Cameron Hamilton - Leap of Faith: Finding Love the Modern Way

Cameron Hamilton & Lauren Speed

Leap of Faith

Finding Love the Modern Way

Gallery Books

An Imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

Copyright 2021 by Lauren Speed and Cameron Hamilton

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Gallery Books hardcover edition June 2021

GALLERY BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or .

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

Interior design by Michelle Marchese

Jacket design by Emma A. Van Deun

Jacket photographs by Koury Angelo/DayReps

The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Hamilton, Cameron (Cameron Reid), author. | Speed, Lauren, author.

Title: Leap of faith / Cameron Hamilton & Lauren Speed.

Description: First Gallery Books hardcover edition. | New York : Gallery Books, 2021. | Summary: The fan-favorite couple from Netflixs Love Is Blind share their ups and downs after two years of marriage, love advice for the modern world, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the podsProvided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020055310 (print) | LCCN 2020055311 (ebook) | ISBN 9781982167134 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781982167141 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781982167158 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Hamilton, Cameron (Cameron Reid) | Speed, Lauren. | Love is blind (Television program) | Television personalitiesUnited StatesBiography. | Dating shows (Television programs)United States. | Interracial marriage. | Man-woman relationships. | Husband and wife. Classification: LCC PN1992.4.A2 H36 2021 (print) | LCC PN1992.4.A2 (ebook) | DDC 791.45/6--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020055310

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020055311

ISBN 978-1-9821-6713-4

ISBN 978-1-9821-6715-8 (ebook)

We dedicate this book to both Pams and Bills (our parents) for being our first loves.

The day had finally arrived. The party was about to begin and we still couldnt say whether we were more excited or nervous for what was going to unfold. The past couple weeks had been hectic. Wed been shooting almost nonstop for a where are they now? follow-up series to Love Is Blind. As part of the big finale, the producers asked if they could plan and film a two-year joint wedding anniversary party with Amber and Barnett. Of course, that meant production also taking over the planning and preparation of the celebration. Which is how we found ourselves looking out across downtown Atlanta from the glass elevator we were taking up to Ventanasthe rooftop venue where guests were already starting to gather.

We spent most of the day at home, appreciating some time just the two of us, getting ready, and reminiscing about our journey together. Had it really been two years since Love Is Blind had turned us from strangers into Mr. and Mrs. Cameron and Lauren Hamilton in the span of seven weeks? Time had flown by, but we had grown so much over the course of our short marriage, both as a couple and as individuals. We had over a year to ourselves to build our marriage and process the experience of Love Is Blind in private before being launched into the public eye with the Netflix premiere in February 2020. Since then, we have been figuring out how best to manage the newfound opportunities and attention, while also moving forward from the show.

It was both rewarding and taxing to be back in front of the cameras, as we once again opened ourselves up to being completely vulnerable. The difference this time around was that wed been married for two years; there was no uncertainty about whether we would say I do at the altar. Though weve gotten used to sharing our relationship and our lives with the world, it will always be an energy exchange. Its not easy to talk about subjects as intimate as how our relationship has been developing, what weve been working on, and the challenges we have yet to overcome. But we are happy to share our story because of all the people around the world who support us and send us their love. So many people have reached out to tell us that our story has inspired them not to give up hope on love. Those are the people we continue sharing our lives for. At the end of the day, we wouldnt want to be doing anything else.

We reminded ourselves of all this as we made our way to the party. We also wondered what the night would hold. Nearly everyone from the original cast had been invited to the party. Would Mark show up, given that he was now engaged with a baby on the way? How were things with Gi and Damian? How would the rest of the cast respond to us, plus Amber and Barnett? Would people be happy for us or upset that the night was focused on our marriage? We came to the mutual agreement that we werent going to worry about anyone else but the two of usthis was our anniversary after all. Regardless of what was going on with the rest of the cast, we were going to make this night about celebrating the gift the last two years had been and appreciating each other for what we have brought into each others lives.

And hey, this was still our big night, right? So you know we had to make an entrance! Lauren dazzled in her two-piece purple dress with the serpentine train she nicknamed Veronica. And Cameron donned his peacock green custom-tailored suit by the designer Don Morphy. We wouldnt want anyone to forget whose party this was, would we?

We were fairly certain that the night would have its fair share of drama. After all, this was the first time that the pod squad, as we used to call ourselves on set, would be together as a group since shooting the reunion episode. We knew the night could turn on a dime with all of us gathered together. The mood could be fun and relaxed one minute, then all hell could break loose the next.

We had done our best to steer clear of the drama on Love Is Blind, and that was our mindset going into the anniversary party too. It wasnt that we were bothered by drama; we simply felt out of place in it. The reality is that Love Is Blind was an intense, life-changing experience that is not to be taken lightly. While the shows many zany moments were amusing, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that this experience was challenging for everyone and has left a lasting impact. While we may not always see eye-to-eye with other members of the cast, we will always feel a special bond with them, having been through the experiment together. And Love Is Blind will always be an important milestone in our lives.

So, did the night have fireworks as expected? Youll have to watch the episode on Netflix to find out. All we can tell you is that it will not disappoint! In the end, though, the party for us was another reminder that we have our own story to telland that its still just beginning.