Authors: Bethany Daniel
I sigh, going into the attached bathroom and throwing all my toiletries into a little bag, and look at myself in the mirror. My dark blond hair is styled with high-end gel to make it stay looking like I ran my hands through it just as I woke up, which I basically did. I wish I didn't have to leave here. This place is so much more me than that mini-mansion Scott and I share in L.A will ever be.
Shaking my head, I take a good look around the room and cross to the dresser on Katy's side of the bed. There's a framed collage of different pictures of us together and separate in front of the Hollywood sign when we first got there four years ago. We had our whole lives ahead of us and we were just so happy. I think we're close to being just as happy now...I've just got to do my damn best to keep it that way. I refuse to fail at this again. I slip the picture into my bag and zip it up, running a hand through my hair before I make my way back downstairs dragging all my luggage with me.
When I walk around the corner, Mrs. Parker is putting a video into an old VCR and I silently groan. Videos that old aren't usually a good thing.
"Do I even want to know what you’re about to watch?” I ask, walking over and kissing Katy.
"Probably not, are you heading out?"
I nod, looking down at my watch. "Yep, we're on a tight schedule and if I run behind, I'm in big trouble."
"I love you. Have a safe trip.” She pushes herself to stand, grabbing her crutches. She gives me one last kiss and hugs me tightly.
I squeeze her back, holding onto her a moment longer. "I will.”
I lean down and give Krista a quick hug, then walk over to Katy's mom, who is standing by the TV waiting to start the video.
"Mrs. Parker, always nice to come back home and see you,” I flash a grin at her.
"Now, Liam, you know by now that you can call me Stella.”
I laugh, shaking my head. "My Dad would have my hide for calling you that, though."
I turn back towards Katy. "I love you, Katy. Try to keep from getting into too much trouble, ok? That goes for you too, Krista."
"Hey, I'm not making any promises." Krista smirks over at me.
"Oh, man, does Scott have his hands full with you." I shake my head before checking the time again. "Oh, crap, I'm late, got to go!" I kiss Katy's forehead before grabbing my bags and rushing out the door.
"All set, Mr. Warren?" the driver asks as he grabs the bags out of my hands.
I nod. "Yes I am, all set." I smile at him and take one last look back at my home. I'd give anything to be able to just stay here and hide out a little while longer. I sigh, sliding into the backseat, and lean my head back, time to go be a movie star.
* * *
A few hours later, I've been made over and put into a designer "relaxed" suit, whatever that means. Mitchell has planned out my whole night. I'm to go to three different clubs, smile at the cameras, and act like I'm happy as can be that the movie is getting such good press. But in reality, right now the movie is the last thing on my mind. The only good thing that came of it was it bringing me to Georgia and finding Katy there.
We pull up to the first club of the night and already there's a large crowd smothering the limo we're in. Ian pushes past those in his way and opens the door. "Good luck," he whispers with a smile, and then I see Tyrell Security shirts beside me and two of them start pulling me through the crowd.
"Liam! How's your wife?"
"Liam! Has Alexia contacted you? Is she guilty of murdering Lucas Austin?"
"Liam! Liam Warren, look this way!"
I hear all this as we push through the crowd, but I tune it out as we go. I look up every few seconds and wave at them but don't make a statement. They got their big speech from me that day at the hospital. They can deal with just a picture of me right now.
Chapter 23
The next two clubs are the same thing. Being yelled at as I go in, people inside trying to get gossip from me, more being yelled at, begging for a statement on the way out. By the time I finally get to Scott's and my place I'm completely exhausted.
I flop down on the bed, kick my shoes off, and grab for my phone to call Katy before I crash for the night.
I smile as I hear her voice come over the line. "Hello?"
"Hey, baby." I try and fail to cover up a yawn.
"Aw, long day?"
"M-hmm, a lot of club hopping to have my face in the mags for a bit, tons of questions from every paparazzo that came near me, I already want to get back home."
"I wish I was there with you...stupid messed up legs," Katy sighs.
"I like you being where you are. I know you’re safe and cared for there. What troubles have you and Krista found since I left?”
"Oh, not much, I just told Krista about the night you came to interrupt my date with Thomas."
I smirk, remembering how that night played out. That day I confessed to Katy how I was falling for her. She didn't believe me, so when I went to her house and found out she still went out on a date with Thomas; I went to the movie theater and confronted her. We had our first kiss that night.
"Mmm...I remember that night."
"Ha! I'm sure you do. You swore you loved me that day."
