Maddie

The next ten hours rushed by in a blur.

My Mom flew in on the first flight she could grab, and Izzy and I picked her up at the airport earlier this morning. When I filled her in on everything going on, she offered to march over to the guesthouse and kick Nina out herself, but I assured her Cameron and I had it handled.

They lost the game last night, and because of that, Cameron hasn't been in a good headspace. He called me after the game to explain his conversation with Ryan and how she isn't the same Nina he hired. The real Nina is on a study abroad program.

Our fake nanny is just living her best life in our guesthouse for the time being, but Cameron refuses for me to go over there and kick her out myself in case she takes things worse than she did last night when I confronted her about it. He wants to be present so we can do this together, and although I'd rather just get it over with now, I don't want to push him on it when he's had a horrible night. He takes his losses hard. I already feel bad enough that on top of being criticized by his coach, he's having to deal with this as well.

After explaining to my boss that I've been dealing with family issues, she allowed me to leave a few hours early today. Normally, I wouldn't pull the special treatment card, but everyone in the country has gotten an insight into the drama with Cameron and me in the media, so my boss didn't bat an eye before she let me go.

I needed to grocery shop and grab things for Izzy. Nina was the one who grocery shopped for us before everything went to shit, and even though my Mom offered to bring Izzy to the store and do it herself, I can't allow her to do that when she's already exhausted from her red-eye flight. The least I can do is grab groceries for her.

I've only been pushing the cart around for half an hour, but it quickly dawns on me that doing something normal like grocery shopping isn't a luxury I have anymore. Heads turn every aisle I turn down, their jaws dropping as realization dawns on them. I'm not famous, but they make it seem like I am.

The discomfort continues to grow when I catch someone not so discreetly snapping a picture of me while I grab some bananas.

Just a few more items.

As I wait in line with my cart full of groceries, my phone pings in my purse and I'm grateful to be distracted from the lingering stares.

Cam: Hey, my flight is delayed. Bad weather. Not sure when I'll be able to get on another one, but I'll keep you updated. Love you.

Fucking great.

He just had to play his away game in Nevada. I'll never understand why players are still forced to play even during a snowstorm.

When it's my turn to check out, I pocket my phone and try to engage in friendly conversation with the cashier. It's not her fault my life is going to shit, but she doesn't seem to care regardless. She hardly speaks as she bags my groceries, but I'm almost thankful for it. This old woman is the only person in this store who doesn't seem to give a shit that I'm shopping in here.

My gratefulness dies when I glance out the window to see a swarm of paparazzi blocking the entrance. There has to be at least twenty of them. My grip tightens on the handle of the cart as I try to think of some sort of plan. Anything I come up with will be of no use, though. They've already seen me through the glass. Even if there were a back entrance, my car is in the parking lot. I'll have to show my face at some point.

Screw that man who snapped a photo of me in the produce section. That's the only logical explanation for how the paparazzi got here this quickly.

Nobody is going to come and rescue me. I have to handle this myself.

Keeping my head down, I take a deep breath and push the cart outside.

Regret immediately floods me when the flashes of light practically blind me. I thought I knew where my car was, but now I'm disoriented. Everything is bright no matter where I look.

"Maddie, did Cameron cheat on you?"

"Are you getting a divorce?"

"Who's getting custody of the baby?"

These people who I've never seen before scream allegations at me left and right. Don't get me wrong, I knew what I signed up for when I agreed to get back together with Cameron. He's famous, and I knew my life would no longer be just my own, but this is on another level. This is the first time I've truly been thrust into it, and the panic eats away at me. I can do nothing but stand here with my cart and pray the flashes will stop at some point.

The flashes don't stop. Fear laces up my spine in a quick rush as I try to come up with some sort of plan. Do I push these people out of the way? That would only give them another story to write about. They'd say I'm rude, and everyone in the world would believe it.

"Can you please let me get to my car?" It comes out as a hoarse whisper. I haven't even noticed that I'm crying. Fuck. The media is going to eat these photos up.

It's getting difficult to breathe the more they keep shouting. I'm pregnant, and the stress isn't good for the baby. I have to keep reminding myself to try and take deep breaths when suddenly, a deep voice cuts through the shouting. "Hey, get out of the way! Leave the poor woman alone!"

