by Xavier Neal
I give her a small wink.
“You totally look ready for your First Communion.”
She snickers with no regard to my glaring. “Fifty bucks says Kady will love it.”
“She’d have to see it in order to love it.”
“Which she’s about to.”
The shake of her head confuses me.
Adrianna unapologetically announces, “She’s beyond pissed at you.”
Damn it. I was afraid of this….
“We’re talking so pissed she told us and I quote, ‘On the unlikely chance Levi remembers where I live and has the balls to come to the door, open it, and then slam the damn thing in his fucking face’.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah….She’s reallllllly a bitch when her feelings are hurt.”
Guilt grabs me forcefully by the throat.
“Then again if my supposed boyfriend started treating me like a piece of gum he had forgotten on the bottom of his dress shoes, I might be a little pissed off too.”
In a strained voice, I state, “I swear I’m here to make it up to her.”
An unconvinced expression appears on her tanned complexion.
“I’ve got this amazing surprise planned for her tonight. I’m gonna take her somewhere she’s gonna fucking love, Adrianna.”
There’s no response.
“We’re talking really fucking love. And absolutely deserves. Not only because I’ve been a bit unavailable lately, but because we both know how hard she works and how rarely she gets to enjoy a night out.”
She hums her agreement. “Are you prepared to beg for forgiveness like a Dru Hill song?”
Thankful to have her guard starting to crumble, I quickly nod.
“We’re talkin’ knees on the floor, high pitched pleading, baby baby baby kinda begging. Is someone of your stature even capable of that?”
“Prepare the piano.”
Adrianna smirks and takes a step backward. “I didn’t let you in.”
I tap my index finger to my lips indicating I’ll keep the secret.
And so will you….
On my way to Kady’s room, which is on the opposite end of the mansion from the front door, I check the time, mumble to myself about expediting the apology, and let out a quiet prayer she’s willing to forgive a lot faster than the feeling in the pit of my stomach is telling me she will.
The surprise isn’t exactly the type we should be late to.
Slowly, I open her door just enough to steal a glimpse of her. She’s sitting at her desk, hair in a messy bun, foot tucked underneath her round butt that’s barely being covered by a pair of sleep shorts, and completely focused on her computer screen.
Damn I forgot how undeniably sexy she is. Especially like this. No makeup. No pricey outfits. No care or concern whether or not her ‘flaws’ are covered. I fucking love her like this. It’s one reason I’m always so desperate to have her in my bed first thing in the morning. This is the kinda look women only let you see when they trust you. When they care about you….
I step inside and quietly close the door behind me. However, the tiny click is enough to grab her attention.
Her glare is immediate. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Good evening to you too, babe.”
Kady flashes me her middle finger.
She was nicer to me than this when I hit her in the face with a door…that’s all I’m saying.
“How the hell did you get in?”
“Did I forget to mention breaking and entering is also one of my many MacGyver like skills?”
“Did I forget to mention calling the cops is one of mine?”
The challenge in her eyes doesn’t shake me until she reaches for her cell phone.
“Wait. Wait. Wait,” my words rush to stop her. “I was kidding!”
“I wasn’t.”
A silent stalemate threatens the situation, and I let out a heavy sigh. “I know you’re pissed, Kady…but is there any chance you can ream me out in the car instead? There’s somewhere really special I’ve planned to take you and-”
“Are you fucking joking?!” She launches onto her feet and begins to stomp towards me. “You barely return my calls, send me one-line texts, cancel on me four times like I’m some sort of callback audition you’re not really sure you want and then you just expect me to ride off into the sunset with you at your beck and call?” Kady stops while there’s still too much space between us. “Fuck. You.”
I try to push past the pain enveloping my lungs, “Kadence-”
“Fuck you,” she repeats even harsher than before. “This shit is also why I don’t date actors. You all have this habit of behaving like your time is more valuable, like my life should revolve around yours. Well, trending topic alert. It doesn’t. It won’t. I absolutely fucking refuse.”
And that little fact only adds to the reasons I’m crazy about her. She has her own life. Her own agenda. An agenda I keep fighting tooth and nail to stay on. Neglecting her hasn’t been because I’m trying to twist her into becoming dependent on me or obsessed. It’s just a hazard of the job sometimes. I swear. If she’ll let me get a word in…or at the very least stop cussing at me long enough to listen, I’ll explain that to her.
“Kadence-”
“No.”
“I-”
“Not listening, Levi. Why don’t you get the hell out of my room and go take whoever it is you’ve been giving all my time with you to these past couple of weeks to whatever it is you have planned.”
Bafflement creases my brow. “Excuse me?”
She stubbornly folds her arms across her Chicago the Broadway Musical tank top covered chest.
“You think I’ve been busy cheating on you?”
The glower deepens.
Rage ripples throughout my system. “Fuck you.”
Her jaw plummets to the ground.
Pick yours up. Don’t act like it’s fair for her to say it when she’s pissed, but not okay for me when I am. Double standards like that aren’t okay.
I grumble, “Now you’re not the only one pissed off.”
She moves her mouth to speak, but fails.
“Cheating? Really? What gave it away? The bags under my eyes from working fourteen hours a day that I can barely hide under the makeup I’m forced to wear or the fact I stole a three-thousand-dollar suit from the show I just finished shooting because I didn’t have time to change? And you know why I didn’t have time change, Kadence? Because the only thing on my mind was getting the hell over here, kissing the shit out of you, apologizing for work demanding all my time, and whisking you away to somewhere I know you’ll appreciate.”
