I hate myself for doubting Kayden, but I didn’t know what to think. Logan cheated on me with half of L.A., and I was freakin’ clueless that it was going on. He was just as romantic, and loving as Kayden. I’m only human. I just hope this doesn’t cause a strain on our relationship, and we can move forward with our lives. I want to start planning our wedding, and finally get our happy ever after. We’ve been through too much crap in such a short amount of time. I think it’s about time fate cuts us some slack, and lets us be freakin’ happy!
~~~
After a lot of persuading we finally get into the party. I guess Vertigo is only open to guests who are on the list to attend. It’s some big UFC party for an upcoming fight next weekend. Brooklyn flirted our way through the line since the bouncer could care less that I’m engaged to the owner of the hotel.
The club is packed and it’s only nine p.m. I can’t believe some of the people who are here. I know UFC is a popular sport, but wow! Some of the biggest names in Hollywood are here tonight. My jaw drops when I spot the UFC poster hanging above the DJ. Staring down at me is Shayne…my random one-night-stand from last Halloween. Who just so happened to be in L.A. partying last night! No wonder he said he knew Kayden.
“Want me to go grab you a drink?” Brooklyn shouts in my ear, snapping me out of my state of shock.
Turning around I stare at Brooklyn with my eyes wide, the music is so loud it’s impossible to have a conversation without yelling to one another. Grabbing her arm and ignoring her question, I point my finger towards the DJ and the massive banner with Shayne on it.
I give Brooklyn my, ‘OH FUCK!’ look as I try to process that tonight may not go as planned.
“Holy shit! Shayne Andrews is Shayne…L.A. Shayne?! He’s a UFC fighter?”
Grabbing her hand, I drag her into the bathroom of the night club. Pulling her down onto the circle couch in the corner of the room, I rest my face in my hands. “Oh. My. God. Brooklyn. What am I going to do if I find Kayden, and he wants to introduce me to the fighters he’s hosting this party for? What do I say? Oh hey, I already know him because he handcuffed me to his car and fucked my brains out last Halloween?!”
Brooklyn not holding back laughter, tells me, “Your life is juicier than the damn soap operas Savannah. You just can’t make this shit up!”
Dropping my hands onto my lap, I drag my gaze from the tile floor and lock eyes with Brooklyn. “I’m glad you find this whole thing so entertaining.” I say with a little more attitude than I planned, but I am royally pissed off right now.
Gripping my shoulder and shaking me until my teeth rattle; Brooklyn flashes me a small smile, “Listen, that’s just worst case scenario. This place is bursting at the seams with people. I highly doubt you’ll see Shayne. Hell, it’s going to be hard enough tracking down Knox in this place tonight.”
I guess she’s right; the odds of seeing Shayne are pretty slim. This place is insane, and more than likely he’ll be sitting in a VIP booth the entire time, drinking expensive champagne while being surrounded by bimbo Barbie’s.
“You’re right. I need to stay sober and alert tonight. Let’s go to the bar and I’ll grab myself water. I am not letting anything get in the way of Kayden and me again. I just want to find him, and get the hell outta hear.”
Standing, I adjust my dress, check my make-up in the mirror and work up the courage to head back out into the club. I’m praying tonight doesn’t turn into a drama fest!
~~~
Standing against the bar, I watch the Go-Go dancers beside the DJ while waiting to order our drinks. Brooklyn is texting away on her phone while I’m scanning the club for any sign of Kayden.
The dance floor is directly in front of us and is jam packed with people. I can’t help but think back to last year when we came to Vegas. It was just Brooklyn and I while Logan stayed back in L.A. for work. We had a blast doing a girls weekend; gambling and dancing until four in the morning with total strangers. It was carefree and fun.
It’s crazy reflecting back on my life a year ago, compared to what it is now. I was with Logan, and settling for what I thought was love, because before Kayden, I had no idea what true love felt like.
I’d take this crazy insane life over a quiet peaceful one any day. As long as I am with Kayden, that’s all I care about. He makes all the trials and tribulations worth it. I know we’ve both made mistakes and been through a lot, but I believe our love is strong enough to make it through anything.
