Page 10 of Hiding Hollywood

Cameron’s mom had been so welcoming yesterday. If it weren’t from the obvious physical resemblance, it would be questionable if Cameron and Mrs. Dempsey were related. Addie had held back her questions about Cameron, wanting so bad to pick Mrs. Dempsey’s brain about her son and his perpetual bad mood. What had caused the change from high school? Sure, his job was important, even dangerous, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t ever have fun. The one small moment in the car, when he leaned in close, had rattled her, giving her the same jitters he gave her back that one summer.

Addie jumped with the first knock on the guest room door. “Just a minute.” She climbed off the bed, pulling her light blue gypsy shirt down over her gray leggings. Had Cameron stopped by to check on her? She snorted, covering her lips at the sound. Not very sexy or ladylike. Also, not very probable that Cameron had given her a second thought.

Didn’t matter. She’d woken up early enough to grab a shower and get ready. Her stay at the Dempseys’ house had to be an imposition. She wouldn’t be a lazy house guest on top of it, sleeping all day long. She zipped up her boots and opened the door, a practiced smile in place.

Mrs. Dempsey, still in her pink pajamas with little white hearts, smiled. “You’re already up and dressed.” She crossed her arms, shaking her head slightly. “I wish we had somewhere fun to go. You look so cute.” She leaned a little closer. “And smell good, too. I’m not used to feminine things around the house.”

That was her opening. “I know Cameron said I couldn’t go anywhere without him—”

“And I told you he didn’t need to say that to you. I promise he was raised with better manners.”

Addie shrugged. “It’s okay. I know I’m still in custody. I was hoping to find a ride into the town today. I need to buy a new laptop.” And hope the store would take a credit card number over the phone from Trevor. It was worth a shot.

Her employer,White Rabbit, wouldn’t keep her on the payroll much longer if she didn’t find a way to log in and communicate her whereabouts.

A worried line formed between Mrs. Dempsey’s eyebrows. Addie’s heart sank.

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry, but there’s nowhere in Statem to buy a laptop. Did you need to check your email or something?”

Without a way to explain that she needed to check the messages from her other job, she nodded. “Yes. My email.” She held up her phone and tried to giggle like she didn’t have a care in the world. “I can only check personal emails on here. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, the perfume business is booming.” She should have spent part of the night planning her cover story instead of running over ways to give Brian some serious payback.

“I’m not sure it works, but you can use our computer. Do you want me to try?”

“No.” The word stumbled from Addie’s lips before she had a chance to stop it. She fluffed her hair, hoping to look unaffected. “I don’t want to inconvenience you more than I have. I’ll wait for right now. No probs.” If anyone wanted to trace her, the Dempsey’s internet connection on an out-of-the-box computer didn’t stand a chance without some serious modifications. She wouldn’t put herself or the Dempseys at risk.

“I know, why don’t you head into town with me. I need to go to the library to return a few books. I know a lot of people use computers in the library for email and things. That way, you can see some of Statem.”

“That sounds perfect,” she said, ignoring an overwhelming sense of dread that she’d end up wasting the day instead of working on finding a way back home.

Mrs. Dempsey took her by the arm. “Come on. We’ll go to the kitchen and grab a cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee.”

Her mood picked up a little. “I’d love some coffee.”

“Yes. Cameron texted me early this morning and asked me to have a pot going for you.”

The man with the perpetual scowl had thought of her? It shouldn’t make her stomach do a little flip, and her hopes rise like she was fifteen.

“And a cinnamon roll.” Mrs. Dempsey squeezed her arm. “You don’t look like you eat enough to feed a bird.”

“Brian had us on an all raw, vegan diet,” Addie mumbled, her mind still circling around why Cameron would seem so annoyed and yet worry about her comfort.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but that doesn’t sound pleasant at all.” Mrs. Dempsey moved ahead of her into the kitchen. “Do you take anything in your coffee?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Creamer?”

Addie shrugged. “That’s fine.” Coffee was coffee in her book.

Mrs. Dempsey poured two coffees and slid into the chair across from Addie at the table, her own cup of coffee steaming from a lavenderWorld’s #1 Momcup with a heart-eyes emoji.

Addie sipped her life-blood, laced with sweet vanilla creamer, feeling the world come into focus at last. She eyed the brand Mrs. Dempsey had used, reminding herself to pick one up when she left. The cinnamon roll, something she’d not eaten in years, vanished in a couple bites. No way it’d been anywhere close to healthy. Probably what made it delicious.

Addie sat back, sipping her coffee. The kitchen was gorgeous. Her few friends back in L.A. would call the Dempseys’ kitchen country chic. A large butcher block island sat in the middle of the room with brass plated pots hanging above. A white, farm-style sink looked perfect below a picture window overlooking a pool covered for the winter. Mrs. Dempsey had set a container with the cinnamon rolls on her big, six burner stove that Addie now knew from personal experience was put to excellent use.

Mrs. Dempsey’s small, turquoise earrings dangled as she reached forward to take a napkin from the decorative wrought-iron holder. Addie’s curiosity about Cameron couldn’t be contained.

“Can I ask you a question?”

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