Page 141 of Camera Shy

She holds up her phone and clear as day, Aves with a heart is displayed on the screen.

“Finally!” I’ve tried calling my phone a few times, but it went straight to voicemail. Luckily, someone found it. I take the phone from Palmer’s hand and shoo her to the front desk. “Hurry,” I say before I answer the phone.

“Hello, this is Avery Scott. You have my phone.”

“Well, hello, Avery Scott. I do have your phone.”

I smile at the sound of his voice. “Finn. Where’d you find it?”

“Nora,” he replies. “I heard you’re in New Mexico.”

My heart knocks like I’m in trouble. It doesn’t look great. I ran out on Finn, then spilled my guts to his ex in a ride-share. But it was bizarre. She was so nice to me. Based on Palmer’s reaction to the whole situation, Nora was being a cunning bitch, but I was just pleasantly surprised she wasn’t openly cruel or snarky just because I was with Finn. I’ve had enough mean girls this summer tell me I’m not good enough for him. I was expecting the same from Nora, but it seemed like she understood the insecurity of being on Finn’s arm. The constant worry that someone was going to try and take what’s yours right from under you. I know she still loves him, but I’m glad she could be civil to me despite that.

“I have a lot of explaining to do,” I say simply.

“That you do, Queen.” But he chuckles, letting me know we’re okay. “Can we start with whether or not you’re upset with me?”

“With you? Finn, I screwed up. I should apologize. I, um…I think I found my limit.” I lower my voice. I know I didn’t say the word threesome out loud, but I’m still in a small breakfast crowd in a hotel dining room. And I don’t have time to explain my sexual exploration summer to this crowd of senior citizens.

“I’d say. We can talk about everything when you get back. But I wanted you to know that after last night, Nora told me you don’t want to move to Las Vegas.”

“It’s not what you’re thinking—”

“Ah, ah. Let me finish before you say anything else.”

My heart thumps with nerves as I lean into the phone. Can Finn technically dump me if we aren’t officially together?

“Lennox gave me some advice. She told me to sit down and make a list of all of my deal breakers for a relationship with you. So I tried, and I couldn’t come up with any.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t endure to be with you. Because”—he clears his throat—“you told me in the champagne room that my lips feel like home.”

I blush a little at my heat-of-the-moment declaration of affection. I meant it, though.

“Well, your heart feels like home to me. What I wanted you to understand is that the reason our sex is so good, Avery, isn’t because of what we’re doing, it’s because of us. And it’s going to change. We won’t always be going at it daily, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to be head over heels crazy about you. Whether you’re in sweatpants or a mermaid costume, you’re still a queen to me. The hot moments are great, but so are the quiet ones. I don’t need dirty talk, threesomes, or any other kink you think you need to fulfill for me. I just want you to be exactly who you are.”

I suck in a breath. “Finn, please don’t make me cry in the middle of a continental breakfast.”

He chuckles. “Sorry I’m saying this over the phone, but you needed to know. If you have to be in L.A. for a while, that’s okay. We’ll make it work.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

How is it possible he’s this amazing?

“But I want to say all of this to your face, so when are you coming back?”

“The Legacy meeting got moved up. I’m going straight to Cancun, then back to Albuquerque, then driving back to Vegas. So, a few days? Actually, can I ask you a huge favor?”

“Let me guess. Feed the fish?”

“You’re the only other person who knows how. The fish guy will be there sometime this week, but can you just make sure—”

“Is the spare key still under that ugly toad statue by the back gate?”

“Yes, sir.”

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