Breaking Hollywood [CAMREN]

Chapter 30

Lauren

I climb in my car and put Gucci on the passenger seat. I throw my bag into the footwell.

For a moment, I just sit here, hands on my steering wheel, staring out the window in disbelief.

I can't believe what just happened.

Tears run down my face and onto my lips. I wipe them away with my hands.

"Baaahhh."

I glance over at Gucci. "I know, baby. I just...I don't know what's happening. I'm as confused as you are."

I pick her up and set her in my lap, hugging her to me. I bury my face in her soft fur. Tears start to soak her coat.

"Sorry, baby girl." I dry her fur with my hand and wipe my eyes dry.

I don't know what to do. I could call my brother, but he's in Japan at the moment, and I don't want to bother him. And I know, if I call Mom and Dad, they'll want me to come home to New York. Stupidly, I don't want to leave here. Because Camila's here.

I know; I'm a fucking idiot.

But she's alone, and he's hurting.

She might hate me and think I've done an awful thing. I might be angry and hurt as hell that she thinks I could have done that to her, but I love her, and I don't want her to be alone when this story hits the press.

I think about calling Harry because I know Camz won't, but I don't know his cell number. I don't want to call the hospital.

Then, it hits me.

There is one person I can call.

I lean over and grab my cell from my bag. I take a deep breath, steadying my breathing, and press her number.

"Hey, stranger."

"Hey, Normani."

Normani is a good friend of mine. I've known her for years. I've not spoken to her in a few months, but this is how we've always been. And I know I can call her whenever I need help.

"I know it's been a while since I last called, but I really need your help."

"Sure. What's up?"

"Are you in LA at the moment?"

"No, I'm in Oregon."

Normani lives there with her girlfriend, Dinah Jane Hansen, who's a famous movie star, and she also happens to be a close friend of Camila's. That's the reason I've called her. I know Camz has just been a world-class asshole to me and has hurt me like no one has before, but I also know she's hurting over the fact that the whole world will soon know about her past, and I don't want her to be alone when that happens. I know it's killing her that this will be getting out.

"Oh. Okay. Just...could you do me a favor?"

"Sure. Anything."

"Could you have Dinah call Camila?"

"Camila? As in, Camila Cabello?"

"Yes."

"Okay. But why are you asking me to get Dinah to call Camila? I didn't think you guys knew each other well. Or at all."

I take a deep breath. "We didn't. But we do now. It's a long story. I just really need Dinah to call Camila."

She picks up on the urgency of my tone. "What's going on, Lau?"

An unexpected sob bursts from me. I press my hand to my mouth.

"Shit, Lau. What's going on?"

"Just Camz and I were together, and now, we're not because she thinks I did something that I didn't. And, now, something's about to be made public and it's going to really hurt her and I don't want her to be alone and I would have called his brother, but I don't know his number, and I know Dinah is a good friend and I thought she could call her—"

"Okay, babe. I'll get Dinah to call Camila. But, first, I need you to take a deep breath and tell me everything from the start."

So, I do. I tell her everything—from the moment I hit Camila with my car to what just happened in her apartment. The only things I leave out are the details of Camila's past. It might be public knowledge soon, but I made a promise that I wouldn't ever tell a soul, and I'm keeping that promise even if Camila thinks I didn't.

"Jesus, Lauren. I don't know what to say. I just—"

"It's fine, Mani."

"No, it's not fine. She blames you for this when you haven't done anything wrong."

My heart swells because she believes me at my word, which is more than Camila did.

"And the first thing you do is call me, so I can have Dinah check on her. Girl doesn't know how lucky she is."

"She's hurting."

"She's an asshole. I'm sorry, Lauren, but she is."

No, she's in pain. She thinks I've betrayed her.

But I don't want her to think I'm making excuses for her, so I say nothing.

"Will you just have Dinah call her, please?"

"She's calling her now."

"Oh. Good. That's great. Thank you."

There's a brief pause, and then Normani says, "So, what are you going to do now?"

I let out a sigh. "I don't know."

"Do you have anywhere to stay?"

I look around my car and at Gucci, who climbed back onto the passenger seat while I've been talking to Normani.

"Well, I can try to get a hotel room, but I don't know of any hotels that'll take Gucci."

"Who the hell is Gucci?"

"She's my pygmy goat."

"You have a pygmy goat? When—actually, never mind. What about Logan? Can you go to his place?"

"He got a job in Maine. Went there a few days ago. But I'll be fine, honestly. Don't worry about me."

"Yeah, of course I'm not going to worry." I can practically see her rolling her eyes at me. "Look, I'm gonna call the hotel where Dinah and I stay when we're in LA. I'll get you a room there."

"What about Gucci?"

"They'll take you and Gucci, or they'll lose business they don't want to lose."

Her confidence makes me smile.

"It's really kind of you to offer to do this, Normani, but my bank account won't stretch to the kind of hotels that you and Dinah stay in. I'll just try and get a motel. And, if not, I'll sleep in my car."

"The hell you will. I'm calling the hotel now, and I'm paying—"

"Mani, no."

"Lauren, I'm not taking no for an answer. I'm booking you a room for you and your goat. And then I'm catching a flight to LA first thing."

"You don't have to do that."

"I know I don't. But I want to. You're my friend, babe. And I know, if this were reversed, you'd do the exact same for me."

"Of course I would. In a heartbeat."

"So, it's settled then. I'll text you with the hotel details in a few minutes. Call me if there are any problems when you check in. And I'll see you in the morning."

A tear rolls from my eye and down my cheek. "Thanks, Mani. I've missed you."

"Missed you, too, babe. I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early."

"See you then."

I hang the phone up and hold it to my chest. Then, I rest my head back on the headrest and stare up at the roof of my car, praying that Camz is okay up there, in her apartment, alone.