I laugh. "I did. And I still do, Katy. If I had to pull something like I did back then again, I would. I would just have bodyguards announcing I was there beforehand.”
She laughs and sighs softly. "I really miss you. I got used to having you around."
"I miss you too, baby. Just a couple days and I'll be back again, I promise. Maybe the next time I need to come here or to New York you can come be my arm candy."
"I am not a trophy wife, Liam Warren." Katy laughs at me.
"No, never...but you are my prize, much more than any awards I have sitting on my shelves."
"That was totally cheesy, but I'll take it. You sound like you need to go to bed, babe."
I sigh, rubbing my face. Yeah, I need sleep if I'm really using cheesy lines like that.
"I do. Have to be up early for interviews and then a photo shoot. At least I get to hang out with Scott then."
"Well, you boys stay out of trouble,” she teases me.
"Us? Of course, we never get into trouble. Hollywood's Golden Boys, remember?"
"M-hmm, I'll hold you to that."
I start to laugh but a yawn overtakes it. "I love you, Katy. Sweet dreams."
"I love you too, sweet dreams."
Once we hang up, I throw my phone onto the dresser beside me and just yank my shirt over my head to go to bed. I'm so exhausted I don't even have the energy to take these dressy pants off. I slide in under the blankets and turn the light out. As soon as I hit the pillow sleep consumes me.
Later I'm woken up by a thudding noise. At first I try to just cover my head with my blanket but it gets louder and more consistent.
"Liam! Liam Warren get your ass up now!" I hear Scott yelling and pounding against my door, so I get up and yank the door open.
"What the hell is wrong?!"
Scott's chest is heaving and I take a step back as he barrels into the room. "Have you not heard your damn phone?" He grabs it off the dresser and thrusts it at me. "Alexia went after the girls."
That wakes me up completely and I stand up straight. "What? How...are they ok? What happened?" I press a button on my phone and see a text from Katy on the screen that makes my heart nearly beat out of my chest.
“Oh my God…Alexia’s here! Poisoned the BG.”
"How the hell did she find them? How did she get past the security? Poison?" I ramble, looking at that text as I start pacing the room.
Scott puts his hand up to stop me. "Krista called me. She had to...shoot Alexia." He looks down at the floor. "She killed her," he whispers.
"Krista? Krista killed Alexia?" I sit down on my rumpled bed and shake my head. This is all too much to process. Since when does happy go lucky Krista know how to use a gun?
"Katy? Is Katy ok?" I ask worriedly. I need to leave this oversized house right now. I need on the first damn plane out of L.A.
He nods. "She's shaken up, but the girls are going to the Parker's house. They're going to be waiting for us."
I stand up, grabbing my duffel bag, and start shoving clothes back in before grabbing the closest t-shirt to put on. "Call Mitchell, tell him to cancel the photo shoots and interviews. We're going back to Boulder City right now."
"Already did. He wasn't happy, either." He runs a hand through his hair.
"I don't care. He can be mad." I grab my phone again and dial the airport. "Yes, I need two tickets to Boulder City Municipal, the sooner the flight the better."
I keep the phone against my ear and rattle off my credit card information as they book me and Scott the next flight out.
"We have an hour, let's go." I grab my bag as Scott rushes to his room to throw together a bag for himself.
I pace back and forth anxiously as I wait for him to come into the foyer area, and watch as the taxi speeds up and the driver hurries to grab our belongings as Scott runs out the door.
After what feels like hours but is probably only minutes, our things get shoved into the trunk and we finally take off towards the airport.
"You know they're ok," Scott whispers to me.
I nod, but my foot is bouncing. "I know, but that doesn't make me feel better. I need to see her."
He pats my shoulder and nods, watching out the window as we speed by. "We're gonna be with our girls, don't worry."
"Don't worry" isn't part of my vocabulary right now.
Chapter 24
As soon as we pull up in front of Katy's parents' house, I run up the stairs and into the door as Mrs. Parker opens it.
"Where is she?" I ask, looking around the room.
"She's up in her old room, resting. It's been a rough night, Liam."
I run my hands through my hair, frustrated, and hurry past her to where Katy is sleeping. I slowly open the door and peek in the room, and as soon as I see she's awake I rush to her side and pull her into my arms.
"Baby, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have gone to L.A. If Krista hadn't been there...” I bury my head in her neck and take a deep breath to calm myself down.
"Hey, I'm alright. Krista WAS there. Don't let the what-ifs get the best of you, ok? I've had enough of that running through my head as it is," she says, squeezing me tightly. "I'm so glad you're here."