Page 26 of In Her Arms

“Goldie?” Anya’s voice broke through her thoughts. “You still with us? You seem a little...distant.”

Goldie forced a laugh. “Just thinking about how surreal this all is. It feels like we only finished shooting an hour ago, but now…”

“Come on, Goldie! You’re a star,” Marco interjected, nudging her playfully. “You know how all this goes.”

The compliment hung in the air, but Goldie didn’t feel like astar. She felt like a woman on the verge of a revelation, teetering on the edge of a decision that could change everything. The glitz and glam of Hollywood surrounded her, but all she wanted was some downtime with Cam.

As the moderator called for attention, Goldie took a deep breath, focusing on the questions being directed to her and her fellow cast members. She smiled and laughed when appropriate, but her mind drifted to the last few weeks—the distance, the silence. The shame of their last encounter at The Orchid weighed heavily on her. It was a night that had totally spiraled out of control, one that left her grappling with both regret and yearning.

When the Q&A finally concluded, the applause resonating in her ears felt muted. She slipped off stage, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins, yet she felt hollow without the woman she wanted most there beside her.

“Great job!” Steve said, clapping her on the back. “You sure know how to work a crowd.”

“Thanks, Steve,” she replied, forcing a smile.

“Got time for a bite to eat?” he asked, guiding her through the throng of fans and journalists. “You’re going to want to refuel after that.”

Goldie nodded absently. Would she ever be able to move past her last encounter with Cam? Could she not just get a grip and let go of the fear that had been wrapped around her heart since that night?

As they approached a nearby suite, Steve shot her a conspiratorial wink. “I’ve got a little surprise for you. You’ve got a visitor.”

The door swung open, and Goldie stepped inside, her entire body on high alert. Steve wasn’t one for surprises, so she couldn’t work out what he was up to. But instead of what she wasexpecting—a fan or some other actor—she was met with the sight of Cameron sitting casually against the desk, a huge bouquet of red roses in her hands.

“Cameron!” Goldie’s heart leaped into her throat. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi,” Cameron said softly with a tentative smile. “I tried to get into the Q&A, but they wouldn’t let me in without a press pass.” She held up the flowers, her cheeks flushed. “So, I brought these instead.”

Goldie took a step closer. She felt her pulse quickening as she searched her brain desperately for something to say. “They’re beautiful.”

Cameron’s eyes sparkled with sincerity, and Goldie’s heart swelled at the sight of her. “I wanted to apologize,” Cameron continued. “About the way I treated you back at The Orchid. I was scared. Well, that’s a bit of an understatement. But I’m sorry I didn’t handle it well.

Goldie gulped, feeling a knot of emotion in the pit of her stomach. “Did you think I wasn’t scared too?” she asked, looking nonplussed. “I was totally freaked out, Cameron. I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know how to say what I…”

Cameron looked down, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the petals of the roses. “I was so worried about my own feelings I ignored yours. I realize now that I should have been more open with you.”

Goldie reached out to take Cameron’s hands in hers. She turned around to check Steve had left the room. He had. The coast was clear for her to ask her next question. “What are you feeling right now?”

“I love you, Goldie.” The words tumbled out before she could second-guess herself. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. I just… I want to… I want to do something.”

The admission hung in the air between them. Goldie felt a rush of warmth wash over her, pushing back the shadows of self-doubt that had lingered since their last encounter. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hear you say that.”

Cameron’s brows furrowed slightly. “Really?”

“Really,” Goldie replied, a smile breaking across her face. “I’ve been wrestling with my own feelings. This is all new to me. I thought if I just kept things professional, if I didn’t let myself get too close, it would be easier.”

“But it’s not easier, is it?” Cameron added. “It just feels like we’ve been avoiding what’s right in front of us. I’m sorry I was a total ass. I need to work on myself. I have huge commitment issues, but all I want is to change that and be with you.”

Goldie nodded as the tension of the last few weeks began to dissipate. “I don’t want to hide anymore either,” she admitted. “I want to be open and honest with you. With everyone. Even the press. I want to be able to walk hand-in-hand with you out there in the world. I don’t want what we have to be a secret. I’ll support you, Cameron, for anything you need to do. But if you run off again, I’ll hunt you down and you’ll be sorry,” she teased.

Cameron furrowed her brow. “Seriously? That’s a big step. Are you sure? And I will never run again. I promise.”

“I’m so sure,” Goldie replied. “But I need to know that you’re comfortable with this too. I don’t want to put any pressure on you. None at all.”

“I’d love that, but I guess I’d need a little time to prepare,” Cameron confessed, her voice tinged with vulnerability and guilt. “How does two months sound before we go public?”

Goldie felt a surge of relief. “That sounds perfect,” she said, her heart lifting. “I just want us to be on the same page, okay?”

Cameron smiled as her shoulder dropped a little. “So, we’re doing this? We’re really doing this?”

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