Kate

The rest of the morning had been a bit tense. Cam and I ordered room service and ate quietly while the TV played in the background. After that, we retired to our separate rooms to quickly pack before we headed to the airport to board the jet bound for Venice and the film festival there.

The lowlight of the day, however, came when we finally boarded the plane that afternoon. We hadn’t said much to each other on the way to the airport, or in the waiting area before boarding. Nevertheless, Cam reached for my hand when it was time to walk out onto the tarmac and held it tightly in his as we climbed the stairs to the jet’s main cabin. The flight attendant, Rebecca, had been poised right at the door to greet us as we entered, and I flinched, pulling my hand out of Cam’s the moment I saw her.

Cam sighed in frustration with me and just snapped. “Kate, every single person on this plane has signed an NDA. We don’t have to fucking hide in here. Save it for Venice.”

I was completely taken aback by his tone. “Cam!” I said, trying to calm him.

“Just don’t, okay?” He shrugged me off. “I’m tired. I haven’t slept in days. I think I’m going to go take a nap.”

Cam headed back to the stateroom and closed the door, with Lizzy and I in his wake. I felt a teardrop on my cheek and quickly wiped it away. Lizzy had seen it, though, and wrapped an arm around me to console me.

“Are you, okay?” Lizzy asked.

“I honestly don’t know.”

I’d never felt more confused in my life, but I also knew that I’d had never been more in love in my life. Every ounce of my soul was telling me that I should be doing everything in my power to fight for him, but he was right, something was holding me back, and he could feel it.

“Let’s do champagne and Swedish Fish while grumpy sleeps it off. That always cheers me up,” Lizzy said.

I couldn’t help but smile. Her friendship had come to mean a lot to me, as well, and I hated the thought of losing that, too.

“I’ll get us a cheese plate,” Evander said, wrapping an arm around me conspiratorially, knowing full well that Swedish Fish were entirely Lizzy’s thing.

Tony even squeezed my shoulder as he moved through the cabin, heading toward the back to be closer to Cam in case he finally emerged—but he didn’t.

Lizzy, Evander, and I enjoyed our snacks during the rest of the flight. The two tried to keep me distracted as much as possible, but my thoughts were with Cam, who now seemed so far away, and I could just feel him slipping further by the minute.

When we finally landed, and Cam rejoined the group, I sensed that he was trying to behave like his usual self, but something about his smile was forced. He, nonetheless, kissed my forehead and wrapped an arm around me as we deplaned.

“I’m sorry I snapped, love,” he said gently.

I couldn’t read him. It was almost like a stranger had emerged from the stateroom.

“That’s okay,” I said trying desperately to lighten his mood by tickling his stomach a little, even offering my lips up to him for a kiss, which he took with a smile. When our lips parted, he just looked at me. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes as he regarded me and stroked my hair. I gave him a warm smile, determined to save our adversity for another time.

“Let’s do Venice!” he said with a bit more energy, but I knew better.

---

We had taken a private water taxi from the airport to the Hotel Londra Palace, which was hands down the loveliest hotel I’d ever seen. Situated right on the water, it had incredible views of the San Marco Basin and the Venetian Lagoon from every angle and glorious old-world luxury that immediately made me feel as though I had died and gone to Heaven—that is, until I heard one of my least favorite sounds in the world.

“There you bitches are!” came James’s loud voice as we entered the lobby of the hotel.

I had completely forgotten that he and Amber were rejoining the group in Venice. James already had a drink in hand and was ready to party, as usual. Much to my annoyance, Cam rushed over to the two of them, already in their resort loungewear, and hugged them both. It was as though the uncomplicated train had just rolled up, and Cam was determined to get back on board. I couldn’t say that I blamed him, I guess.

Amber looked well rested and happy as she approached Lizzy and me with a hug. I was surprised when Amber linked arms with me and pulled me to the side a bit as we approached the studio execs waiting with our room keys.

“So? How’d it go in London?” she whispered as she eyed Cam, making sure he was otherwise occupied.

I stared at her, not sure if I should actually confide in her. It wasn’t as though she and I were besties, but there was something earnest in her eyes that told me she actually gave a shit.

“It was amazing–until it wasn’t,” I admitted reluctantly.

“Seriously?” she said looking entirely crestfallen by the news.

“Yeah, I’m not really sure where things stand right now.”

“Okay, well, James and I were headed to the bar, and I saw Castell earlier. Let’s get the group together and get everyone back in fun mode. It’s too gorgeous here to be mopey. Maybe you just need a change of scenery from dreary London. It’s a lot for him to process there, you know?”

I actually hadn’t even thought of that. Leaving home again with still quite a bit unresolved with his family and straight into a pretty uncertain situation with me? That would undoubtedly have been at the back of his mind when we left. I suddenly began to wonder if Cam was actually just as fearful about the future as I was. Nevertheless, I felt like I needed a breather. It was a rest day on the tour, and taking advantage seemed like exactly what I needed.

“I think I’m just going to relax in my room for a bit.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, hopeful.

“I am,” I said as I grabbed my room key and headed toward the elevators while the rest of the group continued to catch up in the lobby. Cam didn’t even notice as the door to my elevator car closed, and I disappeared.

The saddest part about my arrival in Venice was that I had the most beautiful room with classic royal blue accents and luxurious fabrics that I knew Cam would have loved to romance me in. There was a lovely terrace with the sort of view that one would imagine on a romantic getaway for two. It made me ill to think that I actually might not get to share this fantastic experience with Cam.