More Than Famous (Famous #2) (35 page)

"I'm so sorry." 

He shook his head and looked at me with serious eyes, as he started to sing.

The words were perfect and the lyrics so spot on to our situation
.
I felt my chest constrict and the tears start to well in my eyes as I watched him.  He was so beautiful, so talented and amazing. The pain behind his eyes was vivid as he sang. I figured he’d been singing this song to me every time he played it over the past three months, and I couldn't believe I caused him so much pain. All because I was afraid to talk to him; to confront the possibility that he might not want me.  I should have known that was completely and utterly impossible.  I dropped my head and first one then another tear fell. Stupid me.

When he finished the song, Cade's eyes were glassy as he set the guitar down and moved toward me.  He gathered me close and his hand came up to the back of my head as I buried myself into him. My arms slipped around his back and I breathed him in.

"I'm sorry.  I'm so sorry," I said sadly. "I never meant to hurt you like that, Cade.  Forgive me."

His arms tightened around me and I felt his lips at my temple. 

"I'm sorry too.  We both made mistakes but we're not going to make those mistakes again.  I love you, so much. We have forever to be together.  All of this bullshit just made me love you more, Brook, okay?  Every time you touch my heart, whether it's pain or joy; I'll always love you more and more."

I gasped as a sob escaped my chest.  I nodded and pulled back to look at him.  His blue eyes were filled with tears too.  I closed my eyes and the tears squeezed from my eyes and I felt my heart would explode.  "Me too, see?  I'm spilling over again. I'm fucking overflowing."

It was too much, so much emotion.  Cade took me back in his arms and pulled me across the bed, his mouth latching onto mine.  He made love to me again and again all night long, and it was more than I could ever dream of.  Crying, laughing, loving, touching, devouring; we couldn't get enough of each other. By some miracle, I knew we never would. 

It was always going to be this beautiful between us.

THE KNOCK ON
my hotel room door startled me because I wasn't expecting anyone.  As I dragged myself out of bed and made my way to the door I glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand.  It was only 11 AM and I didn't have to be on set until evening, so I’d been looking forward to sleeping in.

Crap.

Cade was with me until the early morning hours and we'd spent the night in each other's arms, doing little sleeping.  It was so beautiful, but our insatiable appetite for each other was taking a toll on us. Even when we weren't making love, we were talking about anything and everything.

My poor baby.  He barely slept and would be dragging today, but I couldn't tell him last night.  He didn't want to hear that he needed to sleep when he wanted to make love again and again. Since our reconciliation, one or the other of us snuck into each other's hotels just about every night, but I wasn't complaining.  We spent every second we could together and still it wasn't enough.

Sarah and Gavin were in town now and we were shooting some of the hospital room scenes, and Cade and I had a solo scene tomorrow.  

I couldn't imagine who would be on the other side of my door, since Noah was done filming and no rehearsals were scheduled with any of the others.

Cade had a scene with a newly cast actor and I wouldn't see him at least until close to dinnertime.

I looked through the peephole in the door and I couldn't believe my eyes. 
Jesus, what was he doing here?
  I opened the door.

"David? What are you doing here?"  I put my arm on the door jam, hoping he'd understand that I wouldn't be inviting him in.

"Wow, what a greeting.  I'm glad to see you too, Brook. I thought we were still friends, at least."  He stood with his arms folded as he looked me up and down.  I was thankful I was fully clothed in old sweats and a T-shirt.  He looked different, like he was trying to be more masculine, more like... I shut my mind off abruptly. I didn’t want to make the comparison, but I couldn't help it as my eyes roamed over him.

"We are, but I still don't get why you're here," I said hesitantly.  There was no real explanation for him being in Vancouver.  I ran my hands through my hair.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?"  He had on a stocking cap, a blue flannel shirt over a white T-shirt and black jeans.  His hair was longer and he had about three days’ worth of beard growth on his face.

"No.  No, I’m not." 

Shit.
 

I couldn't ask him in. Cade would fucking lose it if he found out David was alone with me in my room.  Not that I was worried that anything would happen, but still; Cade would flip considering what happened in Rome.  I wasn't prepared to risk it.

"Why?  I thought I proved that I could be your friend during these past months, Brook.  Haven't I?" 

He was right. He had been a good friend to me during the months when I'd been separated from Cade.  I hadn't told him much about what happened except that Cade and I weren't together anymore. Despite his feelings; he hadn’t gloated or said ‘I told you so'. I had to give him credit for that.

"Yeah, sure, David, but... just why are you here?"

"Brook I'm doing my job,
and
being your friend, too."

"Your job?"  I raised my brows and shook my head. I was unaware of any
boyfriend
appearances on the schedule for this week and if there were,
I sure as hell
would have spoken to Cade ahead of time.

"Yeah.  I'm supposed to come up here a few times and hang with you, get a few pictures snapped for the parasites, etcetera. I thought we could go to lunch and hang out.  I miss you. So are you gonna make me hang out in the hall all day?"

"Yeah... maybe. I wasn't told about your visit, David. How did you know I wouldn't be filming today?"

"Wendy called me.  She also told me you and she had a big fight over Mr. Wonderful.  She's really upset and she wants to talk to you,
without
your Brit.  We've all been friends a long time and so she figured if I came up here, it would make it easier for you and her to mend the fences."

