Kate

To say that I felt like I had been run over by a truck was an understatement. After my run-in with James, followed by another full day of interviews and a press conference, I had retreated to my hotel room. We were once again quite well appointed at a five-star hotel in Beijing; this time it was the Peninsula Hotel, and at that very moment, I was thanking the Lord for the heavenly bed that I had flopped myself into and hadn’t moved from for nearly an hour. At this point, I would have welcomed that marshmallow-like bed to swallow me whole.

I couldn’t quite believe how complicated things had become. As much as I ignored it on a daily basis, Cam had morphed from my temptingly hot client to a man whom I actually adored spending time with, dare I say a legitimate friend. It was, in fact, now just dawning on me that the time that I spent with Cam was always my favorite part of every day. The witty banter. The secret smiles. The “accidental” touches. It was all doing quite a number on my head and making my ability to do my job incredibly difficult.

What’s more, I still wasn’t convinced that something hadn’t happened between us in Tokyo that first night. The night was still a bit of a blur but how I felt when he had touched me, dream or not, was real. I had wanted him. Who was I kidding? I still wanted him, right at that very moment. But what was I going to do? Was I really going to put my career on the line for some Hollywood pretty-boy where all the evidence in the world pointed to him loving me and leaving me quicker than I could say one-night stand?

My cell began to buzz violently on my bedside table. I cringed, feeling certain that it was Evelyn, just another cruel reminder of the tangled web that I was weaving a little more precariously each day. I glanced at the phone but was pleasantly surprised to see Marissa’s name pop up on the screen. I answered as an elated grin spread across my face.

“Hey, you!” I effused.

“Is that my favorite roomie?”

“God, it’s so good to hear your voice,” I laughed, suddenly realizing just how much I was missing home at that moment. “It’s really early there, isn’t it?

“It’s either really early or really late. I’m not entirely sure at this point. I had to pull an all-nighter and needed a break, so I thought instead of talking to myself like a lunatic, I’d call the only other person that I knew would be awake at this hour.”

“I’m so glad you did,” I said as my voice cracked ever so slightly.

“You okay? You sound a little off,” Marissa said with sisterly concern. As always, she hadn’t missed a beat. She could always tell immediately when I was out of sorts. If we had been in the same zip code, I’m almost certain she’d have insisted on driving me to Susie Cakes to pick out an appropriately oversized slice of cake for us to dine on with two forks. In Marissa’s very educated opinion, it wasn’t actually time that healed all wounds, but rather, red velvet with cream cheese frosting.

“If that Camden Atwood isn’t being nice to you, I will be on the next plane to—where are you again?”

“Beijing,” I said, loving just hearing my best friend’s voice come across the phone line. “Once you get past the bravado, he’s actually kind of sweet, believe it or not.”

“Glad to hear it. So, what’s the problem?”

“There’s no problem. I’m fine.”

“Come on. Don’t bullshit a bullshitter.”

I grinned, remembering that I had stolen that expression from her just the other day in a conversation with Cam. I was quiet for a moment as I pulled at a loose thread on the duvet that was currently eating me alive. I wanted to tell her the whole seemingly impossible story about Cam and me, but I knew that would be a bad idea.

“I don’t know. I suppose I’m a little preoccupied.”

“Okay. Continue,” Marissa nudged.

“It’s not that big a deal, but I met someone.”

“Wait, seriously?”

“Yeah, he’s…on the tour too…. Part of one of the other entourages,” I lied.

“O.M.G., that’s so amazing! What’s his name? Tell me everything! I knew calling you was just the distraction that I needed.”

“There’s not really that much to tell.” There were encyclopedic volumes to tell! “He’s beautiful, wickedly funny, ridiculously sexy, but he’s also got a really kind side to him.”

“So, he’s like the perfect male specimen, then?”

“I don’t know about all that…but I think I really like him.”

“Alright, so what’s the problem?”

“The problem is that I think it might be…too much of a distraction…you know, as it relates to my job and doing what I need to do to get Cam through this tour and get that promotion.”

“Oh, well, that’s definitely worth being concerned about.”

“Is it though? Aren’t people meant to just follow their hearts or whatever?”

“I suppose they can if they can afford to pay their rent, the cable bill, and order off of Postmates more than once a month without feeling bad about it. You, my dear, are still on the verge.”

“On the verge? Of what? A nervous breakdown?”

“I just mean, you’ve been killing yourself at Masters for years. The payoff is finally within reach, girl! Do you really want to let some hot vacay romance derail all of that?”