“Oh shit…you’re not going to like this, but things just got a little more complicated.” Brooklyn says with panic in her voice, snapping me out of my thoughts.
Taking in a sharp breathe, I prepare myself for whatever it is Brooklyn has to tell me. “Oh God! What now?” I ask leaning against the bar and watching Brooklyn as she reads whatever it is she’s looking at on her phone.
I am two seconds away from ordering a shot of Whiskey because I’m in desperate need of something to calm my nerves. To top it off, Kayden has yet to text me back, which is totally unlike him. He always responds back to me no matter how busy he is.
Stepping closer, Brooklyn squeezes herself between a group of girls shouting their orders to the bartender. “This is not good…God damn blood suckers. They will do anything for a story.” Shaking her head and looking as if she’s ready to kick the crap out of someone, she holds her phone up in front of me so I can see what’s got her fired up.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” I shout snatching the phone from her hands and scrolling as I speed read the story written about me. “Seriously, can I not go one freakin’ day without my name on this damn blog?!”
Brooklyn gives me a sympathetic look, but before she can say anything the bartender finally asks her what she wants to order. Sliding my eyes back to her phone I read the words that will most likely ruin my night:
‘Savannah Livingston shows Kayden Knox his betrayal isn’t getting her down. She was spotted late last night; in Knox’s L.A. night club no less, partying it up with a sexy, up and coming UFC fighter, Shayne ‘Knock Out’ Andrews. Shayne has a fight against heavy weight champ, Juan Riviera next Saturday in Las Vegas.’
Of course the picture plastered across the top of the story is Shayne taking a belly shot off me last night! I swear I could kill Brooklyn right now. I never should’ve let her drag me up onto that bar. At the time I was so confused with everything going on with Nadia claiming she slept with Kayden, that I was doing anything to distract myself from the mess my life was.
I am sick and tired of the freaking paparazzi constantly in my face. It’s only a matter of time before they realize we’re in Vegas. Then they’ll be back to shoving cameras in our faces and making up some more stories about us.
“Do you think Kayden’s seen this yet?” Brooklyn asks handing me my water.
Letting out a long sigh, I hand her back the phone. I’m done reading their half-truths and over exaggerated lies. Of course, they threw in the drama with Logan, Giselle, and her skanky, lying friend Nadia. I love how “witnesses” saw firsthand all the crap that went down last night, but couldn’t get a fact straight for the life of them.
Hopefully my PR can clean this mess up and Nadia keeps her word to tell the truth to everyone by letting the world know she lied. Everyone will know how low Giselle and Logan sank to try and break Kayden and me up. Paying someone to sell a false story to Magazines…It’s just pathetic and wrong on so many levels.
Knowing Shayne is here had my stomach doing flip-flops already, now it feels like it’s been tossed into a blender, and put on high speed. With this story being leaked and the press making it look like I hooked up with Shayne last night, there’s a whole new storm brewing.
“Well it may explain Kayden’s lack of response to the text I sent earlier. I told him last night I talked to Nadia and she told me everything was a lie. He was fine, I told him I’d be heading back to Houston and would see him when he got back from Vegas.”
“We’ve gotta clear this shit up. Pron
to!” Grabbing my hand Brooklyn drags me away from the bar. We zigzag through the crowd of people dancing and after being groped by a sleaze ball and then a couple getting hot and heavy bumping into me, we finally make it where the VIP entrance is. There are two bouncers observing who enters the restricted area because there are some big name celebrities here tonight.
Vertigo is packed and pitched black. The only lighting is the strobe lights, which is making it even harder to search for Kayden, Dixon, Jax and Braxton. After getting past Twiddle-Dee and Twiddle-Dum, we make our way through the VIP section. Stopping for a moment, we scan the area looking around at the tables of people. Thankfully everyone’s too busy partying to notice us staring at them.
“Kayden knows better than anyone to not believe shit he reads on Tinsel Town blog, but that picture…like the one of Nadia and him, may hurt your case a little. And we know Knox has a temper, so let’s pray he doesn’t run into Shayne tonight,” Brooklyn says as she continues looking for the guys. All I see is a bunch of old men surrounded by young bimbos doing anything to land their Sugar Daddy for the evening.
