Andi
“You know, we can work elsewhere.”
“And why would I have that? I’ve spent years longing for you to come home. Why would I complain about everything I’ve ever wanted?”
Dream dad, right there.
A shaky handheld shot from the wings of Beck’s concert comes up on our monitors. I’m in Beck’s arms on stage as we have that little private conversation together.
“Stabilizing,” Cameron comments.
“Too slow,” I snicker, already starting on the process.
“Save some work for me,” he chuckles affectionately.
“Get faster, slowpoke!”
“You really are just fantastic at this,” Cameron says softly.
I preen, shooting him a bright grin. The two of us have settled into a steady rhythm working together. It’s hard to describe how magical the experience is of finally get to pursue something I’ve dreamed about for years, ever since I was a kid, with experts in the field.
Experts in the field who think I have actual skill and talent. Nothing hits harder than when Cameron or my dad compliments me on something I’ve worked on.
“You know... you could have a job at Northline, if you wanted it,” Cameron says casually.
“Wow.” I spin towards him in my office chair, tucking my knees to my chest and resting my chin on them. “That’s... kinda a big deal, aren’t they really strict with who they hire?”
“They are. But, like I said, you could have a job with Northline if you wanted.”
“You like working with me that much, huh?” I tease.
“Yes, I do.” His expression is dead serious as he reaches out, grabbing my chair and wheeling me closer to him.
Damn, that was hot.
His smoky cedarwood scent filling my lungs doesn’t help with the butterflies rioting in my gut.
“I think... after everything, I like the idea of having the freedom of not having to answer to anyone, you know? Other than Edison. But he’s admitted himself that he’d fund any project I wanted to do.”
“I don’t doubt that. I’m sure if you expressed genuine interest in wanting to do a documentary on the lifespans of classroom goldfish, he’d be willing to support that project.”
“Don’t give me ideas now,” I tease. “I’ll start with that concert film I want to do for Beck when he’s on his big tour. I’m really excited to work on that! I know that last concert kinda ended badly, but I can see why Beck loves what he does. The crowds he brings out are crazy.”
Cameron’s smile only grows softer around the edges as I continue to babble.
He leans forward and brushes a soft kiss against my lips.
“I knew you’d answer like that,” he murmurs. “I’ve been giving it some thought, and maybe I should slow my life down a bit. No more long-term foreign projects.”
The offer stops me in my tracks.
Ever since I met Cameron, I’ve known how much his work means to him. It’s hard not to notice, considering he’s so good at what he does, and seeing the lengths he was willing to go to land that first interview with Beck.
“But those kinds of projects... your entire portfolio is made out of them! That’s all you’ve really done recently.”
“You’re right,” he nods. “That's exactly why I’m thinking it’s time for a change.
I don’t talk about it often, but my last relationship ended because she cheated on me.
I’m not victim blaming myself, or anything.
I definitely think she should’ve just broken up with me instead, but that relationship lasted a whole lot longer than it obviously should have because I was gone so often. ”
“Hey, I don’t know if that’s fair of you to say about yourself. She shouldn’t have used your work as an excuse to do that to you,” I say, reaching out and lacing our hands together.
“Yes, but that’s not my point. I surely would’ve noticed earlier and called things off if I were more present.
My point is, I want to be present with you.
And hey, maybe when Beck’s career slows down a bit, we can all travel the world for mine.
Everett has his work commitments here in LA, but he also has private jet kind of money.
Everyone else can travel with you and Beck, so I don’t want to be the odd one out, you know? ”
He reaches out and cups my cheeks, his thumbs brushing against me like he’s the one seeking some sort of grounding physical reassurance.
“I’m not saying I’m going to quit my job for you or anything. Just that I’ll slow it down. I want this. Want you.”
“I want you too,” I breathe out, covering his hands with mine as they cradle my face. “I don’t—don’t know what I’ll do if you’re gone for weeks or months at a time, to be honest. You... get me, get my work in a way that the others don’t. I think that’s what makes me so lucky.”
Warmth blooms in my chest thinking of the way each and every one of my guys supports me in a beautiful, unique way.
“You—you act like I’m a genius when it comes to this sort of stuff,” I laugh, the sound coming out a little choked up from the emotion welling in my throat.
“That’s because you are.”
“See? A girl can get used to those sorts of compliments real fast. And I know you’ve got a bit of a complex about how this all started between us, but it’s honestly reassuring knowing that my personality was that compelling that you fell in love with me after thinking I was everything wrong with modern-day media. ”
“You do have a very compelling personality,” he echoes, his own voice tight with emotion.
