Chapter 3

Jesus.The most prestigious award show in Hollywood was a total snore.

Cameron had watched it on TV a few times, so it wasn't as though he didn't know what was going to happen, but he had no idea what it was like to be live in the audience with all the speeches, commercial breaks, the waiting for people to walk down the aisles…it just felt endless. It helped that he'd seen most of the movies and he already knew a lot of the actors, but not enough to keep him from forcing his eyes open a couple of times now that they were into hour three.

There was conversation at the table during commercial breaks, which he tried to stay out of but got pulled in by someone nearly every time. What was his favorite movie? What did he think of the emcee? And if they weren't asking questions, they were telling stories about Dusty on set. Dusty smiled politely and was clearly uncomfortable, maybe because the stories were either about Dusty being truly funny or very kind.

Cameron was a little shocked by the gentle and friendly teasing about him being high-maintenance and almost no mention of making everyone wait on him. It was as if Cam had slept with a different man.

So far, Until It's Over hadn't won Best Score or Best Makeup, despite being well suited for both categories. Jack's supporting-actor win was exciting, though, even if his speech was a little dry. He looked totally shocked, and the quick kiss he exchanged with his wife before going on stage was sweet. There was a quiet celebration when he finally returned to his seat, everyone clinking glasses and drinking to him.

Cameron thought the award was well deserved, and he was sure Dusty did too, but it wasn't long before he started to feel the tension coming from Dusty's seat. They were brought little snacks throughout the night, but Dusty hadn't touched any of them. Not even the little dessert bites, which, knowing Dusty's sweet tooth, was very unusual.

"Are you okay?" he whispered during one of the breaks.

Dusty glared at him. "Of course."

That was the fire he loved and hated about Dusty. And either way, it made Dusty's eyes light up, the blue growing even brighter. "Sorry, I just thought—you seem a little?—"

"I'm fine. I just—I'd like to get out of this stupid tie."

That was a good cover, but he knew better. He didn't think the others at the table did, though.

"Try sitting in a gown all night," Lita offered with a roll of her eyes.

Cameron nodded. "Yeah, that sounds uncomfortable too."

"I like getting dressed up for a special occasion, but usually at a wedding or party, I've ditched my tie and jacket by this time," Jack agreed, patting Dusty's knee.

Joline bent to rub her ankle. "Right? And my heels. God."

"I kicked mine off under the table ages ago." Emily's grin was wicked and playful.

"What a great idea."Lita kicked hers off too.

From what he could tell, the other ladies had all done the same.

"I can't ditch this tie, though. Stupid TV."

"Well, for once the men get to be more uncomfortable than the women. Ha!" Lita danced in her chair.

"It's okay to be nervous," he whispered to Dusty.

"I'm okay." There was a quick flash of worry in Dusty's eyes before he picked up his glass of seltzer and took a sip, but right before the break ended, he leaned closer. "Thanks."

Cameron glanced at Dusty curiously. The man he'd dated hadn't known the words "thank you" or "please" or "I'm sorry." Dusty had always been too self-absorbed. He gave Dusty's knee a squeeze without taking his eyes from the stage, where the emcee was introducing the celebrities that would hand out the last of the awards.

Then it all began.

"The winner for Best Original Song…Until It's Over, music and lyrics by Jamie Post."

"Yay!" The whole table got to its feet, applauding.

After they also won Best Director, Dusty schooled his features like the actor he was, but under the table he was squeezing Cameron's hand as Alan Pershing, last year's Best Actor, read off the list of nominees to take the title this year.

Bruised or broken fingers were strictly prohibited in his contract, but he'd explain to his employer if he had to. He was almost as nervous as Dusty now.

Alan Pershing was brilliant. but he was basically a hundred years old and his voice shook as much as his fingers. "And the award goes to…oh. Goodness, I can't get the envelope…"

"Jesus Christ," someone at the table whispered nervously. Cameron didn't know who; his eyes were glued to the stage. "Oh, hold on, I've got it. Okay. Yes. Sorry about that, everyone."

Get on with it!

