Page 31

CHAPTER 31

Cami

Sunlight streams across my face and wakes me from the deepest sleep I’ve had in a while. I groan as I stretch, and roll to the left to feel around for my phone on my nightstand, only when I reach out my hand doesn’t hit my phone. I touch something that feels like a glass of water, which is confusing because I don’t remember getting water before going to bed last night.

In a few seconds, everything comes flooding back to me. The charity ball, Mia and Soren, the paparazzi at my apartment, and the kiss. Sitting up, I slowly take in my surroundings. I am in a bed that looks like a fluffy white cloud. It has white sheets, white pillows and a white comforter that is fluffier than any comforter I’ve ever seen before. It looks like no one has ever slept in it, which is probably the truth knowing Charlie.

His guest room is just as devoid of personality as the rest of his home is, and it makes me sad. I need to liven this place up, especially if I’m going to be staying here for a while. I run my hand down my face and sigh in frustration. This whole situation with people knowing where I live is annoying. I’m sure it’ll die down at some point, and as long as they aren’t there 24/7 I should be okay to go home soon without a bodyguard.

I know Charlie though, and he protects what’s his. I know he cares about me deeply and this probably shook him, especially after I emotionally unloaded on him last night.

I could tell I was nearing a breakdown earlier in the evening when the bartender told me they didn’t have Diet Coke, only Diet Pepsi, and I wanted to cry. I don’t normally drink Diet Coke, but I was missing Alana and that’s her drink of choice. That was the first sign that I was working myself a little too hard this week and not taking enough time to rest.

I had planned to stick it out through the evening, then do the whole crying hysterically part at home alone in my bed, but Charlie’s fame status had other plans. I turn and sit on the side of the bed, finding my slippers sitting there, pink ones with little bows all over them, and I wonder how they got here. I slip my feet in and head to the bathroom to make myself look a little less like I just woke up.

Charlie gave me one of his T-shirts last night, and it swallows me and hangs down to just above my knees. As a hockey player, he spends a lot of time in the gym and that means he’s a pretty big guy. Behind all the muscle, though, is a big teddy bear.

I brush my teeth and my hair, then grab my phone and make my way downstairs. I check the time and see that it’s a little after ten. I’m grateful I got to sleep in some. I haven’t had that luxury for a few weekends now because we’ve had the craziest schedule at work. Normally I don’t have to work on the weekends outside of a scheduling conflict with a model or a photographer, but with the holidays coming up there have been additions and changes left, right, and center.

“Good morning, Ms. Cami,” Giovanna, Charlie’s chef, says in greeting as I enter the kitchen. The smells of waffles and bacon greet me and I sigh happily. Her cooking is exquisite, but it’s been awhile since I’ve had the pleasure of indulging. I haven’t been over to his place since he moved, so it’s been some time.

“Good morning, this smells amazing.” I take a seat at the island as she places a plate in front of me. “Have you seen Charlie this morning?”

“He is in the gym. They have a game tomorrow and then are off for a few days to celebrate Christmas. He said he would join us soon.”

I nod as I chew and think through the upcoming week. His game tomorrow is an away game in Seattle against the Kraken, and with everything happening with my apartment I’m not sure what the game plan is here. Thankfully, he walks in a few minutes later and silences my swirling thoughts with his presence alone. Not to mention, his light gray T-shirt clings to him, his skin glistening and his hair damp with sweat. He smiles brightly when he sees me, nothing like the closed off Charlie the world knows, but instead the softer version only I get.

“Hey, Cam,” he says as he crosses the room, leans down, and places the quickest kiss on my lips. I’m so shocked I don’t even think I kiss him back. “Gonna go take a quick shower, then I’ll join you.”

I nod my head at his retreating form and continue nodding it until Giovanna clears her throat.

“You okay, Ms. Cami?” she asks.

“I don’t know. You saw that right? You saw him kiss me?” I know she knows about our arrangement, because he told me when he told her. He said he wanted to be honest and make sure I knew everyone who was in on the situation, which as of now is Sophie, his chef, and the knitting club ladies.

“I saw.”

“Okay. Well…I guess I’ll just sit here and wait for him.”

For the next ten minutes I sit and ponder everything I know about this situation. I know we are best friends. I know I would take a bullet for him and he would do the same for me. I know what I saw in that photo from last night, and I know there is an insane physical attraction between the two of us—an attraction that I ignored for years. I know we kissed for the first time last night, and I know all of this is supposed to be fake. So then why did he just kiss me with no one around to pretend for?

He waltzes back into the room like nothing is amiss, smelling like his santal body wash I got him for Christmas last year. It came with a huge carton of refill soap, and I’m glad to know it’s lasted him the year. I make a mental note to grab some for him soon, because I’m sure he’s almost out.

Giovanna has been cleaning the kitchen, but finishes up now and turns to go into her workstation, muttering something about grocery lists and meal planning. I’m sure she sees the need for privacy, and I’m thankful because I am beyond confused.

“How’d you sleep?” he asks as he grabs my fork and stabs a bite of waffle, stealing it from my plate.

“Um, good. Really good, actually.”

“Good, I’m glad. I did too. Felt good knowing where you were, that you were safe.”

