Free California Dreaming by Zoey Dean

Adam watched the coverage until sunrise. They had little to say to each other, and that made things easier. It was like confirmation that their relationship was officially and completely over. Sitting at the bar, Adam had seemed distant, even cold. Whatever. She'd moved on to something hotter: Ben. They hadn't had the chance to hook up last night, but there was always tonight.
    “Did you watch the coverage?” Citron asked.
    “It was hard to avoid.” Cammie heard the door behind her open again and a small group of security personnel took up positions in front of them. When the club opened, the last thing anyone wanted was a mad rush to enter.
    “I was glued to the TV, man,” Parker said. “It was like a movie.”
    “With a happy ending,” Citron added, as Parker took her arm. Again, Cammie caught the faintest of drawls and wondered where she was from. Mississippi? Louisiana? She had to admit it was cute.
    “I'm just so glad that Anna's all right,” Citron breathed. “She's so lucky.”
    “Yeah, me too.” Cammie craned her head around. Where was Ben? Already in the club?
    As if Parker had been reading her mind, he asked, “What's up with Anna and the B-man?”
    “Toast,” Cammie declared with satisfaction.
    Parker grinned. “Then I'd say
you're
the lucky one. Me too.”
    He looked like he had news. “Do tell.”
    “I just got a call for a new project.” He punched the air. “You've heard of something called
Lifeboat?
”
    “No shit?” Cammie was impressed.
    “One of the leads,” he said proudly.
    She knew all about the movie. Her father, Clark, represented two of the producers. If Parker was cast in it, it would be a huge break, as he'd play one of seven people who had to abandon their yacht and drift at sea in a rubber lifeboat, hoping to be rescued. Kevin Bacon was directing. Rumor was everyone from Jack White from the White Stripes to Natalie Portman was signed. Whichever of those tiny blond twins was still acting—Cammie could never remember—couldn't even get a screen test.
    “Well, congratulations. Go celebrate.” Cammie reached into her Kooba Charlie silver-panel disco clutch and took out a few laminated cards that would be good for free drinks inside. “Take these.” She pressed them into Citron's hand. “Drinks tonight are on me.”
    “Thanks!”
    Citron's gratitude was genuine, and Cammie smiled. She got one of her door guys’ attention and motioned for him to let Parker and Citron inside. The door opened, and they headed into the club to hoots and catcalls from the waiting masses. No. Not
the
club.
Her
club. Well, hers and Ben's. Theirs.
    “Cammie! Over here!”
    Cammie turned. Several photographers had moved into position, the better to snap pictures of clubgoers coming and going. Of course, the VIP entrance was around the back and no photographers were permitted in that area. But many celebrities liked to be photographed and chose to come in the front way.
    Cammie struck a pose for the paparazzi as flashbulbs went off. A hand on her hip. A toss of her hair. She spun around and gave them a coquettish look over one shoulder. All of this came as naturally to her as breathing.
    “So you're the teen queen who owns this place, right?” one guy with bleached spiky hair and an overeager smile called out.
    “With my partner, Ben Birnbaum,” Cammie answered, posing some more as people yelled, “Hey, Cammie!” and, “Over here!” She pursed her lips, cocked her head. Laughed. The photo op went on and on.
    “Hey, Cammie,
Entertainment Tonight
! A few words before things get hopping tonight?” The body attached to the voice was surprisingly cute. He couldn't have been a day over twenty-five and looked like he'd just stepped out of a Ralph Lauren ad, with his close-cropped rusty gold hair and tennis player arms. A portly camera guy hovered behind him.
    Entertainment Tonight
was covering her club? Not that she ever watched
ET
—it was unbelievably cheesy, and she already knew