Please don’t let this be happening to me.
Please don’t let this be happening to me.
Please don’t let this be happening to me.
Like a mantra, Liv repeated her internal plea again and again. She stared at the unforgiving bathroom door, studying its blank façade. She pressed her nose up against the opaque glass door and tried to get a view into the exterior of the hotel room.
There had to be an emergency door handle somewhere. Come on… where is it?!
Pushing gently against the muddy glass, Liv studied her wiggly reflection in the door. She suddenly pictured herself dying a slow, miserable death, alone in Josh Cameron’s hotel bathroom. She could see the Sun headline: STRANGE GIRL DIES HORRIBLE, SQUISH-FACED DEATH IN AN ATTEMPT TO WOO JOSH CAMERON. Liv peeled her face off the door’s glass. Smushing her face against the door was not helping matters.
“Abracadabra!”
“Open Sesame!”
“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!” Oops. That’s something else.
Trying to think of few more magic words, Liv slouched against the wall and stared at the indigo toilet taunting her from the opposite wall in the dark red bathroom.
When Liv had turned up for her date with Josh Cameron that evening, things had seemed so promising. The plan was to have a quiet dinner in his hotel suite. Apparently, Josh Cameron was fed up with the paparazzi and had been trying to lay low. That was fine and dandy with Liv—she was more than happy to check out a superstar suite at the Ñ Hotel.
The Ñ was famous for its übercool, sparse rooms and state-of-the-art technology. Retinal scanners instead of keys. Voice-activated elevators. Automated dumbwaiters that dispatch room service orders through little tunnels in the walls (“Like a drive-up ATM!” Liv had lamely proclaimed when their champagne had arrived).
And touch-free bathroom fixtures, which were, Liv now realized, not a good thing.
When she had arrived, Josh Cameron had greeted her at the door and ushered her into his suite. He had produced a bottle of champagne from the room service receiving berth, and poured deep glasses for each of them. The bubbly champagne shot straight to Liv’s head, combining with nerves to make her dizzy and flustered.
After a few minutes of awkward conversation about his suite (during which, Liv recalled with a twinge of discomfort, Josh Cameron had smiled smugly at each of Liv’s gushing remarks and nodded, saying, “I know, I know,” over and over again), Liv had excused herself to the bathroom.
Which is where she remained, ten minutes later.
Near tears, she decided to give it one more go. She could only imagine what Josh Cameron was thinking, waiting for her out in the suite. Really, what could a person do for ten full minutes in the bathroom? It was not a pretty thought.
Liv stood up and moved toward the door again. Its smooth, glassy surface was unmarred by a handle. She studied the walls around the door for the umpteenth time, looking for any opening device. She ran her hand along the tiles, stopping when she felt one tile tilt slightly. It looked just like the rest of the bathroom’s dark red tiles. Hopeful, Liv gave it a hesitant poke. The door swooshed open, revealing the interior of Josh Cameron’s hotel suite. Liv released the breath she had been holding and stepped out of her bathroom prison.
“Well, hello there.” Josh Cameron swept across the room toward Liv, holding her champagne flute in his hand. “Everything all right?” He tilted his head and smiled.
Liv took a deep slurp of her drink and felt her face blush a bright crimson. Whether it was from embarrassment or the champagne, she didn’t know. “I’m amazing,” she said, feigning a seductive purr. As her voice garbled out, she realized she sounded pretty stupid, and decided not to experiment with seduction again.
“I’m going to guess,” Josh Cameron said, lifting his glass in a toast, “that you had some problems with the door. Am I right?” Liv nodded sheepishly. “Not to worry,” he continued. “It took me a while to find my way around in here. The first time I ordered room service, I waited for two hours not realizing my order had been cooling in the wall panel the whole time.”
Liv laughed, and—unsure of what to say—drained her glass.
“Tell me, Olivia,” Josh Cameron said, filling her glass with more bubbly trouble. “What is it that makes you so incredible?”
“Well,” she began, her confidence bolstered by her glass and a half of champagne. “Perhaps it’s my understated grace and elegance?”
Josh Cameron’s dimples deepened. “Let’s see…” He took Liv’s arm and led her to a chaise in the corner of his suite’s living room. “I don’t think it’s that. But you are exceedingly charming.”
For obvious reasons, Liv cracked up. Charming? Liv’s champagne was dancing around inside her head now, causing her words to spill out a few seconds before she had a chance to consider them. “What do you see in me? Seriously? I mean, I’ve done nothing but humiliate myself every time I’ve seen you, and yet you insist on calling me ‘charming.’”