I have no clue who this man is. I can't see him through the blinding lights, but he appears next to me and grips my cart for me. "What car is yours?" He asks. "Come on, I'll help get you to it."

Normally, I wouldn't let a stranger walk me to my car, but the steadiness and gentleness of his voice are what causes me to take him up on his offer. "The Porsche SUV," I tell him with a wavering voice. "It's blue."

"These fuckers have nothing better to do than stalk people," he seethes, guiding me away from the flashes. The paparazzi continue to follow us, but the man pushes the cart for me, finally breaking the circle of cameras.

The wind hits my face, and I glance up to see the kind samaritan who decided to help me. He's in his mid-forties with a beard graying along the edges. I can't speak until we reach my car, paparazzi following close behind us.

"Pop your trunk, and I'll load the car for you," he says. "Just get into your vehicle."

"I..." My body is frozen to the pavement, tears still streaming down my cheeks. "Why are you doing this? You don't even know me."

He shrugs and gives me a warm smile. "We're all human. I'd want the same done for me if I were being hounded by those vultures."

"Thank you," I whisper.

"No thanks needed. Go get in your car and pop the trunk, alright? They'll leave once those tinted windows cover you."

With a jerk of my chin, I scramble into the car with shaking legs and pop the trunk for him. While he loads my car, I know as I grip the steering wheel with white knuckles that I'll never be able to properly thank this random man for being my saving grace today.

***

When I returned home, I was relieved to find out Izzy was taking a nap because I collapsed into my mother's arms as soon as I stepped foot in the kitchen. The stress is eating away at me, and yes, I know what I signed up for by marrying Cameron, but I never thought it'd be this intense. I didn't realize women would try to tear us apart, or people from his past would hold blackmail over our heads.

My mother held me for a long time until my tears ran dry. She sent me upstairs to lie down with an ice pack to put over my red and swollen eyes. I'm supposed to be sleeping, but all I can do is stare at the ceiling fan spinning in countless circles.

Maybe I'm not cut out for this. I'd never leave Cameron, but maybe I'm not a woman who can handle the fame. I care too much about what others think. Already, my mind is racing with anxiety about what the headlines will be. I wouldn't be surprised if they're already out.

My phone vibrates beside me on the bed. Another call from Cameron. I'm not sure if he's aware of what happened earlier at the store, but I don't want to worry him anymore by telling him. He's stuck in Nevada with no way of getting to me, and if I answer this phone, he'll know by the sound of my voice that something happened. Truthfully, I won't be able to hide it. It'll only take a matter of seconds before I break down about it again.

My body still feels like it's running on adrenaline, and I'm nauseous as hell. I don't know if that's because of the pregnancy or because I'm still shaken up.

Rolling on my side, my swollen eyes grow heavier. It doesn't take long before I grant my mother's wishes and fall asleep.

***

I wake to the bed dipping beside me. A large, warm arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back against their chest. I'd know this body anywhere. It's my safe place. My home.

Cam.

"I'm so sorry," he whispers. Pain and regret are laced in his voice. "I called your mom, and she told me what happened. This is all my fault."

I roll onto my other side to face him, blinking up at him tiredly. "I thought your flight was delayed?"

"It was, but after your mom told me what happened, I rented a car instead and drove. The pictures got released and I..." He inhales a sharp breath. "I want to kill all of those fuckers for hounding you like that, Mads."

"You drove all the way from Nevada? Cameron, that's like ten hours. Have you even slept? What time is it?" I try to twist to look at the alarm clock on the nightstand, but he grips my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"There is nobody more important than you right now. I'm so sorry for what happened to you today, Mads. I can't say that enough."

"It's fine. It's not like you knew they'd be there. This kind of thing happens all the time, and you don't need to be stressing about me when I know you're dealing with the loss from yesterday, or was it two days ago? What time is it?"

"Baby," he whispers, tugging on my heartstrings. "I'm here now. I've got you."

Six words. That's all it takes for me to collapse into his chest and cry an entirely new river of tears.