Ugh! Sooo not what I wanted to hear. “Fair point,” I said somberly.

“Look, I wish I could say throw caution to the wind, but my advice is stay the course. Avoid complication. You’ve got too much at stake–that is, unless, of course…”

“Unless, of course, what?” I asked incredulously.

“Unless this guy is really something special, Kate. Like, can’t live without him special. That doesn’t come around every day and for sure might be worth the trouble.”

I thought about that for a moment. That was the question, wasn’t it? Was Cam something special? Being with him always felt amazing, and it was nearly impossible to deny the attraction between us, but the reality of the situation was that I’d never really know what Cam and I could be unless I took a leap of faith, which felt like an unbelievably scary proposition.

“You know what I always say, though,” Marissa continued. “Work the problem. Maybe there’s a way for you to have it all. No one would be more deserving.”

Just then I heard a knock at my hotel room door. “Ugh! Someone’s at the door. I’d better get it.”

“No worries. I’ll let you go.”

“Miss you,” I said.

“Back at you, girl. Talk soon.”

I hung up with Marissa, now feeling even more confused about what to do next. I actually wanted nothing more than to sit in this bed and do precisely what Marissa had said: “work the problem.” Nevertheless, I forced myself out of my cocoon and headed for the door to see who was interrupting my epic stew. When I opened the door, I was happy to find that it was just Lizzy and Evander. Of everyone on the tour, these two were the least likely to bring more drama to my doorstep—or so I thought.

“Put some clothes on, Kathryn,” Evander barked as he pushed into my room with Lizzy in tow. “We’re getting my little Tinkerbell her man tonight,” he said defiantly, earning a very raised eyebrow from me in the process.

“What are your feelings about karaoke?” Lizzy asked with the most hopeful face I’ve ever seen. I noted that she was all dolled up. Evander had clearly gotten his talented hands on her. For the first time, I noticed that with a little eyeliner and some high-end hair product, Lizzy was just this side of supermodel. Damn, those Atwood genes were good. Lizzy was all keyed up, rattling on a mile a minute, even more so than usual.

“Matt rented out a KTV lounge for everyone tonight. The whole cast is going and all of the entourages. It’s going to be brilliant!”

I knew KTV was the Chinese version of a karaoke bar and while I had never been to one myself, the idea of listening to the likes of James and Amber singing the hits in any country sounded like something to be avoided at all cost.

“Ugh, pass. Hard pass,” I said defiantly as I attempted to tuck myself back in bed.

“Come on, Kate! I need you,” Lizzy said as she crawled into bed with me, giving me her most effective puppy dog eyes as Evander busied himself going through my closet, presumably to find me something suitable to wear for the evening’s festivities.

“Matt is so excited. He was gutted that we didn’t try karaoke in Japan, but he says this is the next best thing.”

“Just so I’m clear, you want me to come so I can help you flirt with Matt again?”

“That is merely a side perk. I want you to come because you are my very favorite person on this tour, and I can’t fathom having this much fun without you.”

I rolled my eyes. “I almost believe you.”

“Please!” Lizzy begged and I, of course, was mush. She was just too damned cute for her own good.

“Fine, but this whole operation of yours depends on one significant detail,” I said. “What are you going to sing?”

Lizzy looked at me a bit thunderstruck. “Oh, I can’t sing. I’m absolutely dreadful,” Lizzy said with a laugh.

“In that case, don’t even bother.” I replied as I began happily tucking myself back into bed.

“What? Why?” Lizzy now looked legitimately concerned.

“Matt is the karaoke king. He lives for it. He’s a total ham like that. You want his attention tonight? You’d better have a damned good number planned,” I leveled with her.

Evander rejoined us and sat on my bed. “She does have a point, Tink,” Evander said, now suddenly far less confident in the wisdom of their plans for the evening.

Lizzy now also sat down on the bed a bit deflated. “Really? It’s that serious?”

“Like a heart attack,” I said as I watched the two of them suddenly become quietly pensive and felt a little sad for them both. I took in Evander for a second. He had that look that said, “Honey, I’m a star, but I’m above it.”

“Can you sing?” I asked Evander as I regarded him with squinted eyes.

“Girl, please. I grew up in the church,” he said, sounding almost insulted that I had even asked the question.

I turned to Lizzy, now sizing her up a bit. “You know, you do have one thing in your favor. You talk faster than anyone I know.”

Lizzy eyed me hopefully. I tapped my lip with my index finger thoughtfully as I worked her problem in my head instead of my own.

“I might have an idea.”