Disconnected

by Bethany Daniel

  Shaking my head, I take a good look around the room and cross to the dresser on Katy's side of the bed. There's a framed collage of different pictures of us together and separate in front of the Hollywood sign when we first got there four years ago. We had our whole lives ahead of us and we were just so happy. I think we're close to being just as happy now...I've just got to do my damn best to keep it that way. I refuse to fail at this again. I slip the picture into my bag and zip it up, running a hand through my hair before I make my way back downstairs dragging all my luggage with me.

  When I walk around the corner, Mrs. Parker is putting a video into an old VCR and I silently groan. Videos that old aren't usually a good thing.

  "Do I even want to know what you’re about to watch?” I ask, walking over and kissing Katy.

  "Probably not, are you heading out?"

  I nod, looking down at my watch. "Yep, we're on a tight schedule and if I run behind, I'm in big trouble."

  "I love you. Have a safe trip.” She pushes herself to stand, grabbing her crutches. She gives me one last kiss and hugs me tightly.

  I squeeze her back, holding onto her a moment longer. "I will.”

  I lean down and give Krista a quick hug, then walk over to Katy's mom, who is standing by the TV waiting to start the video.

  "Mrs. Parker, always nice to come back home and see you,” I flash a grin at her.

  "Now, Liam, you know by now that you can call me Stella.”

  I laugh, shaking my head. "My Dad would have my hide for calling you that, though."

  I turn back towards Katy. "I love you, Katy. Try to keep from getting into too much trouble, ok? That goes for you too, Krista."

  "Hey, I'm not making any promises." Krista smirks over at me.

  "Oh, man, does Scott have his hands full with you." I shake my head before checking the time again. "Oh, crap, I'm late, got to go!" I kiss Katy's forehead before grabbing my bags and rushing out the door.

  "All set, Mr. Warren?" the driver asks as he grabs the bags out of my hands.

  I nod. "Yes I am, all set." I smile at him and take one last look back at my home. I'd give anything to be able to just stay here and hide out a little while longer. I sigh, sliding into the backseat, and lean my head back, time to go be a movie star.

  * * *

  A few hours later, I've been made over and put into a designer "relaxed" suit, whatever that means. Mitchell has planned out my whole night. I'm to go to three different clubs, smile at the cameras, and act like I'm happy as can be that the movie is getting such good press. But in reality, right now the movie is the last thing on my mind. The only good thing that came of it was it bringing me to Georgia and finding Katy there.

  We pull up to the first club of the night and already there's a large crowd smothering the limo we're in. Ian pushes past those in his way and opens the door. "Good luck," he whispers with a smile, and then I see Tyrell Security shirts beside me and two of them start pulling me through the crowd.

  "Liam! How's your wife?"

  "Liam! Has Alexia contacted you? Is she guilty of murdering Lucas Austin?"

  "Liam! Liam Warren, look this way!"

  I hear all this as we push through the crowd, but I tune it out as we go. I look up every few seconds and wave at them but don't make a statement. They got their big speech from me that day at the hospital. They can deal with just a picture of me right now.

  Chapter 23

  The next two clubs are the same thing. Being yelled at as I go in, people inside trying to get gossip from me, more being yelled at, begging for a statement on the way out. By the time I finally get to Scott's and my place I'm completely exhausted.

  I flop down on the bed, kick my shoes off, and grab for my phone to call Katy before I crash for the night.

  I smile as I hear her voice come over the line. "Hello?"

  "Hey, baby." I try and fail to cover up a yawn.

  "Aw, long day?"

  "M-hmm, a lot of club hopping to have my face in the mags for a bit, tons of questions from every paparazzo that came near me, I already want to get back home."

  "I wish I was there with you...stupid messed up legs," Katy sighs.

  "I like you being where you are. I know you’re safe and cared for there. What troubles have you and Krista found since I left?”

  "Oh, not much, I just told Krista about the night you came to interrupt my date with Thomas."

