“You got the part? That’s amazing news!” Amy threw herself into Camden’s arms, savoring his strength and power as he lifted her off the floor, legs bending up and back, her arms wrapped around his neck. She kissed him deep and hard, her excitement pumping through her and into him. Amy didn’t have much doubt that Camden himself would soon be doing the same thing in a whole other way.

She looked around his little apartment living room. “You see? A person doesn’t need a mansion or any of that stuff, all that advantage. For some of us, it just holds us back. But you, Cam, you worked hard for it, you sacrificed, you earned it and it came to you. I’m so happy for you, Cam, so proud.”

She kissed him again, tongues wrestling, foreheads bumping, heat surging through her. “So hot … ”

They kissed a little more before she settled in his embrace, face resting against his chest. He smiled and said, “I just hope I don’t make an ass out of myself.”

“You’ll be brilliant, I know it. Let’s celebrate!” Amy's eyes widened with excitement.

He cracked a smile. “Seems like I’ve been doing that a lot lately.”

“All the better,” Amy said, unable to contain her glee or restrain her smile. “Let’s take a trip. Let’s go to the cabin! It’ll be like our special place!”

Camden gave it some thought. “Funny you should bring that up. I think it’s time I stopped working for Longshadows. I was really only doing it to get by. And, well, now that I met you, anyway … ”

Another long kiss silenced his awkward stammering, and he returned it with vigor. The sexual tension rose between them, an invisible energy that grew stronger with every passing second, each breath only heightening the pitch of Amy’s desire.

Amy was struggling to play it cool, not show too much of her overwhelming excitement. First the movie, she thought, now he’s quitting that job, and he says it’s because of me?

Amy said, “Well, if that’s the way you feel, I’ll respect it. How about a weekend in Paris?”

“Paris? You mean … the casino in Vegas?”

“No, silly, Paris! I’ll put it on my black card.”

Camden chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, that … that sounds amazing, Amy, and I’d love it, really, but I dunno … ”

She pouted in the way that always used to charm her father. “Oh, c’mon, you’re not one of those macho men who has to pay for everything, are you?”

It was a question Camden had obviously never had the opportunity to ask himself. But the truth of the matter was clear. “I’ll be bringing in plenty of money after this shoot.”

“You got that right,” Amy said, kissing him again and relishing the sheer joy of it, the guiltless, guileless pleasure of his company. Her cheeks were almost hurting from her perpetual smile.

“Hey,” she said, almost not even recognizing her own voice, “we should get married!”

“Married? Amy, we practically just met — ”

“I don’t care. Can’t you feel the energy, the positivity? Your career’s taking off, I feel better than I’ve felt in my whole life! That’s not just some coincidence. Don’t tell me you don’t feel it.”

“No, I do, of course I do, I … I just can’t believe you feel it too, that you’d want to marry me in the first place. Amy, I get that your family’s really done a number on you and that we really feel strongly about each other … I feel the same way about you, Amy, more than I’ve ever felt about anybody.”

“Then let’s just do it!”

Camden couldn’t seem to help from chuckling, his hands gently resting on Amy’s arms. “Amy, slow down! I don’t want you to rush into anything, especially considering, y’know, how we met. That’s powerful stuff, and it’s easy to fall in love with the myth — ”

“The role.”

“Yeah.”

“But what we had … it was more than just role play, more than just that weekend.”

“That’s right, Amy, it was. That’s why we want to be careful and not ruin it. You know, these shoots, Hollywood, it destroys relationships. The long hours … ”

“The pretty co-stars.” Amy’s beaming smile quickly disappearing. This seemed to take Camden by surprise, but Amy’s certainty was already growing. “You just want to be single now that you’re gonna be some big star. Why settle for me when you can go around kidnapping all the hottest girls in Hollywood?”

But Camden was quick to say, “No, Amy, that’s not it at all.”

“It’s okay, Cam,” said, trying to disguise the quiver in her own voice. “You don’t have to explain. Like you said, we practically just met.” She walked quickly for the door, the heat in her body replaced with an icy cold, thick nausea turning in her stomach as the door seemed to come racing up to meet her.

“Amy, I’m sorry,” Camden said.

But she was quick with, “No, Cam, I’m the one who’s sorry.” The door swung open in front of her and she didn’t even bother to slam it closed behind her.

* * *

Amy dropped herself down onto Isla’s couch, one hand pressed against her forehead. “How could I be so stupid? God, Isla, you should have seen the expression on his face!”

Isla crossed back from the kitchen, a cold beer in each hand. She handed both to Amy, who cracked the first open a took a big chug.

“It’s not your fault, Amy.”

“Of course it is, Isla, it’s all my fault! I should never have fallen for him in the first place. God, what an idiot!”

Isla tucked one corner of her mouth into her cheek, brushing her black hair behind her ear. “Anybody would have gotten carried away, Amy. Especially, well … ”

This caught Amy’s attention, but it didn't surprise her. “Because I’m so sheltered? Because I’m immature?”

“Amy, you’re a college graduate — ”

“Who else would fall in love with a guy like that but some shallow dummy? Just goes to show what happens when you lock a girl up in a tower her whole life. Jeez, maybe they were right to be looking after me the way they did. I’m obviously not capable of making these decisions for myself.”

“Amy — ”

“I asked him to marry me? Isla, I couldn’t even believe it myself! We’ve only had those few dates, and the first one was, well, it wasn't just dinner and a movie, as you know. Then he gets the role that’ll launch his career … and I ask him to marry me! Stupid, stupid, stupid … ” Amy shook her head and sucked down the rest of her first beer. Isla could only sit stunned as Amy handed her the empty bottle. “Can I have another?” Isla just glanced at the beer already in Amy’s other hand. “Oh, right, thanks.”

“Okay, well, maybe it wasn’t the slickest move of all time. But first of all, you should re-evaluate yourself. You’re gorgeous, young, and ridiculously wealthy. Didn’t you say he was a poor boy from New Jersey or something?”

“Boston, his father was a beat cop.”

“Well, there you go. Guy like that, he’s got to be the one to propose, ya know? He’s bound to be old-fashioned. You never know what the guy’s really thinking. And if he doesn’t want to marry you, he’ll regret it. HBO? Big deal. Wait a minute, doesn't your family own HBO?” Amy shook her head, but she couldn’t help but chuckle. “So buy it then, that’ll show him!” Their laughter rose, Isla leaning forward to give her a reassuring nuzzle.