"The award for Best Actor goes to, oh my goodness, so wonderful, yes. Dusty Harding, Until It's Over!"

All eyes turned to Dusty, including his. Dusty glanced around at his fellow cast members, who were all telling him to stand up, but he wasn't moving. Cameron got up himself and took Dusty's arm, and Dusty finally stood, absolutely stunned.

"Oh, my God." Dusty still looked as though someone had clocked him on the head with something, but he was smiling and sort of crying all at once.

Dusty took a deep breath and kissed him before heading for the stage.

Dusty…kissed him.

"I think I might have passed out just then if Cameron hadn't…wow. Hi." That got a laugh from the audience, but he was too stunned to participate. He plopped down in his chair and licked his lips, trying to get another taste of Dusty and feeling as stunned as Dusty had been just a second ago.

"…and such an incredible cast. Jack, Lita, Steve, Joline…thank you for having my back." He missed the first part of Dusty's speech because his ears were still ringing with shock. He blinked and focused, trying not to steal any attention from Dusty's big moment. "Um, and thank you to everyone that's been supportive of my career, and just of me in general—wow, I'm trying not to cry—especially everyone supportive of me in general over the years. I've needed every single one of you. Thank you."

Dusty held the award out and looked at it in awe as the music swelled, and he was escorted off the stage and into the wings.

"That was amazing."

"He's so sweet. How sweet was that?"

"He totally made me cry. Ugh. My mascara."

He listened to the comments around the table and if he didn't know better, he would never have guessed they were talking about the man he'd once dated. Sweet wasn't a word he would have used then. Or kind. Or really any of the things he'd heard people say about Dusty tonight.

Except hot. Dusty was ten times sexier humble. And he wore that suit as if it had been tailor-made for Cameron to tear it off him.

With his teeth.

Damn.

He'd been attracted to people he'd been hired to escort before; wealthy people had a way of being beautiful, and the nature of his work often created a cosmetic intimacy. But sex wasn't one of his services and professionally, that was a line he never crossed.

But he couldn't deny the way this new version of Dusty tempted him, and that was a dangerous thought.

Cameron was so preoccupied with his thoughts, he missed the call for Best Actress and found himself applauding for a woman he recognized but wasn't sure what movie she'd been in.

"Here we go, folks." Steve took a breath as the presenter for Best Picture took the stage. Clips of the nominees were shown on the big screens, and after that, everything seemed to happen very fast.

Until It's Overwas named the winner and the producers were named as well, though he couldn't hear over the excitement at his table. He stood up with everyone else, offered congratulations, and was soon left at the table with everyone's spouses.

"There he is." Emily pointed to the stage where Dusty was jogging in from the wings, grinning from ear to ear.

The director gave an amazing speech about the professionalism of the cast and how supportive they were of each other. He thanked the studio and the money guys, the cast and his mom. Cameron heard it all, but his eyes were on Dusty, who was off to one side and out of the spotlight, sharing the stage and the moment with his friends, and looking like someone Cameron wanted to get to know better.

"They look great. This is amazing," Emily said over the applause as the crew was escorted from the stage.

"Lita has been so nervous all night. Maybe she'll stop snapping at me now." Bruce had been quiet most of the evening, and that explained why.

"God, tell me about it. I caught hell for compliments. I told Joline her hair looked great, and she turned into a monster for a minute. Nerves, man. Killer."

"Well, you can't blame them, I guess."

"No, no I get it. This is a lot."

He nodded. It was a lot. He thought about Dustin's blowup earlier and discovered he'd already forgiven the outburst. The nerves were bad enough on their own, but on top of that, he and Dusty had baggage between them that was heavier than Dusty really needed to carry tonight.

The crowd on the floor was milling around now, and pop music was playing. Somehow, preoccupied in his own thoughts and the celebration at their table, he'd totally missed the emcee's signoff. He hadn't been listening at all.

"God, I need a drink."

"Oh man, me too."

He looked up, blinking at Madison. "I said that out loud, huh?"

Everyone laughed and Emily patted his shoulder. "It's one of those nights."

It was some night—that was true. What kind of night, he didn't know yet.