“I don’t see Kayden anywhere Brooklyn. I think we should text Dixon to see where they are, or Jax…I really don’t care anymore. I need to find Kayden and fix this.”
Looking defeated, and silently agreeing with me, Brooklyn digs her phone out of her bag. I feel someone brush by me, their cologne smelling all too familiar. The sounds of overly excited women beside me flood my ears. Turning around, my eyes fall onto Shayne. He’s with a group of girls who look like they belong in Hugh Heffner’s Playboy mansion.
Fan-fucking-tastic. I divert my eyes to the floor, spinning back towards Brooklyn. Gripping her shoulder, I push her and shout into her ear, “Go…now!” Tripping over her 6” stilettos, Brooklyn flashes a pissed off look at me as she catches herself on the stranger in front of her.
Too freaked out to care, I keep moving, “Shayne is right behind me, move your ass. Now!” I shout as I walk past her. Grabbing her wrist and pulling her behind me, I move as fast as I can to get away from Shayne before he recognizes me. I’m now grateful for this place being pitched dark, because that was almost disastrous.
“Damn it Savannah! I practically snapped my frickin’ ankle! Shayne’s here? What the hell? Does he have a freakin’ GPS on your ass or something?” She spits out as she tries to keep up with me.
With panic coursing through my body, I maneuver through the crowd trying to make my way out of the VIP area. Looking behind me, I spot Shayne joining a group of people at a table. Seriously, I cannot escape this man!
Turning to Brooklyn, I try to speak, but my voice shakes as my heart tries to slow back down to normal. I take in a few quick breaths before finally speaking. “I don’t know, but I swear, out of all the people I could run into, how is it Shayne and I literally bump into each other. Thank God, he didn’t realize it was me and try to talk to me. I just need to find Kayden and clear everything up.”
Making our way across Vertigo, we try to look around for Kayden and the guys. Dixon texted Brooklyn back saying they are here and just got a table. She had to tell him that we’re in Vegas so he wouldn’t think she’s being a stalker and checking on his every move.
He also confirmed to Brooklyn what I already knew…Kayden has seen the pictures from last night. Between being hung over and so stressed out, I feel literally sick to my stomach. I’m about two second’s away from bolting out of here and just waiting for Kayden back in Texas.
“Dixon said they’re on the far end of the VIP area. Since we know Shayne is sitting with his posse at the beginning of the VIP section, we’ll go around the other way. Try to avoid another run-in.” Taking my hand and giving me a sympathetic smile, we make the walk back to the VIP lounge.
With each step I take, the more nervous I become. Knowing Kayden is ignoring me and rightly pissed off, is ripping me apart. I should’ve done a lot of things differently over the last several days. Now I just hope and pray Kayden will have more faith in me than I had in him.
Chapter Two
Kayden
This last week has totally fucked with my head. Every time I think I’m done with all the crazy shit that’s being thrown my way, something else fuckin’ happens.
After Zak was caught, and Savannah accepted my proposal, I thought all this crap we’d been through was done and over with. We could finally just sit back and enjoy our lives together. I figured right now she’d have me buried up to my nose with wedding crap. Like where to have the ceremony, what cake to have, and how many guests to invite. Instead, we’ve spent the last week apart, with our future in doubt.
I was so happy when Savannah called me last night and told me she was coming back to Texas. But then I went from happy to fuckin’ pissed off in zero-point-two-seconds after she told me Giselle concocted this entire thing. Not to mention the betrayal of my Assistant, the one employee I should be able to trust without a second thought. It has me wondering what else she has disclosed to others that I don’t know about yet. They’ll wish they’d never messed with us by the time I’m through with them.
I figured with Savannah coming back home that things were all good now. But then, shit! What do I find on my cell phone this afternoon, but a picture of Savannah lying on a bar letting some guy do belly shots off of her. I couldn’t see his face because it was dark in the club…my club of all places, but a source confirmed that it was none other than Shayne Andrews. Shayne-Fuckin-Andrews! The guy I’m throwing a party for here in Vegas to celebrate his highly anticipated fight next weekend.
