Page 94 of Now Their Starlet

“Thanks, Cameron,” she breathes out. “I—I seriously appreciate it.”

“You don’t have to appreciate common decency.”

“Let a girl be grateful,” she huffs, standing straight. “Alrighty, I’m ready for my bath. You guys ready?”

“Born fucking ready,” Beck says, hopping to his feet and extending his hand to her.

She takes it, and the three of us head towards the stairs.

She pauses at the bottom, her hand white-knuckling the banister.

“You alright?” I murmur from behind her.

It takes her a few seconds to breathe again.

“Y—yeah,” she stutters.

“It’s okay to not be okay, you know,” Beck says, standing beside her and offering her hand a tight squeeze.

“Easy for you to say, you’re like... perfect.”

“Hell no, I’m not. I was a fucking mess this past month. And... as hard as it is for me to say, that’s okay. There was shit going on and it’s hard to get over that kinda stuff. No one expects you to just be okay right after what you’ve gone through.”

“O—okay.” she nods.

And then she takes the first step up the stairs. Then another. And another.

When we make it to the top, the tension in her body doesn’t start to dissipate until we’re well clear of the landing and headed towards her room.

“Wow,” she breathes when she catches sight of the ensuite bathroom. “This feels fancier than what I remember when I was a kid.”

“Your dad renovated, remember?” Beck says with a grin, leaning against the deep black, glittering tile countertop.

“I can see that,” she says, running her hand along the large, jacuzzi style tub. “I think this could fit all three of us.”

“That an offer, Starlight?” Beck asks, his voice pitched low.

“Oh! Um... I—I was kind of hoping I could handle this solo? I want to get ready for... you know.”

“Ah, yeah, understandable,” Beck nods. “We’ll be waiting in your room then, that cool?”

“Okay.” she nods.

“Here’s where I kept all the stuff I bought,” I say, opening the cabinet under the sink and showcasing the new basket full of various bath products.

“You’re literally my hero!” she gasps, her eyes going wide as she crouches down beside the collection. “Thank you so much, Leo.”

“I need to learn to shop better.” Despite Beck’s huffy words, there’s still a grin on his expression.

“If you’re willing... I was wondering if I could ask something of you, Beck,” Andi says, standing up from her crouch with a few different bath products in her arms.

“Anything, Starlight.”

“Could I... have one of your t-shirts to sleep in?”

“Of course,” Beck says, nodding eagerly. He pushes himself up straight. “I’ll be right back! Your dad’s got a whole suite of guest rooms, and all of us have basically claimed one.”

Beck is quick to dart out of the bathroom, leaving just Andi and I.