Beyond Famous (Famous #3) (4 page)

So much of
Only Us
would be shot on the streets of the city or in public places. What he put up with was unreal; screaming fans would undoubtedly be clamoring to see him or touch him. 

Missing him was only part of what was bothering me.  I was worried about him. Cade was so sensitive to things going on around him, more than most people and he would be uptight about it. Even though he was used to it, he’d confided how much he hated all of the attention.

My phone brought me out of my reverie as it vibrated in my hand.

Leah wants to get together with us tonight.

Ugh! 
My head fell back in exasperation.
  Cade!

Really? With US?

Well, she said me, but I told her that she should get to know you, too.

I rolled my eyes as I typed.

I’m sure that thrilled the shit out of her.

I would probably order pizza to be delivered to my suite, so we wouldn’t give the paparazzi another photo op.

"Places, Brook, Jennifer!" Martin yelled from the main set.  Jennifer moved toward me and smiled as she scratched at her temple.

"Damn wig.  Hating it." She rolled her eyes as she said the words.

"Are you happy we're almost done?  Will you be going back to L.A. next week?" I asked as we walked together onto the living room set.

"Yes.  It will be a nice break, but I'm really looking forward to Italy, but I wish it were just a vacation. Are any of the others coming with us?"

"Not sure, why?" It seemed to me that she had something she wanted to tell me, but she hesitated to do so.  I could only imagine.  That bitch, Wendy, would probably show up uninvited.

She shrugged.  "Nothing, just wondered.  Ethan told me he might come over and I wondered if there was anyone else, that's all."

"Oh.  Nope. Pinnacle won't pay for more than four of us, so I think it's just us, Cade and Gavin.  Ethan mentioned it to Cade, but that's because he figures Cade will stay with me so he can use Cade's room. Isn't it silly? We're in this huge movie and we worry about paying for hotel rooms."

"Crazy," she said as she took her place on the couch in the house and the makeup people descended and began their touch ups.

Mickey’s smiling eyes were soon peering into mine.

“Hey, girl.”

He was dressed in a flamboyant magenta shirt and tight skinny jeans.

“Hey,” I laughed. “Those jeans make your ass look good.” I grinned. “Maybe I can borrow them.”

Mickey laughed out loud and he brushed blush over my cheekbones. “The day my ass is the same size as yours is the day your man becomes my boy toy.”

My brow shot up. “My man?”

Mickey’s mouth pursed and his expression twisted in amusement. “Bitch, please.”

I smiled, because I couldn’t help myself.

DINNER WITH LEAH ST. CLARE.
  I winced. Call me crazy, but I couldn't get enthused. She was cool, and I understood we needed to get to know her for the next movie, but there would be plenty of time in pre-production.

I guess it won't kill me to be gracious. For an hour or two. 

I didn't want the evening to drag. The time I had left with Brook was dwindling, and I didn't want to squander even one moment.  I'd be back to sending her those text messages with the countdowns until we could see each other again. 

I tried to shake it off.  That was still almost three weeks away, and I wanted to enjoy every minute.  I wished the studio wasn't sending me to France alone. 

In our earlier phone conversation, Denise told me that they’d probably be placing me in situations where there would be women around because they were trying to downplay any of the public appearances with Brook.

"I thought we were beyond all of this rubbish, Denise.  I'm bloody over it," I spat at her.

"Yeah, well, that was
before
you and Brook made your little run about town getting groceries and hopped in the wrong limo after the party.  Are you trying to piss the suits at Pinnacle off?  We just worked out the Italian Film Festival as a cover for your little vacation and for the shoot of
A Love Like This
to be more like you wanted, so what were you thinking?  Are you trying to make my job harder, Cade?" she was pissed.

I sighed and struggled for a response.  She'd always been good to me, and she was right, in a way.

"No!  I just want to be
normal
and more; I want to be with Brook. Didn't I make that bloody plain enough in L.A.?"  I sighed, "Besides, the limo fiasco was a mistake.  We didn't do that on purpose."

"No, but you need to be more careful.  The two of you could have been kidnapped for God's sake.  Jesus, Cade!"

"We didn't even realize it until afterward!  Nothing happened anyway." I tried to dismiss her concern, but she was right.

"No, nothing except there was suddenly documented proof that you and Brook were spending time together.
Alone."

"We shared a bloody limo.  We weren't having sex in the back of it! Though, that sounds like a good idea."

"Sure, make jokes.  You're not the one that has to deal with those assholes, Cade," she said, her voice full of exasperation.

I ran my hand through my hair and expelled my breath.  "Look, it wasn't a deliberate plan to derail the bloody production company's promotional plan.  We were hungry, so we went to the market, and the other time, it was late, we were dodging all of the cameras and we accidentally jumped in the wrong limo. There were five of them sitting there. Anyone could have made that mistake.  Bloody hell!"

She paused for a minute, and I was tired of arguing about meaningless bullshit.

"What about the other thing?" she finally asked in a more quiet tone.

"What other thing?"

"You walking into her hotel and going up to her room in front of everyone? 

I sighed and dropped my head, rubbing the back of my neck wearily. I was so tired of having my life dissected like I was a lab rat.

"That was unfortunate, but I was already photographed with her, and she is where I want to be.  For Christ's sake!  I'll be away from her for almost three months, soon enough. I don't even want to do that stupid movie," I said more softly into the phone.

