Page 56 of Now Their Starlet

Not that I blame them.

I wouldn’t willingly hang out with my mom either. Especially if the camera is off and her normal, venomous side comes out.

“I’d... really like that,” I say, past the lump in my throat.

“Okay, all done,” Juno says, stepping back with a nod. “Pretty sure I matched the look you had when you first came in.”

She holds out one of the small powder compact with a mirror, and I glance at myself.

“Wow,” I breathe out. “Yeah, this is great. Thank you.”

“Isn’t she hella good?” Cleo says. “I try to convince her to do my show makeup when our schedules match up.”

“More like you annoy me until I cave,” Juno huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. There’s a look of true and genuine affection there that makes me pause.

Seeing the two of them interact makes sisterhood look like a beautiful experience. Is this what family is supposed to be like?

“Okay, we should make sure you get back,” Juno says, turning back to me and opening the door to the stall.

The balls of my feet and toes are screaming at me with every step as I make my way back to the powder room. Cameron’s gaze finds me instantly.

“Do I look okay?” The question comes out small, and I instantly hate how obvious it is that I’m seeking validation.

That type of vulnerability means you’re opening yourself up for rejection. Making someone aware of the fact that you want to hear a certain answer, giving them ample ammunition against you.

But that’s the kind of thinking born from being in Gina’s orbit.

Cameron’s expression just softens as he smiles at me, standing from his seat on one of the armchairs.

“Yes, of course. More than okay.” He takes a few steps towards me until I can pick up my own perfume on him from where I scent-marked him earlier. The thought of the others being able to smell me on him when he sees them again makes my inner omega purr. That pride overrides any disappointment I have over not being able to soak in his smoky cedarwood scent.

“Even when I look like... you know...” I purse my lips together, glancing at myself in the gilded mirrors against the wall. I know how much I’ve changed, appearance-wise, in the past month. And I hate it. I don’t look like myself.

“I would still think you look beautiful no matter how you look,” he murmurs.

“Bullshit.” I puff my cheeks out, narrowing my eyes on him.

His lips quirk up in amusement when he sees my expression.

“Don’t lie to me. Please,” I push.

His expression quickly grows serious, and he nods.

“Of course. The honest truth is that it’s... difficult to look at you now without wanting to do something that would get me arrested because it’s a reminder of everything that’s been done to you.” Despite his voice being pitched low, there’s still a strain there that betrays just how important these words are to him. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t find you beautiful. Because you’re—you’re you, Andi. Even when I first met you and thought you were...”

“A vapid bitch?”

“I wasn’t going to say that,” he huffs. “But even then, I never thought you were anything less than stunningly attractive.”

“Okay, so you thought I was a stunningly attractive, vapid bitch,” I tease, the words feeling light.

I haven’t had the opportunity to tease someone like this in months. I’ve never felt safe enough to with Ezra and I sure as hell wasn’t going to snark back at Gina or anyone on the team.

“You’re putting words in my mouth,” Cameron huffs.

“I don’t mean to cut this reunion short,” Ezra says, standing from his seat on one of the sofas. “But we’ve gotta go. Any longer and Stuart will probably question why I’m lasting this long.”

Cameron stiffens in front of me.