Josh Cameron laughed. “It’s just that, Olivia. I admire your incredible ability to say everything that crosses your mind. It’s refreshing to meet a real girl.” He took her hand and leaned in close. “You’re different.”
Liv sucked in her breath. “I see.” Her hand was resting lightly in Josh Cameron’s palm, sweating. She regretted not swiping Lady Speed Stick across every exposed surface of her body. Is he holding my hand? Is this real?
As Josh Cameron stroked the top of Liv’s hand with his thumb, she relaxed into the chaise. “Can I ask you something?” she asked, smiling slowly.
“Anything.”
“Why did you ask for a stuffed pig at Music Mix?” Liv giggled.
Josh Cameron leaned in closer. She could feel his breath on her cheek as his lips moved toward her ear. “Because,” he said with a smile, “it’s always fun to see how far people will go to make me happy.”
Liv giggled again. In her slightly drunk state, his answer made her laugh. “So the purple pig was what, like a challenge or something?”
“I guess you could say that. Now, Olivia,” Josh Cameron pulled away from her and smiled. “I just heard our dinner arrive. Shall we?”
“Let’s,” she said with a nod. She was starting to feel sleepy, and was suddenly nervous that if she didn’t get some food in her stomach, she could be curled up in the corner passed out in a matter of minutes. Or worse, she would be forced to use the bathroom again. And Liv definitely didn’t want to get trapped in there a second time.
Josh Cameron led her to the table that had been set for them in the corner of the suite. Liv studied the table, counting no fewer than seven forks and four plates in front of each of their seats. I guess I should have watched Pretty Woman more carefully—the fork lesson would have come in handy.
“A toast.” Josh Cameron was standing at Liv’s side, one hand resting on her shoulder, the other holding his glass toward her. “I feel so lucky to have met you. To what’s next,” he finished, squeezing her shoulder.
Liv lifted her glass to her lips, but carefully monitored her intake. “To what’s next,” she repeated, groaning inwardly at his lame line. “Josh, do you always use canned lines like that?” Liv’s left hand flew to her mouth to cover up what she had already said.
Josh Cameron spluttered champagne as he pulled his glass quickly away from his mouth. “Canned lines?”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, please, explain. I’m intrigued.”
“It’s just that, well, uh,” Liv had dug herself into a big fat hole, and now she wished she could slide a door right over the top of it and never come back out. “When you say things like ‘I feel so lucky to have met you’ and ‘To what’s next,’ it’s maybe just a little, uh, cheesy?”
To Liv’s relief, Josh Cameron started laughing. His dimples were deeper than she had ever seen them, and his eyes had started to tear up. This was not the response she had been expecting. “Olivia, that’s priceless,” he stammered, gasping for breath. “No one has ever said anything like that to me before.”
“I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have said it. Your toast was very sweet.” She couldn’t believe she had just criticized Josh Cameron. What is wrong with you, Liv?
“No, please, don’t be sorry. It’s nice to hear the truth. Frankly, I get tired of the nonstop adoration from fans. Don’t get me wrong, it’s flattering to have people love you, but it’s also nice to be brought back to earth from time to time.” He smiled at her. “My apologies for the cheesy line. Mind if I try again?”
Liv shook her head, smiling meekly. She couldn’t believe he wasn’t furious she had just criticized him. This was too weird.
“To you, Olivia,” Josh Cameron said, smiling widely. “The most refreshingly honest woman I have ever met.”
Cheers to that, Liv thought, tipping her glass back. Cheers to that.
Yawning contentedly, Liv stretched her leg and wiggled her toes. She rolled over, eyes closed, and replayed the previous evening over and over in her head.
Things had gone a little fuzzy in the middle of dinner, but Liv could still remember most of her amazing night. She couldn’t believe how incredibly sweet and sexy Josh Cameron was. After Liv had teased him for being cheesy, things had gotten much easier between them.
Liv thought back to the rest of their dinner conversation, and still couldn’t believe that Josh Cameron, International Pop Star had opened up to her. “The thing is, sometimes you just want to be normal, you know?” he had said at one point during their meal. “That’s why I appreciate your honesty so much, Olivia. You’re not worried about what I’ll think—you just say it like it is.” He had smiled at her. “There’s something unique about you—and I don’t want that to sound like a line.” Liv flushed as she remembered the way his eyes had lingered on hers.
Her memory of the rest of their meal was a bit of a blur, but she clearly remembered their dessert (some sort of gooey chocolate volcano) out on the balcony. The fresh air had revived her.
