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“Well, I’m starting up a new company, and I’d really like for the launch and accompanying social media campaign to go as smoothly as possible. I’ve heard you’re the best in the business—and you’re the one who did the big cleanup for Cameron Hastens, the Glaciers’ center, right?”
“Yeah, that’s me.” I can’t hide my smile. “I’m definitely interested in working with you, Mr. Norris. When do you need me to start?”
“Oh goodness.” He chuckles. “You can call me Garrett. I don’t like formal names. I always picture Chuck Norris in a suit—and no, we’re not related.”
I giggle at the stilted joke. “Okay, Garrett, I can do that. But when do you need me to start? I’m not in NYC right now.”
“The sooner the better, really. I’m ready to hire you as of yesterday. When will you be back?”
“Oh...” My voice trails off. “It might be a couple of weeks...”
“Man, that sucks. Is there anything I can do to get you here sooner? I’d really like to get you acquainted with the team before we launch.”
“Let me see what I can do. I’ll try to get back to you by tomorrow—at this time—if that works for you?”
“Are you still working with Cameron’s team?”
“Um, yeah, I am—”
“Oh perfect, I can give Frankie a call. I’ve known her since I was a kid. She did a lot of work for my father. She’s who recommended you.”
“Oh ... okay,” I say, forcing my voice to be much brighter than how I actually feel.
I don’t want to leave here yet.
“I’ll see what strings I can pull. In the meantime, I’ll email you all the details, and then we can go from there?” He chuckles at the end, and I force myself to give a light laugh. “Have a good evening, Nila. I’m sure working with Cameron is a trip. I’ve read the stories. I won’t be nearly as difficult, I promise.”
With that, he hangs up, and I’m left feeling a little defensive about the whole thing.
Why does it feel as though everyone is after Cameron?
After everything we’ve been through together, I know without a doubt that he’s not the man the media has portrayed him to be.
He’s not a fighter … he’s a protector.
I toss my phone to the bed, the thud of it landing against the comforter filling the silence for a split second. There might be almost two hours left of call time, but I have zero interest in using it. Instead, I sit on the edge of the bed and zone out on the bedroom door.
And more than ever … right now, I miss my gran. She would know what to do—and she always encouraged me to be a romantic.
I smile to myself as the moisture fills my eyes. I used to be a romantic before I pushed everyone who cared about me away.
She’d probably tell me love is worth it, if only for who chooses your nursing home.
I laugh to myself and blot the rogue tear away. She was always the life of the party, and I’m pretty sure she’s where I got my charisma from. Everyone loved her. She had strong ties to the small town, and when she passed, I think almost everyone showed up.
I squeeze my eyes shut and clutch my necklace.
What would you do about Cameron, Gran?
“Nila?” a voice calls from the other side of the door. “Are you in here?”
My eyes flutter open and I jump to my feet. I open the bedroom door and step into the living room. Cameron is standing a few feet away, and his head whips in my direction.
“Hey,” I say, giving him an awkward wave. “I should—”
“No,” he cuts me off and rushes to me. “Before you say anything, I have to apologize. You were right, I didn’t think about what I was doing in the moment. All I knew was that I needed to protect you from the jerk yelling at you—and in hindsight, I could’ve backed off. Maybe not crowded him so much. He would’ve never swung at me had I stayed back. And I’m going to work really hard on being less reactive and more mindful in these types of situations in the future.”
I swallow hard, my heart fluttering in my chest at the sincerity of his words.
