Test Subjects (Camren)

Chapter 16

She finished both and thought of what she might do for the day. She thought about going into the restaurant, but her dream still had her mildly paranoid about being anywhere near the construction workers she had been less than pleasant to recently. And then she considered the possibility of bothering Dinah or Ally at work but pushed it away because it probably wouldn't be very fun to watch two different types of managers make phone calls all day. Her thought process was interrupted when Lauren came back down the stairs and kissed her on the side of the head.

"Hey baby, why do you look so upset?"

"I don't know what I'm going to do today. It's Monday, which means it's slow at the restaurant and you have to work and I don't know what to do with myself."

Lauren poured herself a cup of coffee and then turned back to Camila. "Maybe you could start a new hobby?"

"Like what?"

"How about exercising?"

Camila gasped. "Why would that be the first thing you suggest? Are you saying that I need to start working out? Am I getting fat?"

Lauren looked horrified and shook her head rapidly. "No! That's not what I was saying at all! I just thought maybe you'd want to try something new. Exercise has been proved to improve mood as well as your body."

"Yeah, that better had been what you meant," Camila mumbled.

"Stop, you already know that I think you're perfect."

"Well that's because I am," Camila said with a hair flip. Jesus, she was spending way too much time with Dinah.

Lauren chuckled and sipped from her mug. "Well alright then. Or you could hang out with the wives? Maybe one of them is free."

"Yeah, I guess I could. But I have to go into the restaurant anyway. Our review came out today and I promised Demi and Tori that we'd read it together." Camila's knees started to bounce nervously as she thought of the possibilities. What if he hated the food? What if he found the atmosphere boring? If he didn't absolutely love his experience at Renza, they could kiss that second location goodbye without even looking at it first.

Lauren smiled and came around the corner and took both of her hands. "Baby, listen to me. You have no reason to be nervous, okay? Renza is the best restaurant in Miami and you've had dozens of magazines and critics tell you that already. One review isn't going to wreck your reputation. But it doesn't matter because I'm sure it'll be perfect, you'll see."

Camila groaned and leaned her head against Lauren's chest. "Why can't you just let me panic like a normal person?"

"Because you don't need to panic. You're amazing at what you do and you have no reason to be anything but confident. Now say you're amazing."

"No."

"Camila." She lifted her head to stare into serious green eyes. "Come on, say it."

"I'm amazing," she said purposely muffling it into Lauren's dress shirt.

"I didn't hear that."

"You're so annoying. I said I'm amazing and the best restauranteur that ever existed and I already know I got a perfect fucking review. Happy?"

"Ecstatic. Now, I have to go to work. Call me after you read it okay?" Camila nodded and turned her head away when Lauren tried to kiss her. "Camz, I'm leaving. Give me a kiss."