Lucky Star: A Hollywood Love Story by Rebecca Norinne Caudill

bathroom door. It was a shame to cover up such bodily perfection, but it wasn’t fair for us to stand around fighting while he was in nothing but his birthday suit while lacy underwear and a cotton camisole covered my own flesh.
    “Thank you,” he mumbled, wrapping the fluffy, pale pink robe around his body and tying the satin sash in a loose, awkward knot.
    Smirking, I noted, “Pink is definitely your color.”
    When my remark caused his skin to turn several different shades of the hue in question in about three seconds flat, I almost felt bad for teasing him. Almost, but not quite.
    Our shouting match suspended, I plopped down on the bed and waited for him to join me. Instead he paced the room collecting the clothes he’d tossed this way and that the night before. I definitely needed to set aside some drawer space for him so he didn’t turn my bedroom into a disaster area. I wasn’t super finicky about my space but one thing I absolutely hated was when clothes were piled on every available surface.
    “I think we need to talk,” I said, interrupting his search for his underwear. He turned and looked at me over his shoulder and I almost broke out laughing, the sight of him clad in pale pink from neck to knee too funny for words. My guffaws had clearly piqued his pride so instead of continuing to tease him, I stifled any further giggling and held my tongue.
    “Yeah, I think so too. Let me get dressed first?” When he rose he clutched a bundle of clothes to his chest. When he marched into the bathroom, it struck me odd he hadn’t felt comfortable enough to dress in front of me given he’d had no problem undressing in front of me the night before. I wondered if his sudden reluctance had anything to do with his changed demeanor once I’d brought up the movie.
    Oh fuck, what if that’s not it at all? What if in the light of day he’s regretting everything that happened last night and all that talk of friendship this morning was my clue? A clue I’d completely missed until now?
    My stomach lurched and I swear I felt a literal pain in my chest, the thought of him walking away from me again more than I could handle.
    For several long months I had suffered in silence, my love for Cameron something I never dared hope he would return. And then for one glorious hour I had seen – felt – how good it could be between us only for him to go destroy the moment. If he thought for one minute he was going to do that to me again he had another think coming. I loved Cameron with all my heart, and I would do just about anything to be with him, but I wouldn’t let him toy with my heart in the process. To quote the great Meatloaf, “I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that.”
    When almost twenty minutes later I heard the shower turn on, I cursed him. Pulling on a pair of yoga pants and a thin black tank top that wouldn’t show my nipples through the fabric without a bra. As I twisted my hair into a topknot, he emerged from the bathroom and looked around the room before his eyes landed on me.
    “I’m going to make us some coffee, okay?”
    “You know where it’s at.” I tried to keep the irritation from my voice but failed. “Be my guest.”
    I didn’t want to be angry at his latest mood swing, but I could feel myself gearing up for a fight. The more I considered my reaction, the more I realized that I still harbored some amount of resentment toward him for what he’d put me through this past month. I had no idea how things had shifted so quickly between us this morning but the tide had shifted once we’d started yelling at each other.
    I walked to the kitchen to find he’d started the coffee and set out a bowl of food for Duke. The dog had quickly and easily forgiven him even if I maybe hadn’t. I watched my two best friends – man and beast – and despite my aggravation of a moment ago, felt a surge of warmth in my heart. Sure, just a few minutes ago I’d wanted to tear Cameron a new one, but now? I