Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

warning tone as if he would be upset too if Cameron didn't call.
    "I will," Cameron said taking in the sight of his parents. Just before he shut the door, he flung it wide open, jumped out of the SUV and threw his arms around them. "I love you."
    "We love you too," his parents answered in unison, squeezing him tightly.
    "We should be on the road by now if we're going to make our flight," Mr. Wolfe said from the driver's seat.
    Climbing back into the SUV, Cameron waved goodbye to his parents as Mr. Wolfe steered them toward the airport a few towns over. Gazing out the window, Cameron was barely aware of the outside world as his hometown slowly thinned out until all he could stare at were the corn fields between towns.
    "You're going to love LA, kid," Mr. Wolfe said with a smile. "So much different than that little town. The freedom, the fun, the things you'll get to do. I do have to warn you though," he said glancing over at Cameron who had turned back to look at him. "While being gay is ok, we don't want you coming out publically just yet. Openly gay start-ups never work."
    At this, Cameron felt his face flush and his eye bulge a little.
    "Relax," Mr. Wolfe said with a smile. "I'm not saying you can't find a nice guy to warm your bed at night or hell even during the day. Just keep is quiet and discreet."
    "How did you know?" Cameron managed to ask.
    "How could I not know?" Mr. Wolfe asked with a raised eyebrow. "That's another thing; try not to act so... delicate or innocent. I've talked to your new manager and he's got a number of songs lined up for you but not all of them are the sappy love longs you were singing last night. We need your image to match what you're singing."
    "You've already put together the songs I'm singing?" Cameron asked with astonishment at how fast everything was moving.
    "Yeah," Mr. Wolfe said. "I sent the videos over to Hardning last night. He loved ya and stayed up half the night going through his portfolio pulling things he wants on your first album."
    "Hardning?"
    "Richard Hardning, he's going to be your manager," Mr. Wolfe answered. "He's pretty cut throat so the studio thought you two would be a good match since you appear to be so gentle and innocent. And yeah, they figured that one out just from the videos I sent them."
    "So, they want my voice but not the rest of me?" Cameron asked in a voice he hoped didn't show how hurt he was by this.
    "No they just want you a bit... different," Mr. Wolfe said trying to phrase his comment delicately. "In LA, nothing is as it seems. No one is who they appear to be so we're just making it easier for you to fit in. Trust us, you'll spend a few years singing about girls and then once you're a big enough star, you can have a big revelation and tell everyone you're gay."
    "So, I'll be lying about who I am," Cameron summed up.
    "Just like everyone else," Mr. Wolfe agreed.
    Quietly, Cameron pulled out his phone and looked to see if Morgan had called or texted back. Nothing.
    CHAPTER 3
    "Hardning," Mr. Wolfe said striding up to a tall broad shouldered man with dark hair and sun kissed skin that didn't look a day over thirty though Cameron thought he was probably closer to thirty five.
    "Wolfie," the man said with a strong voice that sent a shiver down Cameron's spine as he stopped next to Mr. Wolfe.
    "Richard Hardning, this," Mr. Wolfe said as he turned to acknowledge Cameron, "is Cameron Boresky."
    "Hi there," Hardning said as he shook Cameron's hand and raked his eyes over his body, hungrily. Cameron blushed at the lust in Hardning's eyes. "Here, I'll take those," Hardning said taking the suitcases from Cameron.
    "Oh," Cameron said in surprise as Hardning hauled his suitcases up off the ground like they were nothing. "Thanks."
    "You're probably exhausted," Hardning said with a devilish smile. "Let's get you to bed."
    "I just need to make a phone call real quick," Cameron said pulling out his cell phone and turning it back on.
    "Oh you can't use that anymore," Hardning said taking the phone out of Cameron's hand. "Too many people already have that number. Here, use mine and we'll get you a new one in the morning." After tucking Cameron's phone into one pocket of his jeans, Hardning pulled another one from a different pocket and handed it to Cameron.
    "But..."
    "But what?" Hardning interrupted with a daring look that made Cameron forget what he was about to say. "Let's go. You can make the call in the car."
    Quietly, Cameron followed Hardning and Mr. Wolfe