More Than Famous (Famous #2)

by Kahlen Aymes

  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.

  "Imagine Dragons are coming here next month. I'd like you to come with me to the concert, Brook. We can ask Cade to join if you want."

  I felt myself tense and my fists clench. Of course, she'd want Cade along. "Wendy, so much has happened; I don't know."

  She looked exasperated. "I'm sorry about what happened, okay? But to be fair, you have to admit that you didn't tell me that you were with Cade. I didn't know, so your reaction wasn't really fair."

  David didn't say anything at all; he just watched the two of us, so that told me that Wendy had shared the whole sordid mess with him.

  "Hmmmph." It was true I hadn’t told her Cade and I were together, but he’d told her he loved me, and that didn't change what she did or how she let me believe that she'd slept with him. "Why did you even go there? You knew how he felt."

  "Brook, come on. You knew I wanted to be with Cade. I'm sorry, but he's hot, everyone wants to do him." I stiffened at her words, and even David was getting uncomfortable with the conversation, by the way he was bristling in his seat. "But, I wouldn't have tried if you would have told me the truth."

  Yeah, right. My mind protested.

  "If that’s true, why did you let me think you two had sex? You saw how upset I was."

  "Because, I felt ridiculous that you'd found me there with my clothes off. I thought that it was Cade at the door and you took me by surprise, and then I was unsure what to do. Upset is the last reaction I expected from you, Brook. I was wrong, and I'm sorry. I think you more than retaliated, didn't you?"

  My arms were folded in front of me as I looked at her through hooded eyes. She was right. I did annihilate her in front of most our friends.

  "I was just so pissed. I missed out on three months with Cade, and what I can't forgive is how much it hurt him. Wasn't it a little presumptuous of you to think he'd sleep with you? I mean, he'd been telling you over and over that he loved me, hadn't he?"

  She reached out to put her arm around me. "Yes, but as far as I knew, you didn't want him." She shrugged. "Be reasonable, Brook. I admit it, I wasn't thinking straight. I hoped that if he'd had a little too much to drink, I could convince him to be with me, and then after—well, that he'd want to be with me again."

  Jesus. Did I have to hear this?

  "I adore you, Brook, and I want to work this out, even if it's in baby steps. This is a start, isn't it? I thought if I came along today, Cade wouldn't be as upset since you wouldn't be alone with David."

  Wendy leaned her head against mine and squeezed my shoulders. It was a little too much fake-love for me at this point, and I pulled away from her.

  "Gee, thanks, Wendy. Thanks a hell of a lot."

  She shrugged at him as she moved away from me finally.

  My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out. Of course, it was from Cade.

  Are you with him now?

  I typed out my response.

  Yeah. Wendy is here, too. I'll explain later. Will I see you for dinner?

  "Wendy, I think it's Cade who deserves the apology and I'm sorry, but I still can’t trust you. You'll have to prove that you're sincere before I'll ever be able to do that." My voice was quiet and I was still extremely skeptical, however it would make doing Don’t Forget to Remember Me easier if there wasn't constant tension on set.

  "Sure, if that's what it takes, I'll apologize to him too. I do feel bad, and now everyone hates me. My life hasn't been all sunshine and roses these past two weeks either."

  We pulled up at the restaurant and the minute the cab door opened the cameras started firing.

  Hmmm... funny they knew where we were going.

  "Did Pinnacle tell the press where we'd be or did you, Wendy?" I sounded snarky, but fuck, that would be so par for the course!

  David grabbed my hand and smiled at me as he put his sunglasses down over his eyes. Damn if those weren't practically identical to Cade's. What the hell was he trying to do?

  "I did, Brook. It's part of it. We have to get pictures, or I don't get paid. Understand?"

  David certainly was in a good mood as the three of us walked into the restaurant, and Wendy was all smiles for the cameras as well. She wasn't hurt by our argument, in the slightest. She was so painfully obvious.

  I, on the other hand, wanted to be anywhere but with the two of them and I was annoyed. I didn't care at all. Maybe we had to get a few pictures, but I'd be damned if I was going to look like I was enjoying myself.