 I felt myself stiffen in protest. 

It was only two weeks since the confrontation and I'd been avoiding her ever since.  When I was forced to face fans with Wendy, I acted as normally as possible; like she was still my friend.  She'd asked me to talk and she'd even tried to apologize, but I was too nervous about trusting her again so I made excuses constantly.  Obviously, I had to get through these movies with her around, so I tried to keep the interaction to a minimum and keep our relationship on a professional level.  It was uncomfortable, to say the least.

"Brook, for God's sake.  I'm standing in the damn hall.  Please?" David pleaded.

"Well…” I hesitated. “I can't ask you in, David.  I need to call Jeanne and see who the hell arranged this without telling me.  Can you wait for me in the lobby?  I'll call you when I'm finished talking to her, okay?"

"Brook..." He was chagrined; his face clearly showing his annoyance.

"Look, David, that's the best I can do right now."  I let the door close without waiting for a response.

This was just what I needed.

I grabbed my blackberry and dialed Jeanne.

"Hello, Brook.  How are things up in Van City?"

"Well, that depends.  What the
fuck
is David doing showing up on my doorstep? Not only is he here uninvited, it's like he's trying to
be Cade
.   Shit, I mean, he's wearing clothes that are indicative of Cade, same brand of sunglasses, hat, unshaven!  I mean, Jesus, Jeanne!"

 "He
what
?" she asked incredulously.

"Yeah.   He just showed up; mini Cade!" I was pacing around the room.  "Whose idea was this anyway?"

Jeanne burst out laughing. "I don't know why he's there dressed up like Cade, but I do know that the studio wants a few appearances from him during the film.  We talked about this Brook.  Are you serious? Mini-Cade?" She was still chuckling.

"He's trying to look like Cade, and yeah, we talked about it and I knew we'd have to do this a couple of times, but I thought I'd have some notice.  Someone should have let me know.  Can you please tell me what is so damn funny?"

"What's funny is David trying to dress up like Cade, and your reaction.  You're hilarious, Brook," Jeanne was still chuckling.

"No, I'm not!” I huffed. “I'm really upset, Jeanne.  So he's here, and I'm sure there have been paps already trailing him, so now I have no choice but to hang out with him today.  This is just
fucking great
!"

"I'll try to find out who set this up, but we knew we'd have some of this to contend with to secure the contracts, so what is the big deal?"

"The big deal is that I didn't know about it, and Cade doesn't know.  He's working, so I won’t be able to let him know in time. I don't like the idea of parading David around Vancouver behind his back.  I need to talk to him, but David is already downstairs. Crap!” I sighed and ran my hand through my hair again.  "Look, I'll deal with it, but please find out who is behind this and make sure it doesn't happen like this again."

"Okay, Brook.  I'm sorry.  I understand that the studio should have told you and I'll see what I can find out.  Keep me posted on what's happening."

"What's happening is that I'm going to try to get in touch with Cade, and then I'll walk around a little in public with David and then he leaves. End of story."

"Cade will be okay, Brook.  Do you want me to try to get in touch with him?"

"I'll keep trying.  Just because I'm out with David, doesn't mean I can't call Cade."

After I ended the call, I threw on some clothes and pulled my hair back.  I called Cade, but he didn't answer so I was forced to leave a message.

"Hey babe, I've got a problem. The studio sent David up here for a boyfriend appearance.  The paps have already had him at the airport and followed him to the hotel, so I have to spend some time with him today and let the leeches take some snaps.  I'm really upset, but don't know what else to do since he's already been spotted.  I wasn't told in advance, obviously. I'm sorry. Please don't be mad. It's only because of our contracts. Call me when you get a break. Love you."

I changed out of my sweats and into some jeans, shoved my phone in my back pocket, grabbed my bag and ran down to the lobby to find David sitting in the foyer with Wendy.  I stopped dead in my tracks for a minute. 

Wendy? I couldn’t get a break.

 
My steps slowed as I approached
.
The hotel was good about keeping the photographers outside, but they were sure to pounce once we left.

"Hey," I said as they both looked up from the conversation they had been having.  "Hi, Wendy."

"Hi, Brook.  Thanks for letting me tag along."  Her eyes were wary and I couldn't tell if she was sincere or not, but my gut was screaming that I shouldn't trust her, and I didn't realize that I was
letting her
do anything. "We thought we'd get some sushi and then walk around downtown Vancouver a little, would that be okay?"

Tag along?
This was fucking great, but what could I say? "Yeah, that's fine.  To be honest, I just want to get this over with.  No offense to either of you, but this is part of my job, and that's it."

David rolled his eyes.  "Brook. We always had fun when we hung out, didn't we? Can't we just get back to that?"

We walked out into the sunshine, and the fans were screaming and asking for autographs.  Wendy and I posed for a few photos before the three of us were able to get into the cab David hailed and head downtown. It was a pretty day and I just concentrated on the city rushing by the cab. I’d been surprised by the architecture in Vancouver. All of the balconies running completely around most of the skyscrapers reminded me of some sixty’s movie rerun I’d seen when I was younger.

Sitting in the cab; Wendy and David made small talk about the filming and the different places in Vancouver we should check out and I just stared straight ahead.  They had me in between them so not much else I could do.