Page 72 of Never Kiss Your Neighbors

“I’ll give them some skin tomorrow.”

We spent the day building a bunch of kites, and tomorrow, when we go to the park with the videographer to launch them, I’ll have my shirt off. I shouldn’t have to show skin for this informational video. It would be nice if our viewers actually focused on the kites.

“I get it,” he says. “The more time we spend with Stella, the less I want to do this, too.”

I check the tail on one of the delta kites and tighten the ties. “I wonder if she watches our reels.”

“I’m sure she’s seen them, and I’ve wondered if she watches regularly. I can’t decide if I like the idea or not.”

“I definitely don’t like the idea, especially if she reads the comments.”

Cam shrugs, but I can tell it doesn’t sit well with him, either.

Even if Stella doesn’t mind how we make our living, I never planned to do this when I was in a relationship with someone. I know it’s not cheating, but it feels like it.

“I’d like us to transition to making videos for a different audience as soon as possible,” I say.

Cam nods. “Agreed, but we can’t abruptly stop what we’re doing now, or all our hard work will go to waste. We need to make a plan and be smart about how we transition.” He lifts the camera, tries out two different angles, then lowers it again. “It’s bad enough that we haven’t been posting as frequently lately.”

“Stella’s the reason for that, and she’s well worth it,” I say.

“Again, agreed, but we need to figure out how to balance work and personal life better, or we’ll never be able to get a new channel going.”

He’s ready to record, and I try to get my head into it, but there’s too much running through my mind. Even though everything’s currently going well, it feels like one misstep could throw it all off balance.

“Think you can smile?” Cam prods, and I sneer at him.

“We’ll make a change soon,” he says, “but in the meantime, I suggest you pretend the camera is Stella. That’s what I do.” He’s smirking as he hands me the camera. “Let me show you.”

Hoping that Cam will take care of doing the footage we need, I press record and capture what turns out to be a bunch of nonsense.

“Hey, lover,” he says, arching a brow suggestively. “How are you today? I missed you.” There may as well be hearts in his eyes as he flirts with the camera in a ridiculously exaggerated way. “Ready for me to show you the kites we made just for you? There are long ones—” He picks one up and holds it in front of his crotch. “And thick ones …and they’re all stiff and hard.”

As I’m fumbling to turn off the camera, Cam makes a kissy face and runs his hand down his body, dipping it into his shorts.

“What the fuck was that?”

“I’m just trying to get you to lighten your mood, bro.”

I shove the camera back at him. “Get serious. Let’s just get this done so we have time to take a walk with Stella this evening.”

CHAPTER52

CAM

When we finally wrap up and go inside, there’s a sweet smell in the house. I find the source in a basket on the kitchen counter, and carry it into our home office, where our editor is working on footage we shot yesterday. “Trish, where did these muffins come from?”

“Oh, Stella dropped those off for you.”

A warm, fuzzy feeling fills my chest. “Stella was here? Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to disturb you while you were filming.”

Balancing the basket against me with one arm, I unwrap a muffin and take a bite. It tastes like it was baked with love.

“Want one?” I hold them out to Trish, but she shakes her head.

Wyatt finds us, grins when he hears what’s going on, and plucks a muffin from the basket. “We should go over later and thank her.”

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