In Her Arms (Indigo Lounge #4)

14. Goldie

14

GOLDIE

G oldie perched on the edge of her seat backstage at the packed auditorium. The panel Q&A session was about to start, and the vibrant chatter of the audience was deafening. She glanced at her watch, wishing for just a moment of peace. She desperately needed some time on her own. But then the lights dimmed and the spotlight fell upon her.

Two of the people on the production team—Anya and Marco—were deep in conversation, sharing anecdotes from their time on set. Goldie forced a smile, trying to engage, but her mind was elsewhere. The laughter of her friends faded into a background noise as she felt a familiar pang of longing. She wished more than anything that Cameron was here.

“Goldie?” Anya’s voice broke through her thoughts. “You still with us? You seem a little...distant.”

Goldie forced a laugh. “Just thinking about how surreal this all is. It feels like we only finished shooting an hour ago, but now…”

“Come on, Goldie! You’re a star,” Marco interjected, nudging her playfully. “You know how all this goes.”

The compliment hung in the air, but Goldie didn’t feel like a star . She felt like a woman on the verge of a revelation, teetering on the edge of a decision that could change everything. The glitz and glam of Hollywood surrounded her, but all she wanted was some downtime with Cam.

As the moderator called for attention, Goldie took a deep breath, focusing on the questions being directed to her and her fellow cast members. She smiled and laughed when appropriate, but her mind drifted to the last few weeks—the distance, the silence. The shame of their last encounter at The Orchid weighed heavily on her. It was a night that had totally spiraled out of control, one that left her grappling with both regret and yearning.

When the Q&A finally concluded, the applause resonating in her ears felt muted. She slipped off stage, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins, yet she felt hollow without the woman she wanted most there beside her.

“Great job!” Steve said, clapping her on the back. “You sure know how to work a crowd.”

“Thanks, Steve,” she replied, forcing a smile.

“Got time for a bite to eat?” he asked, guiding her through the throng of fans and journalists. “You’re going to want to refuel after that.”

Goldie nodded absently. Would she ever be able to move past her last encounter with Cam? Could she not just get a grip and let go of the fear that had been wrapped around her heart since that night?

As they approached a nearby suite, Steve shot her a conspiratorial wink. “I’ve got a little surprise for you. You’ve got a visitor.”

The door swung open, and Goldie stepped inside, her entire body on high alert. Steve wasn’t one for surprises, so she couldn’t work out what he was up to. But instead of what she was expecting—a fan or some other actor—she was met with the sight of Cameron sitting casually against the desk, a huge bouquet of red roses in her hands.

“Cameron!” Goldie’s heart leaped into her throat. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi,” Cameron said softly with a tentative smile. “I tried to get into the Q&A, but they wouldn’t let me in without a press pass.” She held up the flowers, her cheeks flushed. “So, I brought these instead.”

Goldie took a step closer. She felt her pulse quickening as she searched her brain desperately for something to say. “They’re beautiful.”

Cameron’s eyes sparkled with sincerity, and Goldie’s heart swelled at the sight of her. “I wanted to apologize,” Cameron continued. “About the way I treated you back at The Orchid. I was scared. Well, that’s a bit of an understatement. But I’m sorry I didn’t handle it well.

Goldie gulped, feeling a knot of emotion in the pit of her stomach. “Did you think I wasn’t scared too?” she asked, looking nonplussed. “I was totally freaked out, Cameron. I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know how to say what I…”

Cameron looked down, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the petals of the roses. “I was so worried about my own feelings I ignored yours. I realize now that I should have been more open with you.”

Goldie reached out to take Cameron’s hands in hers. She turned around to check Steve had left the room. He had. The coast was clear for her to ask her next question. “What are you feeling right now?”

“I love you, Goldie.” The words tumbled out before she could second-guess herself. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. I just… I want to… I want to do something.”

The admission hung in the air between them. Goldie felt a rush of warmth wash over her, pushing back the shadows of self-doubt that had lingered since their last encounter. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hear you say that.”

Cameron’s brows furrowed slightly. “Really?”

“Really,” Goldie replied, a smile breaking across her face. “I’ve been wrestling with my own feelings. This is all new to me. I thought if I just kept things professional, if I didn’t let myself get too close, it would be easier.”

“But it’s not easier, is it?” Cameron added. “It just feels like we’ve been avoiding what’s right in front of us. I’m sorry I was a total ass. I need to work on myself. I have huge commitment issues, but all I want is to change that and be with you.”

Goldie nodded as the tension of the last few weeks began to dissipate. “I don’t want to hide anymore either,” she admitted. “I want to be open and honest with you. With everyone. Even the press. I want to be able to walk hand-in-hand with you out there in the world. I don’t want what we have to be a secret. I’ll support you, Cameron, for anything you need to do. But if you run off again, I’ll hunt you down and you’ll be sorry,” she teased.

Cameron furrowed her brow. “Seriously? That’s a big step. Are you sure? And I will never run again. I promise.”

“I’m so sure,” Goldie replied. “But I need to know that you’re comfortable with this too. I don’t want to put any pressure on you. None at all.”

“I’d love that, but I guess I’d need a little time to prepare,” Cameron confessed, her voice tinged with vulnerability and guilt. “How does two months sound before we go public?”

Goldie felt a surge of relief. “That sounds perfect,” she said, her heart lifting. “I just want us to be on the same page, okay?”

Cameron smiled as her shoulder dropped a little. “So, we’re doing this? We’re really doing this?”

Goldie nodded. “Yes, we are.”

They shared a moment of silence before Goldie leaned forward, closing the distance between them. Their lips met in a soft kiss, each of them pouring months of longing and uncertainty into that single moment.

