69

"Ugh." He twirled a piece of my hair around his finger. "Any word from Sparkle Toes?"

"Not since our conversation in Bimini."

"Have your parents gotten involved?"

"Oh, yes." I sighed. "Once I told them about the source of the pics, they lost their shit. They hadn't wanted to get in the middle before, but they're not holding back now. They've told her a hundred different ways how wrong she is and how pissed they are and that they're ashamed and disappointed. It's ugly, Charlize. Like wicked ugly." I pulled the throw pillow into my arms and hugged it against my chest. "I'm just so happy this show is behind me. I was not at all prepared for how nuts my life was going to get."

"Hey, a lot of good shit happened." He dropped that tiny section of hair and started on a new one. "I found you, you found Dominick, and we found out we're the only two people on the planet that Delilah hasn't tried to fuck."

I laughed. "You don't start filming Glitzy & Fabulous until tomorrow. Delilah has several more weeks to try and work her magic on you."

"The new name is sooo me, isn't it?" He wrote a check mark in the air, a move that only he could make look incredibly sassy. "And, good Lord, I hope I don't need to remind Delilah that this tree isn't ever going to meet her forest."

"Charlize, we both know she's got no forest down there." I snorted and lifted my bottle of water off the table, taking a drink. "Seriously though, can you imagine if I had stayed on and tried to weather that media storm on camera? Episode after episode showing how I was handling my ass being revealed to everyone and their mother?" I offered him a sip. "I'm so grateful Dominick got me out of that contract."

"Another reason we-yes, me too-are smitten with him." He put the cap back on and set the bottle down. "So, now what, honey? Are you polishing up your résumé? Are you and Dominick going to travel? Are you going to start walking the dogs in his building? For the record, aside from makeup, that's my other dream job."

I glanced toward the large, uncovered window, searching for that answer in the sunlight. "I wish I knew, but I have no idea." My phone chimed, a ringtone that belonged to Dominick. "One sec. That's Dom." I got up, searching for my cell among the boxes and chaos, finding it in the kitchen.

I smiled as I read the screen.

Dominick: I can't stop thinking about you.

Me: You just saw me this morning, silly.

Dominick: Come by my office when you're done packing.

Me: It won't be for a few more hours.

Dominick: I don't care when it is, just make it happen.

Me: See you soon, baby.

"Yo, Miss Googly Eyes," Charlize said from the other side of the room. "I'm going to pee, and then let's finish up your bedroom. I'm ready to attack that beautiful, big closet of yours."

I grinned at my friend. "Then, lunch is on me."

"You're unemployed, girlfriend, and you just scored me a monstrous payday. Lunch is on me-for the rest of our lives."

"Not even a chance." I gave him a stern look, letting him know there was no negotiation. "But you need to find us a place that's far from the paparazzi's radar. I'm sure they're looking for a shot of me-they haven't gotten one since the pics were released-and I just can't handle that attention right now."

"Are you going to make a statement soon?"

I nodded. "Dominick wants me to wait for the right time. He said within the next few days after the studio airs my resignation."

"Makes sense." He put his hands on his hips. "Let me think. Hmm … I know the perfect spot. There's this hole-in-the-wall diner that I went to once in West Hollywood. Best tater tots I've ever had."

"Sold."

He fluttered his fingers at me and headed for the bathroom, and I held up my phone, loading the camera on the screen. I had on a baseball hat with a long braid hanging over one side of my chest, tons of hair that had fallen loose around my face, and not a drop of makeup on.

This was the look Dominick liked the best.

I puckered my lips to blow him a kiss and snapped a selfie. Satisfied with the photo, I attached it to a text and sent it to him.

Dominick: Damn it, I'm one lucky son of a bitch. You are so fucking hot, Kendall. I need that mouth. Now.

Me: You'll have it very soon.

Dominick: I also need you.

Me: Good thing that my lips and I are a package deal. ;)

Dominick: I should punish you for making me wait.

Me: Yes … please.

"All right, girl, let's get this done," Charlize said from the hallway, halfway between the living room and my bedroom.

I slid the phone into my back pocket and followed him into the closet. I scanned the upper and lower racks that were the whole length of the rectangular-shaped room. Lots of the clothes and shoes and accessories were things I'd brought when I moved in, and the rest were things the show had provided.

I lifted a sparkly, backless gold dress into my hands. "I offered to return all the outfits they gave me, and Shane said I could keep them."

"Finally, homeboy said something worth listening to."

"Except where am I going to wear all this stuff?" I set the dress in a box and took a flaming-hot red jumpsuit off the rack. "Clubbing is no longer my full-time profession."

He walked over to the far wall, where a blazer was hanging on one of the hooks, and he held it in front of him. "Hair up, big hoops in your ears, and only pasties underneath this jacket. Button both buttons, so the tatas stay hidden and just your cleavage shows. Leather pants on the bottom and stilettos." His stare left the jacket and moved over to me. "If you don't wear that exact outfit to our next dinner date, I'm divorcing you."

It did sound like the perfect ensemble.

But getting out of the house without Dominick tearing off all my clothes and spreading me over the kitchen counter would be a miracle.

"How about you come over and style me for dinner?" That would certainly be one way to keep myself from getting ravaged. "And I'll edit your photos for social media."

"Honey, for that deal, I'll do your hair and makeup too."

"Done."

He pulled a stack of jeans off a shelf. "I'm dreaming about the custom closet you're going to have at Prince Charming's house."

"His is impressive and quite full." I loaded a handful of yoga pants into a box. "So, I'm sure I'll take over one of the guest rooms."

"Which he'll pimp out for you, I'm sure."