Beyond Famous (Famous #3) (7 page)

My arms automatically wrapped around his shoulders as I hugged him back. "I'm so glad you came." Tears welled in my eyes. "Look at me getting all sappy. The makeup people will be all over me if I ruin their hard work."

"You're gorgeous!" He set me down and turned to Cade. "Son, it's so good to see you. You're looking a little pale, though," he laughed as the two men embraced.

“I think he’s too thin,” his mother put in.

"Hello, Lillian, you look beautiful," I said, and she hugged me before placing a soft kiss on my cheek. She always smelled of lilacs and French perfume.

"Thank you for inviting us dear. We're so happy to be here. Have you been taking good care of my boy? He looks so wonderfully happy, even if he’s skipping a few meals."

I nodded in answer. "I think so."

"“Mum, I’m not!” Cade protested. “We just work hard, and I get sick of hotel food. We don’t get out much. What are you doing here? I mean...” He shook his head in wonder.

His mother lowered her voice. "Brook invited us. Layla and Oliver as well, but they couldn't get away. They've sent gifts with their regrets that they couldn’t attend."

Cade reached out to take my hand. "Thank you, love. This was extremely thoughtful. You’re perfect."

I blushed and gave his hand a little squeeze before pulling back as the rest of the cast and Martin came over. Lillian and Carter exchanged a look, and I could only interpret it as pride and happiness for the two of us.

"Are you going to watch us film, then?" Cade's eyes lit up at the prospect. He’d told me in one of our overnight talks that he rarely let his family visit the set. I’d been having issues with my mother’s impromptu visits to set on the first film. Mostly, I just didn’t want my time with Cade interrupted, and I knew she’d be able to tell I was in love with him just by looking at my face, and I didn’t want to deal with it. Like now, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was so bad, my face hurt.

"Yes, Brook arranged it with your director. You don't mind do you, my boy?" Carter asked.

"Not at all. I'm so happy to have you both here!"

Cade’s strong arm slid around my waist, and he pulled me close to his side. Glancing up into his face; I could see the love radiating from his eyes. "You're amazing."

"Awww, shucks," I teased him. "I just love you; that's all."

His arms went around my shoulders and he pulled me close into a full-on hug. "Cade, the crew...”

"I don't care. I love you. You're so good to me."

My arms slid around his waist, and I hugged him back. Closing my eyes, I inhaled his scent and wished I could kiss him as my hands splayed out on his back pressed him closer.

“They know, anyway,” he whispered into the hair above my ear.

After introductions were made to the rest of the crew, his parents were settled into their chairs off to the side while we ran a quick rehearsal to get the blocking and camera angles down. After the technical stuff was completed we ran through the scene once without film and then finally, we began shooting.

They watched the filming of the first part of the scene where Aaron and Jenna, Ellie and Harris have dinner with Ryan and Julia the first night she comes home from the hospital, and they were questioning why Ryan couldn’t just tell Julia about the past. Things were filmed out of sequence so most of the others could leave, and then I sat with Cade’s parents as he filmed a scene with Jeff. It was easy to get completely lost in the scene, letting myself feel the possibility of forgetting Cade.

We didn't get all of the apartment scenes finished and would be filming them over the next few days before they would strike the set. They were more involved and had several segments to them which all had to be set up and filmed separately, then edited together later in post-production. There were a lot of emotional scenes and the love scenes would be filmed on a closed set, at Cade’s request.

When we finished for the day, I said goodbye to Cade and his parents. "So, we'll meet at the restaurant at 8:30, okay?" I would only be away from him for a few hours, but my heart still fell a little.

His hand ran down my arm. "Okay, love. See you later, then. I'll miss you," he bent down to whisper so no one could hear him but me.

"It's only a little while. Enjoy the time with your parents." I leaned into him and gave him a little shove with my shoulder as Jennifer ran up to us.

"Hey," she said, slightly out of breath. "I was afraid I'd miss you! I'm Jennifer Wade," she said warmly, extending her hand to both of them in turn. “It’s so nice to meet you!”

Cade finished introducing his parents to Jen and they were completely taken with her. She was gracious as always, flashing them a beautiful smile and asking them about their trip over from London.

"Happy Birthday, handsome. We'll see you all tonight," she said as she hugged Cade goodbye. Then we all got in the cars that took us back to the different hotels.

"BROOK IS REMARKABLE,
son. The two of you together were wonderful," my dad said as we rode back to my hotel in the back of David's limo. "Your mum cried. All of you that we got to see today... just incredible work," he beamed.

"The scene was amazing!" Mum said, as she took my hand. "The two of you are beautiful together, Caden. I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished. Layla does her own thing, but your brother is a bit green."

I rolled my eyes. "Mum, it's not that big of a deal. I feel lucky to be on this series."

"Caden," my father admonished, "let the woman be proud of you. It's her right and you have done very well for yourself. And, you've gotten a wonderful girl in the process." He winked at me.

I smiled, "Yeah, I know what a lucky sod I am. So... it's great you've come to visit. I wish we were in L.A. or New York, though. I'll give you back the money for the airline, or I’ll buy you another trip."

"Brook arranged everything, honey. She said it was part of her birthday gift to you."

I took a deep breath.
What
?

"What is it?" Mum asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just... leaving, going to New York has been weighing on me quite a bit. I know
Only Us
is a great opportunity because of the director, and I'm probably a complete moron for not being excited about it, but I couldn’t care less. I'm really going to miss her. I’ve never dealt with this type of feeling before, and I worry about her."

My dad nodded. "Yes, I can see how much the two of you adore each other. It won't be easy, but you'll get through it and be even better for it," he said reassuringly. “You’ll see. Brook told your mum on the phone that she has a movie to film as well. You'll both be busy and the time apart will pass quickly, son."