When they finally pulled apart, Goldie couldn’t help but tease, “You totally just tried to Notting Hill me, didn’t you?”

Cameron laughed, the sound like music to Goldie’s ears. “Maybe a little,” she admitted. “But I meant every word.”

Goldie felt giddy. “Well, you certainly know how to make a grand gesture.”

“Just wait until you see what I have planned for our official debut,” Cameron teased, her eyes alight with mischief.

Goldie raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Now I’m really intrigued.”

But before they could delve deeper, Steve came back onto the room and cleared his throat to get their attention. “Hey, lovebirds, dinner is waiting. There might be a few photographers still hanging around.”

Goldie exchanged a glance with Cameron, their shared excitement palpable. “Right, of course,” she said, reluctantly stepping back from the warmth of Cameron’s embrace.

“Let’s make tonight special,” Cameron said softly, her eyes still shimmering with promise.

Goldie nodded with enthusiasm as she followed Steve out of the suite and into the bustling hotel lobby.

Dinner was a flurry of laughter and drunken storytelling, her castmates sharing tales that made her forget the stresses of Hollywood, if only for a moment. Goldie felt a magnetic pull toward Cameron, who sat across the table from her.

“Goldie!” Anya called out, snapping her attention back to the group. “What’s next for you? Any big plans?”

Goldie exchanged a knowing glance with Cameron, who encouraged her with a smile. “Actually, I do,” she said, feeling emboldened. “I’m thinking about being more open about who I am—about my relationships, my life. It’s time for me to stop hiding.”

The table fell silent, eyes wide as her castmates absorbed her words. Marco broke the silence, grinning widely. “That’s fantastic! We’re all rooting for you! You’ll always have our support.”

“Absolutely!” Anya added, her enthusiasm infectious. “It takes guts to be real in this industry. And I know you, Goldie. You’ve got what it takes.”

Goldie felt a warmth spreading through her. It felt so good to know she had the support of her friends. “Thank you, all of you. It means more than you could ever know.” Her words were honest, but she really couldn’t express enough how much it meant to her.

Why did you hide yourself for so damn long? she thought as she traced her hand over her hair.

After dinner, the group decided to head to a nearby bar for drinks. The atmosphere was buzzing. Goldie found herself in a whirlwind of conversations, but her focus kept drifting back to Cameron.

As the night progressed, Goldie leaned closer to Cameron, their knees brushing against each other. “Are you having fun here, honey?” she asked, genuinely wanting to know how Cameron felt about being out and about in public.

“Definitely,” Cameron replied, her voice low and intimate. “I’m still a little nervous, but being here with you makes it all worthwhile. It’s just all quite…surreal.”

Goldie’s heart swelled. “I’m so glad. I want you to feel comfortable, especially as we start to figure things out publicly. I know it can be scary, but things will get easier.”

“Honestly, I’m more excited than nervous,” Cameron admitted, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. “The thought of finally being able to be with you without hiding is…well, it’s exhilarating.”

They shared a knowing look, the connection between them palpable. Goldie felt a surge of excitement flood her body. She leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “I want you so badly. Like, right now. Here and now. But let’s take it one step at a time. I want to enjoy this journey with you.”

“I totally agree,” Cameron said, her eyes sparkling. “I’m all in. We’ve got all of the time in the world.”

Goldie’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from Steve. “ I slipped away. I need some shuteye. Don’t forget we have that interview tomorrow morning. Early start!”

She groaned softly, feeling the sudden weight of responsibility. “I think we need to wrap it up for tonight. Big day tomorrow!”

“Let me walk you back,” Cameron offered, taking Goldie’s hand in hers before leading the way outside into the much cooler air.

Cameron turned to Goldie, a huge smile spreading across her face. “Do you realize how far we’ve come? From hiding our feelings to now walking along the street with all these people around, holding hands like this? From you being a total ass to me feeling all these feelings for you?” she laughed.

A grin spread across Goldie’s face as she glanced sideways at Cameron. “It’s wild, isn’t it? I mean, just a few weeks ago, I felt so trapped in my own head. Do you know what I mean? I can’t believe I was willing to hide myself for so long.”

“I get it. Sure, totally,” Cameron replied, her grip tightening slightly. “But it feels different now. So real.”

“There’s no way I’m messing this up again,” Goldie said, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

They stood there for a moment, the world around them fading away. Goldie leaned in closer, her heart pounding. “Cameron, I?—”

Before she could finish, Cameron leaned in, capturing Goldie’s lips in a soft, gentle kiss. Goldie melted into the embrace, feeling every worry and doubt slip away. Their lips pressed together felt like the most natural thing in the world.

When they pulled apart, Cameron looked into her eyes. “I’ll look after you, I promise.”

Hand in hand, they made their way back to Goldie’s hotel. For once, Goldie didn’t care about anything else. The only thing that mattered to her now was Cameron.

Once in her hotel room, Goldie leaned against the door, her heart still thudding. She hadn’t felt like this since being a teenager. The drunken, exhilarating rush of crushing hard on someone.

After a few minutes, she pulled out her phone and texted Cameron.

“ Tonight was amazing. I can’t wait for our date.”

Within seconds, a reply came through.

“ Me too. Sweet dreams, Goldie. Can’t wait to see you. I can’t wait to see what’s next for us.”

Goldie felt a warm rush as she read the message. She settled into bed, her mind racing with thoughts of what the future might hold. Tomorrow’s interview loomed, but for now, she was content to let herself drift off, wrapped in the knowledge that she and Cameron were finally on the same path.