  I smirk, remembering how that night played out. That day I confessed to Katy how I was falling for her. She didn't believe me, so when I went to her house and found out she still went out on a date with Thomas; I went to the movie theater and confronted her. We had our first kiss that night.

  "Mmm...I remember that night."

  "Ha! I'm sure you do. You swore you loved me that day."

  I laugh. "I did. And I still do, Katy. If I had to pull something like I did back then again, I would. I would just have bodyguards announcing I was there beforehand.”

  She laughs and sighs softly. "I really miss you. I got used to having you around."

  "I miss you too, baby. Just a couple days and I'll be back again, I promise. Maybe the next time I need to come here or to New York you can come be my arm candy."

  "I am not a trophy wife, Liam Warren." Katy laughs at me.

  "No, never...but you are my prize, much more than any awards I have sitting on my shelves."

  "That was totally cheesy, but I'll take it. You sound like you need to go to bed, babe."

  I sigh, rubbing my face. Yeah, I need sleep if I'm really using cheesy lines like that.

  "I do. Have to be up early for interviews and then a photo shoot. At least I get to hang out with Scott then."

  "Well, you boys stay out of trouble,” she teases me.

  "Us? Of course, we never get into trouble. Hollywood's Golden Boys, remember?"

  "M-hmm, I'll hold you to that."

  I start to laugh but a yawn overtakes it. "I love you, Katy. Sweet dreams."

  "I love you too, sweet dreams."

  Once we hang up, I throw my phone onto the dresser beside me and just yank my shirt over my head to go to bed. I'm so exhausted I don't even have the energy to take these dressy pants off. I slide in under the blankets and turn the light out. As soon as I hit the pillow sleep consumes me.

  Later I'm woken up by a thudding noise. At first I try to just cover my head with my blanket but it gets louder and more consistent.

  "Liam! Liam Warren get your ass up now!" I hear Scott yelling and pounding against my door, so I get up and yank the door open.

  "What the hell is wrong?!"

  Scott's chest is heaving and I take a step back as he barrels into the room. "Have you not heard your damn phone?" He grabs it off the dresser and thrusts it at me. "Alexia went after the girls."

  That wakes me up completely and I stand up straight. "What? How...are they ok? What happened?" I press a button on my phone and see a text from Katy on the screen that makes my heart nearly beat out of my chest.

  “Oh my God…Alexia’s here! Poisoned the BG.”

  "How the hell did she find them? How did she get past the security? Poison?" I ramble, looking at that text as I start pacing the room.

  Scott puts his hand up to stop me. "Krista called me. She had to...shoot Alexia." He looks down at the floor. "She killed her," he whispers.

  "Krista? Krista killed Alexia?" I sit down on my rumpled bed and shake my head. This is all too much to process. Since when does happy go lucky Krista know how to use a gun?

  "Katy? Is Katy ok?" I ask worriedly. I need to leave this oversized house right now. I need on the first damn plane out of L.A.

  He nods. "She's shaken up, but the girls are going to the Parker's house. They're going to be waiting for us."

  I stand up, grabbing my duffel bag, and start shoving clothes back in before grabbing the closest t-shirt to put on. "Call Mitchell, tell him to cancel the photo shoots and interviews. We're going back to Boulder City right now."

  "Already
did. He wasn't happy, either." He runs a hand through his hair.

  "I don't care. He can be mad." I grab my phone again and dial the airport. "Yes, I need two tickets to Boulder City Municipal, the sooner the flight the better."

  I keep the phone against my ear and rattle off my credit card information as they book me and Scott the next flight out.

  "We have an hour, let's go." I grab my bag as Scott rushes to his room to throw together a bag for himself.

  I pace back and forth anxiously as I wait for him to come into the foyer area, and watch as the taxi speeds up and the driver hurries to grab our belongings as Scott runs out the door.

  After what feels like hours but is probably only minutes, our things get shoved into the trunk and we finally take off towards the airport.

  "You know they're ok," Scott whispers to me.

  I nod, but my foot is bouncing. "I know, but that doesn't make me feel better. I need to see her."

