“Do you believe him?” Smith asks.
“I…I don’t know. I just wish I could make this all go away, Smith. A moment to just be myself and not have cameras in my face. To not see my naked pictures online, to not have people who expect the world from me. I—I just want to be me.”
“I know,” he says as he continues to pet my back. Thank God my mom isn’t here yet or I would bawl my eyes out uncontrollably.
“How much time do we have?”
“Two hours,” he says.
“Fuck,” I whisper and push my face a little deeper against his chest.
“I’ll cancel the meet and greet,” Smith says.
I fist his shirt. “You can’t,” I whisper.
“I can and I will. Fuck, Cami, there’s only so much one person can take. Stop bending over backward for everyone but yourself. I’m canceling the fucking meet and greet.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to reply as he leaves my dressing room. I hate to admit how relieved I feel. Like one less obligation being taken off my shoulders. It’s nice to have someone advocate for me, and not me merely attempting to stand up for myself.
A few minutes pass, and in my mind I catalog everyone that was at Torri’s party. It wasn’t a huge event, and I know Torri will remember everyone who was there. I send her a text, even though we haven’t spoken in a few weeks. We’re both so busy, and she is shooting a movie, so neither of us has had time to connect.
Even if Zach is telling the truth, he still isn’t innocent in the grand scheme of things. If they didn’t take the pictures at all, none of this would be happening. Torri texts me the list and my heart sinks. Most of the people work for me in some aspect. Garth being at the top of the list.
Say Garth did this, there’s no way to prove it. He’s been my manager since the beginning. There’s no way he would do this to me.
Like my thoughts are being manifested, both Garth and Smith walk into the dressing room. “Cami, this is the last show. Is there any way to make this meet and greet happen?”
I look over to Smith, who is fuming. “Garth, I just can’t. I ran into Zach before the show.”
His eyebrows rise, and he shakes his head. “I’ll go grab some merch. You think you can sign a bunch of shit instead?” I nod my head and Garth glares at Smith before he leaves.
Smith opens his mouth and then shuts it, taking a seat next to me. “You going to be able to get through the show?” he asks.
“Yeah, I always get through it.” He tilts his head, and he looks like he is holding back again.
“I know our time here is precious with your mom, but would you be okay with me taking you somewhere tomorrow night?”
I smile at him and raise my eyebrow. “What do you have planned?” He makes a zipped motion over his lips, and I shake my head.
“Your mom will be here in twenty minutes,” he says while looking down at his watch.
“She hasn’t seen a show this big before. I’m excited for her to watch.”
“I’ll be backstage with her the whole time. You don’t have to worry.”
“I never worry when it comes to you, Smith,” I say and he clears his throat.
“You need anything?”
“No. Thank you, Smith,” I say.
“For what?”
“Just for always being here.”
“Wouldn’t rather be anywhere else,” he says and looks down at his phone. “I’ll have someone outside your door. I’ll go get your mom.” I nod and he doesn’t meet my gaze.
I think I could fall for my bodyguard.Shit.
