Page 23 of The Close-Up

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When she heads down the hall to their bedroom, Cole turns to Simon and starts excitedly talking to him about a surprise he has planned for Tamara. I leave the two of them to talk while I put away my camera equipment. I’m in my bedroom going over footage for the series when Harper texts me.

Hey! Haven’t heard from you in days and I’m dying to know...what’s it like shacking up with your college fantasy?? Tell me you’ve at least made out!

I roll my eyes.

Me: You need to grow up.

Harper: Come on! Honestly, I’m surprised you haven’t texted me sooner to gush about what it’s like being around your dream guy 24/7.

Me: Okay, you wanna know the truth? It’s pretty normal. Not at all as exciting as you think. But in a totally good way.

A minute later she calls me.

“You’re gonna need to explain that because it makes no sense to me. How in the world can you be so relaxed about sharing an Airbnb with Simon? I saw your face that night at Spud’s Bar. I remember distinctly how you had zero chill around him. And that mischievous gleam in your eye when you told me that it was your idea to stay with him for two weeks in Lake Tahoe.”

“Mischievous gleam? What the hell even is that?”

Harper scoffs at my shoddy excuse.

“Okay, look,” I finally say. “Yeah, Simon’s hot and I used to be a fangirl of his back in the day when he cammed, but I see him in a whole new light now. I’ve gotten to know him as a work colleague and a friend. He’s just a regular guy who’s a therapist committed to helping people, specifically men, be more open and comfortable with their emotions so they can be better partners in their relationships.”

“And that’snotsuper hot to you?”

Yeah, it’s crazy hot. And maybe if we weren’t working together...maybe if that night at Spud’s Bar I had said “no” to one or two drinks, I would have been a bit more sober and we would have hooked up and—

I shake my head, halting the thought as soon as it formulates in my filthy mind.

I swallow. “Okay, fine, yes, it’s an attractive quality.” I wince at how pitchy my tone is and how weirdly diplomatic I sound. “But I’m not a cavewoman, Harper. I can acknowledge when a guy is attractive, but that doesn’t mean I’m automatically going to pounce on him.”

“Well, damn. That’s pretty boring. I was hoping for some super-juicy details. My life is so boring, dealing with zoning laws and blueprints and building permits.”

“Sorry to disappoint.”

“I guess you won’t need that surprise I packed in your suitcase.”

“What surprise? What are you talking about?”

“Check the very bottom of the zipper compartment.”

With my phone pinned between my cheek and shoulder, I unzip the compartment, dig to the bottom, and promptly freeze.

“You didn’t,” I mutter.

“Oh, I did.”

I almost growl at the giddy tone of her voice. And then I growl for real when I pull out a three-pack of condoms.

“Harper! Are you serious right now?”

“Hey, I just want you to be safe and prepared in case you and Simon get it on.”

“I can’t believe you.”

“Come on, Naomi.” I can practically hear her roll her eyes over the phone. “I remember the way Simon looked at you at Spud’s Bar the night you chatted him up. He’s totally down to bone you.”

I chuck the box of condoms back in my suitcase. “You know, when you talk like that, you sound like an annoying high schooler, not a thirty-three-year-old corporate architect.”

“It’s true.”