  He pats my shoulder and nods, watching out the window as we speed by. "We're gonna be with our girls, don't worry."

  "Don't worry" isn't part of my vocabulary right now.

  Chapter 24

  As soon as we pull up in front of Katy's parents' house, I run up the stairs and into the door as Mrs. Parker opens it.

  "Where is she?" I ask, looking around the room.

  "She's up in her old room, resting. It's been a rough night, Liam."

  I run my hands through my hair, frustrated, and hurry past her to where Katy is sleeping. I slowly open the door and peek in the room, and as soon as I see she's awake I rush to her side and pull her into my arms.

  "Baby, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have gone to L.A. If Krista hadn't been there...” I bury my head in her neck and take a deep breath to calm myself down.

  "Hey, I'm alright. Krista WAS there. Don't let the what-ifs get the best of you, ok? I've had enough of that running through my head as it is," she says, squeezing me tightly. "I'm so glad you're here."

  I blow out my breath and pull back to look her in the eye. "You’re sure you’re ok?"

  "I am, I swear. What’s going to happen now, Liam?” she whispers, linking her hand with mine.

  I shake my head. "A lot of headaches most likely. Krista will probably have the worst of it because she's the one that shot Alexia, but I think with all the evidence it'll be obvious that she acted in self-defense."

  Katy closes her eyes before looking towards the door with worry in her eyes. "What time is it? Is Krista still up?"

  "She's resettling down for the night with Scott. I think she just wants to forget as much as she can right now," I tell Katy as she pulls me the rest of the way onto the bed with her and lays her head on my chest.

  "I don't blame her. I would like nothing more than to never have to face those memories ever again." She closes her eyes again before looking up at me. "You wouldn't have believed it, Liam. Alexia was just...crazy. Her hair was a mess, she looked like she hadn't slept or eaten in days, and she wanted me dead." She shivers and I pull her tighter against me. "I never dreamed Krista knew how to hold a gun, much less shoot one, but I'm very glad her dad made her take that gun safety class...very, very thankful."

  "I am, too." I sigh, stroking her back. "I didn't get your text. I slept through the noise. Then Krista called Scott and the next thing I knew he was banging on my door like a mad man and it finally woke me up." I shake my head. "The first thing I did after Scott told me what happened was call the airline and book the first flight back. I let him deal with calling Mitchell and the director to cancel all the plans for tomorrow. All I cared about was getting back here."

  "I'm glad you did, or else I would have been itching to find a way to get to where you were."

  "Katy, I swear, I'm never letting you out of my sight again." I lean down and kiss her. "You could have been gone tonight, and the last time you saw me would have been me rushing out the door to catch a plane..."

  "Liam..."

  Before she can say anything else, I crush my mouth against hers and kiss a trail down her neck. "I don't want you to think that work comes before you do, baby. I might be this big actor now, but I made that mistake once. I refuse to make it again. You are my priority, not the filming or awards or any of that. God, all I can think about is how Alexia could have gotten her way and shot you, and I wouldn't have had my chance to tell you over and over that I'm so sorry about who I was four years ago. I love you more than ever and I really want to marry you all over again, and someday have little versions of us running around. If you’ll have me," I whisper, and stare into her eyes as they fill with tears.

  “I will. The last four years may have been a mess, but we have the future. I don't plan on running away this time around."

  I grin before kissing her again and scoot her under me, being careful to keep any weight off her leg. I kiss down her neck and pull her closer, but I'm not close enough. I pull her shirt off and look down at her. "Is this ok?" I ask breathlessly.

  She nods before reaching up and pulling my shirt over my head. She runs her hands over my abs and chest, making me groan. God, I've missed being like this with her. She's always known how to get to me, how to make me spiral out of control, but also how to hold me in tight and just be my Katy. It's always been her.

  “I’ve missed being this close to you, Katy. More than just sex, just being completely mentally, emotionally, and physically connected to you," I whisper before kissing and nipping at her shoulders, then her chest. She lets out a sigh and we rush getting each other stripped down to nothing.