“The saving grace is that Brook is filming in L.A. and can stay at her parent’s home.”

“That should make you more at ease.” Mum leaned her head on my shoulder and squeezed my hand. "Can we do anything to make it easier for you, my darling?"

"You being here today is amazing, but when I'm in New York, it would be great if you could encourage Layla and Oliver to visit me there. I’d especially love it if Layla could hop the pond. It’s a much shorter flight than L.A."

I was close to both of my siblings, but Layla was a lot of fun and had a way of getting me out of any funks. Brook would be busy and we wouldn’t be able to see each other very often, so I’d definitely have a few of those.

"I'm sure she'd love that, Caden," my mother said as she patted my hand. "Let's just concentrate on celebrating your birthday, now, shall we?

"Is your suite near mine?" I asked, trying to change the subject. The less time spent thinking about being away from Brook, the better.

"Yes. Brook’s manager told us that we were just across the hall from you, so that’ll make it easier to see you. I can't believe all of the mobs of people," Mum said as we pulled up to the hotel and the volume of the screams rose several decibels. "This is all for you? Is it always like this?"

"Sadly, yes. It's overwhelming. Wait until the doors open, you won’t believe how loud. While I appreciate it, I'm growing rather tired of it. I just want to be normal again. Making movies is fun, but the rest of this stuff is bloody maddening," I said as Peter opened the doors. "Just keep walking and don't stop or talk to anyone." I flipped the hood of my sweatshirt up, somehow gaining a little security from the fake shield it provided. It was crazy, but the clothes, the hats and sunglasses were all I had to hide behind. My world was open for observation and that wasn’t going to change.

The bodyguards were there to meet us and flanked us on all sides as I followed my parents out of the car. I was immediately barraged with fans asking for photos and autographs and then there was the never-ending stream of paparazzi and the blinding flashes of light. If the public viewed celebrities in sunglasses as a symbol of arrogance, it was more for function. Even at night, it was hard to see through the constant cameras.

“Holy hell!” my dad murmured as he wrapped his arm around my mother’s shoulders protectively.

“Cade! Cade! Ahhhhhh! Agghrrrr! Happy Birthday!” So many different people were screaming at me and women were thrusting flowers and gifts at me. My bodyguards put up their arms and pushed them back. Sometimes I thought it rude, but I couldn’t take the risk.

My parents stepped back as they watched me, and the paparazzi kept screaming questions at me and asking me to pose for photos.

"Cade, are your parents here for your birthday or to meet Brooklyn?"

"Cade, are you seeing Brook Halloway? Are you in a relationship with her? Is she your girlfriend? Did you break her and David up?"

"We saw you go to her hotel, are you guys seeing each other or just hooking up?"

"Do you have plans with her for your birthday?"

It was usually around the time they started mentioning Brook that I wanted to punch something. I ignored all of the rude comments and signed a few more scribbled autographs before extricating myself and guiding both of my parents through the hotel doors.

"Holy Mother of God! Caden, that's unbelievable!" my father said as he walked beside me and laid his hand on my shoulder.

"Dad, really, that was nothing. You’ve been at the premieres. It can be so much worse than this at the events. The hotel does have a few more than usual, I suppose, due to it being my birthday, but not by much."

Three hours later I was getting ready for dinner when my phone rang.
I Will Remember You
by Ryan Cabrera; the new song I’d just assigned as Brook’s ringtone filled the air
.
The song was so apropos of our movies, of me leaving… I was happy she was calling but filled with melancholy as I answered the phone.

"Hey, gorgeous." I forced a lighthearted tone. She was so happy and I didn’t want to bring her down with thoughts of our impending separation.

"Hi! Are you ready for your birthday party? I'm so happy your parents came."

"Yeah. It was amazing of you to ask them. Very sweet. They simply adore you, Brook," I said as I ran my hands through my hair a few times, then realized there was nothing to be done with it and gave up completely. "As do I."

"Hmm, well, it’s mutual. I'm just glad I was able to help make you happy today."

"You always do, love." I smiled into the phone. "Even when you're leaving me at the mercy of delusional, gay men." She laughed and the sound spoke directly to my heart.

"Did you get any, uh...
packages
today?"

I laughed. "Only from Ethan and Dawson. Those wankers!"

"Ethan mentioned he was sending you something, but wouldn't tell me what it was," her voice was anxious and lilted. "So? What was it?"

"Um...” I hesitated.

"Cade! Tell me! I'm dying to know!" She laughed into the phone.

"You won't say that after I tell you. Those jackasses," I said in exasperation. "They sent me a Julia blow up doll, or rather one they dressed up like you. They even got some of your costumes from the last film to dress the damn thing in. Happy now?" My face hurt, I was smiling so much.

She burst out laughing. "Ethan has such a twisted sense of humor. That's hilarious! At least it was dressed. Was there a note?"

I rolled my eyes as I bent to pull on my shoes. "Oh
yeah
, there was a note alright." I went to get it so I could read it to her. "It says; ‘Ryan, on the lonely nights when Julia can't blow you, you can blow
her
! We wouldn't want our boy to get blue balls while in New York. She can’t make lemon muffins, but you get the idea! Love, Daws and Ethan’." I said through my chuckles. "Dickheads."

Brook was giggling so hard she was gasping for breath. "Oh my God! I'm dying!"

"How in
the fuck
am I supposed to get rid of this bloody thing? If the press gets a hold of it, it will ruin me. I'll be a laughing stock! I should beat the hell out of them when I see them next." I tried to sound irritated, but in reality I was smiling. Okay, it
was
bloody hysterical, I have to admit it. "I'd suggest giving it to Mickey, but it lacks certain appendages that he might require," I added sardonically, as I threw on my black hooded sweatshirt and headed for the door.