  After lunch, Wendy wanted to go check out some of the shops in downtown Vancouver, and it really didn't matter to me what we did. I was obligated to a couple of hours and that was going to be the end of it.

  As we walked down the street, David kept pulling my hand into his and I'd find any excuse to pull away. I knew I'd get a tongue lashing from the suits, but hell, I couldn't help it. All I could think about was how this was going to make Cade feel, and since he hadn't returned my text yet, I started to worry. I knew we were solid, but this was still going to be hard for him.

  I couldn't resist, I finally had to ask David about his clothes.

  "Um, what's up with your little CC make-over? Seriously dude, it's sort of pathetic. The press is gonna eat you alive." I rolled my eyes at him, and then regretted my words.

  I could see that he was hurt and embarrassed; the skin of his face was getting redder by the second. It didn't help when Wendy laughed and covered her mouth with her hand.

  "Do you have to try to hurt me all the time, Brook? Jesus, isn't what I've been through for you enough already? Don't you care about me at all?"

  Yes, I cared about him. You don't spend years of your life with someone and then just wake up one day and forget everything they'd meant to your life. He was a good person, a good friend. I lowered my eyes as I struggled for what to say.

  "David, I'm not trying to hurt you, but you shouldn't try to copy Cade. You should just be yourself." I put my hand on his arm in the form of an apology. "You have a lot of great qualities of your own."

  "I'm not copying him. I just thought this was the type of look that you were attracted to now."

  I sighed. "I wasn't attracted to a particular ‘look', David. I don't want to hurt you more, but it's just Cade. It doesn't matter what he wears, how long his hair is, or whether he shaves or not. That isn't it. I'm sorry you've been hurt. How many times can I tell you that?"

  "It doesn't hurt that Cade's so drop-dead beautiful, does it, Brook?" Wendy was looking at some shoes but she still put in her two cents.

  Will the real Wendy Reed please stand up? I felt sure this one was it. She was so blatantly insensitive to other people's feelings.

  I shook my head in barely veiled disgust, and moved off to the other side of the store away from both of them and checked my watch. This was more than enough time to be out with them and so I decided that the afternoon was over. Finally, my phone went off in my pocket.

  Hey, love. Some o
f the film got exposed and we have to reshoot at least half of what I've done today. So, I won’t be able to make dinner. Sorry, sweetheart. Can you let me know when you're away from David?

  I love you, more.

  I sighed in regret.

  "I need to get back. I have to take a nap before my scenes tonight."

  I typed out a text response to Cade.

  Going back to the hotel now. I miss you.

  IT WAS NEARLY 10 PM and I was exhausted. Sarah, Gavin, Jennifer and I had shot and re-shot one of the hospital scenes twenty times and I was sick of it. My eyes searched for Cade all night, but I hadn't seen him. I hadn't heard from him either, so hopefully he was getting some much-needed sleep, but I decided to go to the sound stage where he was scheduled just to check.

  Martin was having the crew reset the scene because he wanted to get one more take of the lead-in, when I finally saw Cade across the set.

  His arms were folded across his chest with one hand up to his mouth as he talked to the production manager. I made my way toward him as if pulled by gravity. I was praying that I had some time to talk to him before my scene resumed.

  When Cade saw me moving toward him, he excused himself from his conversation so he could meet me halfway.

  "Hey, you." His voice was low, so no one else could hear. My eyes were drinking him in, the eighteen hours since we'd seen each other seemed like forever. My hands ached to reach out and touch him. "I wish I could kiss you. I've missed you today," he sighed.

  I nodded and bit my lip. "Missed you, too. Are you almost done?"

  "Just a couple of shots. They need me against this background so they can match it up with what we lost today. What a bloody nightmare that was. I think someone lost their job over it."

  "That's harsh." His eyes were searching mine and I could see the questions behind them.

  "Well, it was an expensive mistake. It puts the whole thing behind schedule." He paused and took a deep breath. "I saw the pics of you and the idiot today. PopSugar and eOnline have them up." He looked around the set to make sure no one was listening.