  “I have, too...I missed you every day, Liam. Right now, I just want to focus on that love we pushed away for so long. Tonight, let this be all that matters,” she whispers before pulling me back to her mouth again. This--us--is really all that matters. For so long I felt so disconnected from everything, but with Katy, I feel complete again. This is how things are meant to be. Hollywood might come banging on the door, but this is my sweet reality and I'll take it over those red carpets any day.

  The next morning I roll towards Katy and smile when I tuck her hair behind her ear.

  "Good morning." She smiles up at me.

  I rub my eyes, "Morning. Are you ok?"

  "I'm great, but I want to go check on Krista, and I need to go to the doctor to get my leg looked over. If I'm lucky I should be able to get rid of the crutches once and for all."

  I nod, kissing her quickly before rolling out of bed and stretching. When I look behind me I catch Katy staring and smirk down at her. "See something you like?"

  "Maybe," She giggles before she rolls towards the end of the bed, and I hurry over to help her. "Easy there, Katy."

  "I've got it. I can't depend on crutches forever, and I've been going to physical therapy and all.” She shakes her head, hobbling away from me towards her clothes. "See?"

  I sigh, watching her maneuver herself to get dressed, and slip my arm around her waist to help her out of the room.

  "Do you think Krista's ok?” Katy asks as I sit her in her chair and scoot her into the table.

  "I think she's going to need some time. She's going to need to speak with the police a lot and let her side of everything be known. Then once everything on our end is settled, we want to get you girls out of town." I sit across from her and fold my hands in front of me. "This was supposed to be a safe getaway. We're going to take a real vacation once all this is done, the four of us. Does the beach sound good?" I raise an eyebrow at her. Scott and I planned all this out over our plane ride because we needed to focus on something better than what was racing through our heads while we flew. We're going to surprise the girls with taking a trip to a private Hawaiian resort I've been to before. I think it's just the thing we all need after everything is said and done. We could really use the escape.

  "The beach sounds fabulous right now." Krista walks into the kitchen and sits beside Katy, "So much better than drab police headquarters."

  "Are you doing ok, Kris?” Katy asks as she hugs her.

 
; "Yes, and I'm already tired of being asked that! The police, Scott, even your parents! I swear, I'm ok, I don't regret shooting her; I would do it all over again to protect you. After what happened to Luke, I think its deserved justice."

  Scott walks in and kisses her cheek before sitting next to her. "I wouldn't let the police hear you talk like that, babe...just saying."

  She rolls her eyes as she grabs a banana from the bowl sitting in the center of the table. "I can't wait to have all eyes off of me again. How do you guys handle having so many people pay attention to you all the time?"

  Scott shrugs. "That's different. That's not legal attention. Just girls who think they'll get a shot at us if we give them the time of day."

  "You better not give any of those girls any time of your day, because as far as I'm concerned Mister, you’re all mine," Krista teases him before leaning over to kiss him for longer then necessary. I clear my throat to break them up.

  Scott grins sheepishly before grabbing an apple and taking a loud bite. "Sorry, what time do we need to be at the police station?” he asks, looking over at Krista.

  "Ten. We'll need to leave soon." She sighs, standing up. "Better go get dressed."

  They both stand and go to the guest room to change clothes. Katy watches them go and then turns to me.

  "I worry about her," she whispers. "This is really a big deal, and I know her; it just hasn't hit her yet."

  "I know babe, but she’s tough. I know that and I haven't even known her very long. She didn't do anything wrong. Scott is here to help her through this now."

  She sighs, squeezing my hands with hers. "I know, I'm just used to being the one there for her."

  "What did I tell you about taking on the weight of the world? Sometimes other people can take a turn, Katy. Not everything has to be on your shoulders."

  "I know, but..."

  "No buts. She is your best friend, but she's got someone else to protect her now. And that's my job for you from now on too."

  She kisses me before smiling up at me. "I love you. You don't have to have the weight of guilt on you, either. You don't have to feel guilty for not being there, ok? You have a job, a big, important job that a lot of people depend on you for; you shouldn't have to sit and babysit me."