“I probably would have been totally safe at home, superstar.”

“Probably isn’t good enough for me. Are you going to eat any more of this?” he gestures to my plate with the fork he stole. I shake my head no and he pulls it towards himself.

“Charlie, what is going on?”

“Well, I have an away game tomorrow so we’re flying out tonight. You can stay here since I’ll be out of your hair.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“What do you mean?” he asks, quizzically.

“You just kissed me. On the lips. In your home.”

“I did,” he says, shoveling more of my leftovers into his mouth.

“We have rules, things in place to keep this from getting messy.”

“I know. I think we should change the rules.”

“What?” I ask, shocked how he just came right out and said it.

“I care about you.”

“I know you do,” I say.

“And I could see this going somewhere good.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“I mean, what if this wasn’t fake?”

The room is silent as he stares back at me. I can see the vulnerability in his eyes, the way he’s taking a risk by saying this to me. I don’t want to shut him down, but I don’t know that I’m ready for this conversation.

“Can we press pause?”

“What?”

“You’re about to go away for the game and I’m going to be at home?—”

“You’re staying here, Cam.”

“I don’t need to stay here, I have my own place. I’ll be fine there, I promise.”

“It would really make me feel better if you stayed here while I was gone. I know it probably doesn’t seem like a big deal, but if I don’t know you’re safe I won’t be able to focus on anything else.”

I knew he cares for me and he cares about my safety, but to hear him put it out there so plainly is a shock to the system. I don’t know if I’ve ever had anyone care about me like that. Sure, Alana loves me and would absolutely be concerned if she thought I was in danger, but she has been so busy in Paris, so we’ve barely had time to talk. The most I got was a FaceTime while she got dressed for a fancy Christmas party she’s going to with Alex.

Speaking of Alex, those two have finally stopped ignoring their feelings for each other and I am thrilled for Lana. She deserves someone who loves her like he does, and I just know he’s going to treat her right. Charlie seems pretty happy about it too. The two of them have been talking more often and I’m glad for him to have another guy friend.

“If it means that much to you, I’ll stay.” He sighs in relief. “But can we finish this conversation when you get back? I’m just not sure I’m ready.”

I look down at my lap, feeling bad about shutting him down so quickly, but I know I need to get my head on straight before we discuss this. Our relationship is too precious to me to handle it carelessly.

“Sure, we can talk when I get back.” He pauses, thinking. “Speaking of me coming home…”

“What now?”

“Well, Alex called me a few weeks ago wanting to set up a surprise for Lana. I wasn’t sure it was going to work out, so I waited to tell you, but it looks like everything is set to go. He wants me to fly to Paris and surprise her for Christmas. I’m going to have to fly to Paris from Seattle, then I’ll leave Christmas night.”

“Wow, short trip. But I guess you can’t stay any longer because you have games next weekend.”

“Yeah. And I know Alana is about to come home, but Alex is completing this list of hers, and spending Christmas with me is on it.”

“Alex never does anything halfway.”

“Apparently not.”

“Okay, so good. Then I’ll stay here while you’re there. Anything else?”

“One more thing…and don’t freak out.” Telling a girl not to freak out is a sure fire way to make her freak out. “I want to tell Alana.”

“You want to tell her…what?”

“About us.”

“Us?” I ask, my eyes wide.

“Yeah, us. Our relationship.”

“Okay,” I say, thoughts running through my head about what this means.

“I know it’s big, but she’s coming back in about a week and I don’t want her to be bombarded and surprised by it when she gets here. She deserves some time to process.”

“I agree. I wish I could be there with you, but maybe it’ll be good for me not to be there.”

“I know she’d want you there, but yeah it might give her a second to collect her thoughts before she says anything.”

“And you’re going to tell her about the arrangement? That this isn’t real?”

There’s that look in his eyes again, like I’ve hurt him.

“Yeah, I’ll tell her everything.”

“Okay. So you’re leaving tomorrow for most of the week, telling your sister you’re fake dating her best friend, and I’m staying here alone in this huge penthouse.”

“You’re my best friend too. And you’ll have Giovanna.”

“Giovanna needs some time off for Christmas. Hey, Gi,” I shout in the direction of the door she escaped behind. She pops her head through the opening. “You’re off for the week. You can head home any time. Merry Christmas.”

“Thank you, Ms. Cami.”

Charlie huffs a laugh next to me and I turn to look at his bewildered expression.

“What?”

“You haven’t even been here twenty-four hours and you’re already running the ship.”

I shrug and he laughs again.

“Gonna go pack, you good here?” I nod. “I went over to your place last night after you fell asleep and grabbed some things. They’re upstairs in your room, but if you need more please take Greg with you. He can act as driver and security and escort you into and out of the building.”

“Yes, sir,” I say and salute him. “Thanks for going to grab some stuff. Sorry for the trouble.”

“No trouble at all. Wouldn’t want you anywhere else.” He stands and starts to lean forward, but catches himself and jerks back. I wince slightly at the awkwardness, but appreciate him maintaining the rules once again. He turns, walks up to his room, and leaves me to think about his words and the somewhere good this is going.