"I know.  I'm sorry you guys have to go through this, Cade, but it's all part of it."

"This isn't what I signed up for."

"I know.  It would probably be easier if you weren't with Brook.  You didn't think you'd be with her either, did you?" she said.

"I
hoped
I would be with her. And fuck it all... I wouldn't change it.  Even to end this madness."

No, I wouldn't change a minute of my time with her.

I glanced at my phone to check the time.  My rehearsals were done, and as soon as Martin came to this set from working with Brook and the others, we could begin. The assistant director was here getting things ready, but this was a pivotal scene and Martin had to be here. We were also waiting for Brook to arrive.

My phone rang as I waited; I cringed when I saw who it was.

"Yeah?"  Why did I even answer the damn thing?

"Hi, baby.  What are you doing?"

 "Wendy, I told you to stop calling me.  I'm about to go to work," the impatience I felt seeping into every syllable.

"I'm only calling to ask what you want for your birthday.  We said we're going to be friends, so..."

The ache in my gut that occurred whenever something had the potential to screw up my relationship with Brook started to burn. "I don't want any gifts, and I don't want to be friends.  Look, I thought your friendship with Brook was so important to you, but you are seriously screwing with it, and you're putting me in a position where I don’t want to be. I
will
tell her about this call."  I hung up on her before she could respond. 

I hoped she wasn't going to just show up on my birthday the way she had last week when Ethan and Dawson were in town.  I wasn't sure if she was just persistent or just incredibly stupid.

I WAS EXHAUSTED.
The scenes of Ryan crying at Julia’s bedside were killers. Cade was even more spent. I could see it in his expression and the way his movements were slower than usual.

“What kind of pizza do you guys want?" I asked as Jennifer laid down on one of the sofas and Noah flopped down in one of the upholstered chairs and commandeered the remote to the television. We were winding down and having Leah here without a buffer might make it too easy for Cade and I to act like, well, Cade and I. We didn’t know the new actress and we’re not sure we could trust her.

"Everything!" Noah said enthusiastically, hanging one muscled leg over the arm and leaned back in his chair.

"Brook, are you ordering a vegetable pizza?  If so, I'll just grab a slice of that," Jennifer answered and then yawned. "It's been a hellaciously long day. I'm lucky I don't have any retakes tomorrow."

"At least you get to go to Italy," Noah said absently, as he settled on a reality TV show channel.  "When is Cade gonna get here, Jules?"

I rolled my eyes.  Noah called me by my character’s nickname often, and while I supposed it was sweet in a weird sort of way, it sometimes grated on my nerves.

"I think soon. That new actress, Leah St. Clare is also stopping by. Do you know her Jen?”

The other girl huffed. “No, but I’ve heard of her.”

“Wow, that doesn’t sound good.”

“She makes Wendy look like cotton candy.”

My heart dropped. “Awesome. I'm going to order the pizza and then hop in the shower so I can go to bed early.  Are you guys going to be okay out here until I'm finished?  I'll be quick."

I walked into the bedroom and dialed the pizza place, ordered two large pizzas, then peeled off my clothes and got in the shower.  It was 6:30 and I hoped that Cade would be done by now and on his way back to the hotel.  I’d left him on set to go over some things with Martin. Peter would have to drop him in the garage, and he would have to run up the stairs once again. It didn’t matter that other cast members were here for the paparazzi’s benefit; Cade would want to avoid the mobs of fans.

The water felt wonderful as I let my muscles relax and my eyes close.  I was so tired all I really wanted to do was crawl into bed.  As I towel dried my hair and threw on some cut off sweats and a small white T-Shirt, hoping I'd see Cade in the living room with Noah and Jennifer, but he wasn't there yet.

I went to the bar and got a Diet Coke.  "Do you guys want something to drink?" I offered. When neither answered, I grabbed a Coke for each of them and plopped down on the other chair to wait for the pizza.  Jennifer was asleep, and Noah was engrossed in the TV.

My eyes were drooping and I was feeling sleep starting to seep into my muscles and brain when a knock at the door startled me awake.

I ran my hands through my hair and I went to find my purse. Noah looked up from the TV
.

"Is it Cade?" he asked anxiously.

"I think it's just the pizza," I said. "Cade has a key."  I stopped and glanced at Noah underneath my lashes.  His mouth tightened and he nodded.  We had become good friends in the time we'd spent filming together, but I was aware of the crush he'd developed.  He was aware of my relationship with Cade.  It wasn't like it was a secret on set anymore, plus, we'd talked about it, so his reaction made me a little uncomfortable. Also, I knew he wanted the professional connections Cade represented.

I paid for the pizza and found some plates, silverware, and napkins in the cabinet behind the bar.

"Help yourselves." I started to pull a piece of the vegetable pizza onto a plate when I heard the door open and I knew it would be Cade.   I turned toward him and a big smile split my face as he came toward me. He was dressed in a red button-down shirt and a gray jacket over his jeans.

"Hey Jennifer, Noah," he said as his eyes met mine and he strode straight toward me. "Will you both excuse us for just a moment?"

"Hey!” I began to greet him. “Ooof," I grunted as the air left my lungs.  He bent and hoisted me over his shoulder and walked away from them.  Jennifer laughed and Noah just watched without speaking.