“What? We talk about our feelings a little and Mr. Journalist loses his capacity for words?”
“Yeah? And what of it?” he rasps, shaking his head. “I should pull a page out of Eli’s or Everett’s book and shut you up.”
“Mmm, kinky,” I tease, sliding out of my office chair and slipping into his lap. “You’re too nice for that, though. You’ve been such a gentleman.”
I play with the collar of his polo, dragging my bottom lip between my teeth before blinking up at him through my lashes.
I’m pulling out all the stops right now, but man, do I enjoy the sight of Cameron flustered.
It’s a whole-body sort of reaction for him, and I’ll never get sick of it.
“We—we shouldn’t—not—not here,” he whispers. “The others will be home soon.”
“Let them watch,” I murmur, leaning in and trailing kisses down his neck.
“Your dad—Edison is coming home soon too!” he gasps.
That, unfortunately, does stop me in my tracks.
As much love as my dad has for me, I’m sure he doesn’t want to walk in on his daughter having sex.
What he doesn’t know doesn’t hurt him. Cameron has certainly made me fall apart with his fingers or mouth late at night, when it’s just the two of us working in the dim, glowing light of our screens, but Cameron is right that everyone is due to return home soon.
“You know... it kinda feels like you’re pushing off being with me,” I murmur.
“I’m not pushing it off, per se,” he shrugs sheepishly. “I just want it to be special, you know?”
“How romantic—”
We’re interrupted by the sound of his phone chiming.
“Who is it?” I ask, when he reaches for his phone on the desk.
“Beck,” Cameron says. “Maybe he’s asking what they should bring home for dinner.”
He answers the call with me still in his lap, automatically putting it on speakerphone.
“Hey—”
“Are you with Andi?” Beck asks, his voice panicked. “Inside the house?”
“Yeah, I am. Why?” Cameron’s hand comes to rest against my hip as he straightens.
“Don’t let her outside.”
“What? Why not?” I ask.
“Shit, am I on speakerphone?” Beck curses. “Starlight, don’t—don’t come outside.”
“I asked why, Beck. What in the world is going on?”
“I—I—I don’t know what to do!” Beck’s voice cracks. “Please just don’t come outside—”
My feet are already on the floor.
“Wait, Andi!” Cameron yells, scrambling after me.
They should know better than to tell me not to do something without telling me what’s going on.
Beck, Leo, and Eli were all out at some sort of business meeting. Are they back home?
I sprint out the front door, my bare feet pounding against the pavement. I make it to the driveway at the front of the house and freeze in place.
It’s like time stops.
Beck is standing there, head in his hands. Leo is pacing back and forth, speaking clipped responses into the phone.
And Eli is on his knees, doing chest compressions.
Chest compressions on Edison.
Eli is doing fucking CPR on my dad.
Edison’s head lolls with each of the harsh compressions. I’m pretty sure I’m hearing the cracking of ribs. It’s a harsh and violent sound that makes me move towards Eli.
I don’t know why. It would be absolutely idiotic to stop him, but I’m not thinking straight.
“Hey, hey,” Cameron murmurs, his arm catching me around the waist.
“Let me go!” I scream. “What the hell is going on! Someone—someone tell me what’s going on!”
My chest is heaving with sobs.
CPR only happens when someone’s heart has stopped, right? Or when someone’s stopped breathing.
Does that mean my dad isn’t breathing? Doesn’t that mean my dad is dead?
Is he dead?
Beck appears in front of me, doing his best to block my view as he hugs me from the front. As his arms wrap around me too, I can feel the way he’s trembling from the stress of the situation.
“I—I’m sorry, Starlight,” he rasps. “I didn’t—we didn’t want you to see this,” he rasps.
“What’s going on?” I sob, pushing desperately against his chest.
He lets out a quiet grunt, but doesn’t get out of the way.
“We found him unconscious in the car. He got home from work before we did. We don’t—don’t know how long he was in there for.”
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.” It’s the only thing my brain seems to know what to say, given the circumstances.
I feel like I’m going to vomit.
No, this can’t be happening.
I just got my Dad back.
And now he’s dying?
“Has someone called an ambulance yet?” Cameron asks, his voice strained.
“Leo is on the phone with 911 right now,” Beck mumbles, squeezing me even tighter.
The two of them sandwiching me between them is the only thing keeping my knees from giving out.
I don’t know how long I stand there, listening to the sickening sounds of Eli breaking my dad’s ribs to manually keep his heart pumping, but it feels like an eternity.