”
“Yes, please,” Lacey replied. “Have a seat. I’ll grab your beer.”
“Can I help with anything?”
“No, it’s all done. Just sit.”
“I’ll help with the dishes later, then.”
“Cam, go sit. We’ll worry about dishes when we have to worry about dishes. Maybe I’ll do them tomorrow or when I run out of plates.”
Cameron sat down and thought about how nice it was not to have to worry at dinner about the dishes that would need to be done right after. That had been Kennedy’s thing, not hers. Cameron guessed it was probably a little of River’s thing, too, but they weren’t talking about their exes tonight.
“Beer,” Lacey said, placing an open bottle on the table in front of Cameron’s full plate.