ELEVEN

****** 

Cami

******


Desk sex with Tristan is most definitely something that needs to be repeated. Often. He’s left me to finish up in here so that he can go take a shower. I want nothing more than to join him, but I need to finish this press release before we leave and get it off to Trinity to send out. 

Something about the calendar and today’s date catches my attention. Hoping to see what it is that’s bugging me, I open the calendar icon on my Mac, but nothing sticks out, at least not for the next couple of weeks.

I remind myself to check my phone calendar, just in case something hasn’t synced over to this, and finish up my press release. 


Tristan, Tyson, Jolene and I are all in the back of a limo that’s taking us to the airport. I received a text about an hour ago that Bold’s plane had arrived at Glendale Airport, which was our cue to get moving. We could’ve just flown commercial, but once Jolene’s luggage joins mine and Tristan’s, it is very obvious as to why I’ve chosen to use my plane. I’m still not used to that, but then again, just as soon as I thought I was getting used to the idea, I find out that Bobby is still alive. 

I feel my nervousness regarding that whole situation creep over me and Tristan notices my change in mood almost instantly. How does he do that? 

He takes my hand and squeezes it, silently telling me that whatever it is that is bothering me is all right. I only wish I knew how to talk to him about this, but I just can’t find the words. And because of that, I feel like I’m pulling away from him, and sometimes I get the impression that he feels it too. I hate it, but I haven’t got a clue how to fix it. 


We arrive at Glendale Airport, and immediately the limo driver and the pilots begin loading the plane with our luggage. Before we take off, I grab a smoke. Flying isn’t an issue for me except when it comes to these small planes like this. They creep me out. Smoking has become more of a nervous habit than anything anymore, which really bothers me, and I am thankful that Tristan hasn’t once mentioned the fact that there were two empty packs of cigarettes and a full ashtray on the coffee table the night he found me. 

Tristan takes a smoke from me and lights up. I scowl at him. “What are you nervous about?” 

“Not a damn thing. I just want to stand with you.” I roll my eyes and he smirks at me. 

After a couple of minutes the luggage is loaded onto the plane and the pilots are ready. Tristan and I both climb on board and head to the seats that face Tyson and Jolene. Jolene is pale as a ghost. 

“Oh shit, Jo.” She looks at me. “God, I completely forgot.” I unbuckle my seatbelt and go to the stewardesses cabin for the Valium that’s stored there. “Here,” I say as I come back with a bottle of water and the pill. “Remind me next time.” She gives me a half smile. 

I walk to the cockpit. “We need about twenty minutes before we can take off.”

“We’re cleared to take off now,” the co-pilot says. 

“I understand, but I am not in the mood to clean up vomit, so give her a minute, would you?” 

“Yes, ma’am,” the pilot says, then turns back and starts talking through his headset, delaying our departure. 

I go back and take my seat across from Jolene. “Better yet?” She shakes her head at me. “Remind me next time.” I give her a half smile. 

Tristan and Ty are in their own conversation and I don’t pay them much attention. 


After a couple of minutes, Jolene’s color starts to return and her eyelids begin to get heavy. “You good, girl?” 

She nods slowly and I stand, walking back toward the cockpit. I knock on the now-closed door. It opens. “We’re good to go as soon as we’re clear.” 

“Yes, ma’am.” 

When I return to my seat, Jolene is sleeping and breathing softly. Tyson snuggles up to her and kisses her forehead. 

Tristan does the same and whispers, “She doesn’t like flying?” 

“Not like. Loathe is probably a better term for it. It freaks her out.” 

“I didn’t notice when we left Tarah, but she did sleep all the way back to Phoenix.” 

“Exactly.” 

“Oh.”


It is around seven when we land in Billings. I’ve arranged for a car and driver to take us to the house I’ve rented for all of us for the next month. It is plenty big for the four of us plus the others, when and if they decide to come up. However, at the house are two rental cars — one for Tristan to use back and forth from the set, and one for Jolene and I to use wherever we want to go. 

“Should we stop for dinner?” Jolene asks as we all climb into the car. 

“Sure. The house should be stocked, but by the time we get there and make food, it will be really late.” 

Tyson turns to our driver and lets him know we want to stop somewhere good to eat and asks if he has any recommendations, and we’re off. 

“Am I going to have to worry about the fans tonight?” Tristan asks Tyson, who shrugs. “Thanks, that’s reassuring.” 

Tyson laughs. “Well it is no secret that you’re scheduled to start filming the day after tomorrow, and it is no secret that it is happening here in Billings, so I wouldn’t be surprised. But given that this place looks like a hole in the wall, I don’t think it will be too bad here tonight.” 

“Well, we will deal with it if it becomes an issue,” I say to Tristan. “Don’t worry about it until we have to.” 

He gives me a half smile. “You know I always worry about it.” I smile and nod. Yes, I know. 

“How are you feeling, Jo?” 

“Ohmygod, so much better now that we’re here. I slept like the dead,” she says a little enthusiastically. 

We all laugh. “Good. I’m glad.” I can tell that something is a bit off with Jo — something about the way she looks at me — and I get the impression that she is dying for some girl time. 

“Tristan, what time do you have to go by the set tomorrow?” I ask, trying to help Jolene see that I get her message. 

“I have to be there by ten but should only be there for a couple of hours. Why?” 

“No reason, was thinking that Jo and I could come back into Billings for some girl time. Was wondering how long we’d have.”

“Oh, couple hours, but take as long as you like. I need to run some lines and focus a little bit tomorrow,” he says, but I can tell he is reading what I’m really asking him. More than a couple hours. 

“Great. How’s that sound, Jo? Shopping tomorrow?” 

She nods at me enthusiastically, and Tyson smiles at our plans.