Liv had swaggered onto the balcony and moved to one of the glass walls to steady herself. She remembered leaning against the wall for support, and then strong hands circling around her waist like a safety net.
“Olivia,” Josh Cameron had sighed, moving toward her. “I’ve had an amazing evening.” His right hand had tightened around her waist as his left pushed a stray curl from her face. Liv congratulated herself on doing a quick tongue-check for food lodged between her teeth. She hadn’t expected him to kiss her, but she wanted to be ready, just in case.
She could still feel the moment his lips first touched hers. Gently, cautiously at first, then expertly pressing into her more urgently. He delicately let his hand run through the length of her hair, then wrapped his soft hand around the back of her neck. He leaned back slightly to study her face in the moonlight as his thumb lazily traced a line across her jaw. Cupping her chin in his hand, he tilted her face upward gently before kissing her chin, each of her cheeks, and… finally… settling on her lips again.
She relived that kiss several more times before slowly opening her eyes. Yawning, Liv scanned the room, squinting to see her alarm clock. It was still dark, so she figured she had a few more hours to sleep, but wanted to make sure. As she searched in the dark for her clock, she suddenly became very aware that she was not alone. And she was very much not asleep on her couch-bed.
Where am I? Freaked out, Liv bolted upright and looked around. Her mind frantically raced through the rest of the previous night’s date, desperately searching for an ending. Oh no, she thought, horrified. Oh no. There was no ending. I don’t remember an ending! I kissed him and then… Nothing. Her memory was refusing to go beyond that kiss.
Racking her brain for details, the rest of the evening suddenly started trickling back into focus. After their balcony kiss, Josh Cameron had escorted Liv back inside the suite and they had settled into the corner of the couch. He had been talking about his ski trip to the Alps, and then… Noooooo! I fell asleep!
Liv squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself back in time. When she opened them, she hadn’t moved. She realized she was sprawled out on the couch in the corner of Josh Cameron’s hotel suite, covered in a fur blanket. She hadn’t moved from the night before—even her shoes were still securely attached to her feet. She was feeling more than a little sheepish about her present situation. How long have I been here?
Looking across the room, Liv could see the outline of Skinny Guy, who was seated on a low footstool, his chin in his hands, watching her. When he saw that she was awake, he stood abruptly and moved toward her. “Mr. Cameron has retired for the evening,” he explained briefly, helping Liv to her feet. “He has asked that I arrange for a car to take you home. He felt it best that you sleep here for a while, considering.”
Considering what?! Liv wondered, suddenly nervous about what she had done or said. How much did I drink? She scolded herself for getting so out of hand. I will never drink again.…
“I took the liberty of ordering you a sandwich. Please feel free to bring it along for your ride home.” Skinny Guy held a small pouch in her direction and made his way to the door. “Come along. Quickly.”
Liv followed as Skinny Guy bustled down the hallway and led her into a dark, narrow elevator. She peeked into the sandwich pouch as the elevator descended, and groaned as her stomach protested. She had definitely had too much champagne if the sight of plain old ham and cheese was causing her stomach to curl.
Poking around inside the sandwich pouch, Liv found a small note next to the wrapped sandwich. “Olivia,” it read, “Thank you for an incredible evening. I can’t wait to see you again. Soon. Fondly, Josh Cameron.” Liv smiled. He still had a way to go before he lost all of his cheesiness (“fondly” was just the tiniest bit old-fashioned), but at least he was sweet. She smiled as she reread his words. Soon, she thought, happily.
When the elevator reached the ground floor, Skinny Guy led Liv through the nearly deserted lobby. As they made their way past the frosted glass doors of the swanky hotel bar, though, she heard laughter and the clinking of glasses coming from within. The doors had whooshed open to welcome a stunning couple into the late-night gathering.
Liv craned her neck to try to get a glimpse of the inner reaches of the bar as Skinny Guy hurried her through the lobby. For a split second her heart caught in her throat—was that Josh Cameron on the other side of the bar’s sliding doors? Nah, she thought, impossible. Skinny Guy said he “retired for the evening”—and he wouldn’t have left me in his room alone to go out. Shrugging it off as her own overactive imagination, Liv smiled. One amazing kiss, and I’m already paranoid, she thought, giggling to herself.
Stifling a yawn, Liv made her way out of the lobby. With a sigh, she slid into the limo waiting outside the hotel—her limo!—and bit into her sandwich as the car sped her toward home.