Page 124 of Now Their Starlet

“Yeah,” I rasp.

My hand trembles as I reach into my pants and pull out my phone. It’s just a notification from my social media.

Cameron and his news outlet released the trailer for the first episode of our docuseries that will be releasing later this month. He and I edited the entire thing, piecing together clips from my childhood and current confessionals where I talk about my experience.

It was pretty cathartic, setting things up like I remember from the set of The Real Omegas of Beverly Hills. Except this time, I was in control from start to finish.

Because of the conservatorship case that’s still technically ongoing, the media is absolutely buzzing about the opportunity to learn more about me and what all went down.

Life gave me lemons, so why not capitalize on them and turn them into lemonade?

Even though it’s just a notification of people responding to the trailer I reposted onto my social media pages, my heart won’t stop racing. I’m half expecting Gina’s name to flash up on this phone, even though it’s brand new and there’s no way she could track this device.

Edison and I even got me a brand new phone number.

“Hey,” Eli says, pulling my phone from my hand.

“Hey!” I say, reaching for it.

“You’ve been staring at it for the past minute,” he murmurs, tucking it into his back pocket. “I’ll give it back in a second. Talk to me, Princess. You okay?”

“I said yeah,” I huff, crossing my arms over my chest.

He has the audacity to just look concerned. He doesn’t even have that smug smirk that lives on his face when he knows he’s right and I’m wrong.

“Fine! That’s—that’s not exactly true. I’m not, but that’s why I’m going back to therapy, right?”

“Yeah,” he nods, opening his arms.

My spine seems to melt at the open invitation, and I cling to him. He sways from side to side, rocking me like I’m a colic baby as I match my breathing to his.

“You’re really good at this,” I mumble.

“Got a lot of practice with Beck,” he shrugs.

“I’m glad I’m getting to spend time with you. I feel like we haven’t had a lot of opportunities for one-on-one time recently.”

“Yeah, but it’s okay.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, pulling back so I can narrow my eyes on him.

His lips quirk up, and he shrugs.

“I mean, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous as fuck when you came back with Everett drenched in his scent last week. But I also know that regardless of the time we’ve been able to spend recently, you’re just as much mine as any of theirs. Plus... I got to spend a decent bit of alone time with you before Gina went all crazy.”

“I think she was always crazy.”

“Fair point,” he concedes. “Believe it or not, I’m actually patient.”

“What?” I gasp, mockingly. “You? Patient?”

“Yeah, when it comes to the things that matter to me.”

The door to the main part of Nancy’s office opens, and I gently pull away from Eli.

“Andi,” Nancy says, her expression breaking out into a smile that I can only describe as relieved around the edges. “It’s so good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too!” I reach up and rub ‌the back of my neck. “Long time no see, huh?”