Camden

We were only an hour into this damned tour, and things were already not going as planned. I realized quite early on that I had essentially boxed myself into a corner having sat at a table on the plane with Amber and James. In choosing the window seat, I couldn’t even rectify the situation without making an awkward scene. Amber had been going on for at least thirty-minutes about the last time we had all gone to the Toronto Film Festival together, which had been a disaster—well, according to Amber anyway. The hotel apparently hadn’t had the toiletries she liked, and she had left her favorite UGGs in the closet at the hotel or some such nonsense. James was already slurring his speech as he sipped on his fourth glass of champagne, barely listening as he tapped away on his iPhone thoughtlessly. Sometimes I hated my friends. Don’t get me wrong, they were fun to hang out with and we had all seen the world together one five-star adventure at a time, but I often wondered if we’d be friends if I flew coach and drank Bud Light. I was fairly certain that I wouldn’t like the answer to that question.

I glanced ahead to the front of the plane where Lizzy laughed with Kate and Evander as they snacked on a cheese plate and Swedish Fish, which I knew for certain Lizzy had requested specially for herself. She never went anywhere without some sort of gummy snack. It was a wonder that her teeth didn’t fall out entirely. I shook my head with mild frustration. Lizzy! If not for her, Kate might well be sitting beside me right now, engaging me in that sharp wit that I had begun to crave. I watched Kate, Lizzy, and Evander fall into easy conversation and longed to join them. I watched intently as Evander took Kate’s leg in his lap, presumably to get a closer look at those hot-as-fuck boots she was wearing that would no doubt make an appearance in my dreams that night. I shook my head at my own ridiculousness. What the hell was I doing? This was my plane. My tour. I would sit wherever I damn well pleased.

“Amber, can you let me out? I want to stretch my legs a bit.”

Amber gave me a peculiar smile as she rose to let me out of my seat. Just as I had awkwardly made my way up from the table, I took a quick stretch as I zeroed in on the vacant seat next to Kate where I had decided I would nonchalantly head next. Suddenly, however, I felt my body hurling toward the back of the plane as I was swiftly pushed into the private stateroom at the rear. Amber had moved lightning fast as she closed the door behind us and promptly locked it.

I took in the tight little room that was comprised of a queen-sized bed, two soft, white leather chairs with cashmere throws draped over them, and presumably a tiny bathroom in the back. Amber came at me like a cat in heat, roughly taking my face in her hands and forcing a breathy, wet kiss on my unsuspecting lips. I struggled to hold her off for just a second.

“Bloody hell, Amber! What the fuck?”

“Come on, we always christen the jet on a tour. It’s good luck.” She said smiling seductively as her hands slid down to my crotch where she took a firm grab of my cock through my jeans. “Hmm, not quite ready for me yet. But that can easily be fixed,” Amber remarked as she licked her lips. She immediately fell to her knees and unzipped my jeans in one quick motion.

“Amber! I’m not in the fucking mood. Stop playing around,” I said as I lifted her to her feet and tossed her toward the bed a bit rougher than I had planned.

Amber’s face was awash with surprise by my reaction. “Whoa! What is your deal, boyfriend?”

“We’ve got a plane full of people out there. I don’t really want to put on a show, okay?”

“That’s never stopped you before.” She propped herself up indignantly on her elbows. Her eyes suddenly softened as she took in the distress on my face. A knowing smile crossed her lips slowly.

“Oh, shit! You’re hoping that Princess Publicity is going to spread for you on this trip, aren’t you?”

“Amber, Jesus! There’s no need to be so crass,” I said, feeling uncomfortable about where this conversation was headed.

“Oh, my God, you are!” She sat up on her knees excitedly. “Why the fuck did you invite me, then? You like…fully cock blocked yourself.”

“Don’t get mad, Amber,” I said as I flopped down in one of the lounge chairs, “but you weren’t entirely invited on this trip,” I explained as Amber’s brow furrowed in confusion. After mere seconds though I could see her slowly putting the pieces together in her head.

“Lizzy?”

I nodded slowly in affirmation.

“Cam, you really need to get a legitimate assistant.”

“I know, she’s not the best, but I like having her with me, you know?”

Amber shook her head, immediately understanding my meaning. “I get it,” she said a bit somberly. She took a moment to straighten out her clothes and sat down on the edge of the bed to regard me. “Look, Cam, I’m totes bummed that we’re not in here banging each other’s brains out, but truth be told, I gave up on the idea of you and I riding off into the sunset together a long time ago, so this is…whatever. But I think you really need to slow your roll with this whole ‘Kate’ thing. It’s not likely to turn out the way you’re hoping with that one.”

“Amber, you don’t even know her.”

“Do you?”

I sighed, conceding the point.

“Look, you heard her out there. She said she wanted to ‘keep things profesh’.” Amber mimicked in a whiny tone. I cocked my head at her in mild irritation. “She came here to work, Cam. You come on to her in the wrong way, and you’ll skeeve her out. Best case scenario, you’ll forever be that creepy celebrity who hit on her– worst case, harassment suit. My advice? Make sure that you make her come to you.”

“Amber, I don’t need lessons from you on picking up women. I’m already in the advanced class, thanks,” I teased.

“Please. You know how to shoot fish in a barrel. This is going to be more like fly fishing, doll. You gotta dangle the bait a little and then take it away. Make her want it, you know?”

I stared at her incredulously as I shook my head. “Is that right? And what exactly do you propose?”

“I can think of a few things we can do.”

“We?” I spat out as I crossed my arms with an amused laugh.

“We,” she repeated back with a sly smile.

“So, what? You’re going to coach me through landing another woman? Is that it? What’s in it for you?”

“I’m on a five-star vacation, hon, and maybe when I hit the Gucci store in London, and I ask for your credit card, you don’t give me any lip? How’s that sound?”

I couldn’t help but smile at Amber. She was an opportunist, to be certain, which is perhaps why I had always kept her at arm’s length, but she was upfront about it, which I sort of respected and found comfortable. I knew exactly what she wanted from me and vice versa. There were no complications. It was simple. Amber could tell from my face, however, that I was still unconvinced.

“Look, we’ve been in here for at least fifteen minutes. Kate probably already thinks you’re BANGING ME HARD in here.” Amber bounced up and down on the bed making it creak just a bit. “Oh, Cam! Oh!” she thundered.

“Amber, for the love of God. Knock it off.”

She grinned like an unruly child. I couldn’t help but smile as I stood and offered my hand to her to help her up from the bed.

“I’ve got this under control,” I said.

“Suit yourself, but if you ask me, jealousy is your currency, right now,” Amber said as she rose. She promptly unlocked the door and opened it.

“That was fun,” she said, briefly glancing down at my crotch. “Oh, don’t forget to zip up, hon,” she said a little too loudly.

I stepped outside of the stateroom with an ironic smile as I zipped up. My amusement, however, was cut short as I met Kate’s gaze. She had such a look of total disgust on her face that it was hard to imagine ever being able to come back from it. I sighed to myself, strike one.