“Hey man, what are you drinking?” Dixon asks as the bottle girl approaches our table, snapping me out of my dark thoughts.
Raking my fingers through my hair, I drag my gaze from the crowd on the dance floor and reply, “Just bring me a bottle of Jack.”
I’m not in the mood for partying and feel horrible. This is Braxton’s last hurrah before he and Mya make it official and tie the knot. I still can’t believe they’re finally getting married. It took him fuckin’ long enough to finally get the balls to ask her. They’ve been together since high school.
“So, ya enjoying your last trip to Vegas as a bachelor so far?” I ask Braxton trying to distract myself from my wondering mind. If I keep thinking about Shayne being all over my fuckin’ fiancée, I won’t be able to stop myself from walking over to his table and beatin’ the livin’ shit outta him.
Letting out a loud chuckle Braxton slides his hands behind his head and leans back in the booth as he smiles across the table at me. “Hell yeah, but it won’t be complete until I drag your asses to the casino for some poker and take y’all for all ya got.”
“Ha. You wish Bro. Y’all know no one’s better at Texas hold’em than yours truly. So ya best be prepared to lose.” Dixon says, finally taking his eyes off his cell phone. He’s been texting non-stop for the last twenty minutes.
“First of all, I taught you how to play poker douchebag, and secondly, this is a guy’s weekend. So put the damn phone away and drink!” I shout lifting my glass into the air. The sound of ice clinking off of the glass can barely be heard over the loud, thumping techno music.
After a few minutes of back and forth bantering with Dixon and Braxton, they finally shifted their bullshit talking to the fight next weekend. I’m glad they’ve not said anything about the story spreading like wild fire about Savannah. I think they know as well as I do, if I get worked up, it’ll be me next all over the gossip sites and celebrity news shows.
Between the beers I had at dinner and the two glasses of Jack and Coke I’ve had since we got to Vertigo, I’m feelin’ pretty buzzed. Turning, I wave over a bottle girl and ask her to bring us another bottle of Jack. Getting totally shit faced tonight is on my agenda.
Reaching for the bottle, I proceed to pour myself another drink when I feel someone sit beside me. My nose is immediately attacked by an overly sweet perfume. Smells like someone rolled around in a candy shop before coming to the club.
I ins
tantly freeze when I hear the all too familiar voice of Trixie LaRue. She’s a well-known socialite who lives in Vegas, and has been known to jump on a stripper pole on occasion. Trixie’s father is a big name movie producer in Hollywood who has a shelf full of awards. Her life consists of partying and living off daddy’s money.
“Kayden Knox! I thought that was you. It’s been like, what? Six months since I last saw you. It’s about time you came back to Vegas!” She says overly enthusiastic into my ear as she presses her double D boobs against my arm. She flashes a flirtatious smile at Braxton and Dixon, who look none too happy about Trixie crashing our guy’s night. This is the last fuckin’ thing I need. How much more shit can be piled on my head?!
Shifting my body, I maneuver away from her, but she’s like a fuckin’ puppy begging for attention. She is scooting closer to me. Rolling my eyes, I tip my head back, tossing back the shot. I just found another reason to get totally fucked up. I can’t believe I ever fucked this chick. Now that I’ve been with Savannah, I see how shallow I was bedding anything with big tits, and a perky personality. Fuckin’ moron…that’s what I was.
Dixon jokes, trying to get a rise out of her. “Hey Trixie, what are you doing at a UFC party? Looking for your new conquest?”
Snapping her head from me to Dixon, she lets out an annoyed grunt, “I was invited by Shayne. It’s a pretty kick ass party…I can’t believe all the people who’ve showed up. This party’s going to be all over the magazines come tomorrow. The paparazzi are lined up outside, just dying to get some pics of drunk celebrities stumbling out of the hotel.”
I imagine Trixie will be one of those girls hanging off of an A-list celebrity as they make their way outta the hotel. She’s a fame whore, and always seems to land on the arm of guys whose careers are booming at the moment. She’ll do anything for her five minutes of fame.
Savannah Series Boxed Set: Four Full Novels and One Novella Page 61