Sadness slinks onto her face, but she remains silent.
“This is the longest and the hardest I’ve worked at a relationship in years. Why would I throw it away now?!”
“I-”
“Better yet, who the fuck would I throw it away for?!”
“I don’t know, Levi!” She screams, insecurity swirling in her tone. “A new actress you met! A rising rock star! Another internationally known supermodel?!”
“Fuck supermodels! I have you!”
A stunned look takes over her emotional expression.
Can’t believe we’re going to spend what should’ve been a fun evening fighting about how faithful I am. Should I have just gone to the stupid cast thing?
Hearing a small sniffle smothers out the anger still seething. “Kadence….”
“What?”
“I haven’t been the best boyfriend these last couple of weeks, not because someone else has taken your place, babe, though let’s just take a second to be completely honest and admit no one could ever take your place.” My back braces itself against the door. “I’ve been working almost nonstop. We were shooting the season finale. It was a longer episode. It also required a few re-shoots. Promotional photos. Closing cast dinners and drinks. Not to mention I had to meet with my agent and publicist about upcoming projects.”
; Relief finally starts to make its presence in her eyes.
“All the time I couldn’t spend talking to you or being with you, was spent working or napping.” The end of the sentence is said in a lighter manner. “I need to know why you have such a hard time believing me, babe. And I don’t wanna hear any of the ‘I know what actors are like’ bullshit. I wanna know why you have a hard time believing me. What have I done to make you think I’d ever hurt you like that?”
She surrenders her feelings in a meek tone. “I don’t know….We fooled around that night on the beach, but never had sex when we got back to your place. You know you say it’s fine we’re not sleeping together yet. You say we’ll go my speed, that as long as we’re both satisfied, it doesn’t matter if it takes us a few months or a year to get to that point, but then the next thing I know you’re blowing me off. The very next day you’re not answering my calls. Then you start canceling dates. Your texts are short and far from sweet. It doesn’t take a genius to deduce you’re probably getting something better and easier elsewhere.”
Completely dumbfounded, I croak, “Are you really worried you’re not...enough in that department?”
“Of course I am! You’ve been with hundreds of women and I’ve done what we did like six times. Tops.”
Now doesn’t seem like the time to call bullshit, but I want to. She’s head of the class if you get what I’m saying and most women in my experience who are that good spent many many hours studying.
In one swift motion, my body is pressed against her, hands folding together on the small of her back. “Babe, you’re more than enough in that department. Believe me. I can’t even think about you for too long without popping a hard on. It’s become a major problem.”
She tries to deny her smile the chance show.
“I’m serious. Can’t even stare at the picture of us I made the background on my phone for too long without needing a moment alone.”
Kadence shakes her head at the same time she giggles.
“I meant what I said, Kady. I’m happy. I’m satisfied. And I care more about keeping you in my life than I do about getting my dick touched.”
A sweet expression sweeps her face.
“Now, how about you let me make up a shitty couple of weeks with my surprise? It’s really good.”
“Fine,” she quietly caves. “But you bring me straight home afterward. I’m not spending the night with you.”
We’ll see….
I give her a playful wink and she pushes me away, a small smile being displayed.
Kadence starts towards her ensuite bathroom and I question, “Any chance you can hurry?
Her scowl’s instant reappearance causes me to shudder.
“Kidding.”
I wasn’t, but shhh.
“Can you wear a cocktail dress, please? It’s that type of place.”
She doesn’t agree. She merely hums, smirks, and shuts the bathroom door leaving me to wait alone.
God, I hope we make it on time. Should I be constructing a backup plan?
After a swift change into a lacy off the shoulder black dress that has me praying she spends the night so I can peal if off of her, I rush us to the heart of downtown as quick as possible.
I pull up to the valet option located on the side of the building at the same time Kadence asks, “Isn’t this the South Haven Theatre?”
An older male opens her door while another comes around to give me a ticket. “It is.”
“This is the big one,” she continues to analyze. “The one where they only put on the big performances. The ballets. The Operas. The Tony Award winning musicals.”
Nodding slowly, I wait for the realization to hit her. The moment it does she screams and flies into my arms.
“Oh my God!”
Grateful to have her shouting in a good way rather than on the verge of breaking up with me, I embrace her tightly, and let a grin grow wildly across my face.
“Oh my God!”
When she finally pulls back, I’m able to see the excitement has reached her gaze.
There isn’t a damn thing more beautiful than this.
“Do I need to remind you there’s no screaming inside?” Her clutch free hand takes my arm. “I’m already in trouble for doing karaoke. My publicists will kill me if I get kicked out of a Broadway Musical.”
Kady presents me with a beam so bright it blurs my vision.
I’d do anything to see her smile like this every day. I’ll fucking quit my job and move us up to New York so she can see this shit as often as possible. I’ll miss living on the beach and surfing every day, but her everlasting happiness would be so fucking worth it.
Once I’ve given the man our tickets, we step inside the busy theater lobby to see people standing around sipping cocktails in evening wear and impatiently waiting for the doors to open.
I stop us beside the display poster near the thick wooden doors that lead out to the main entrance. “Originally, I had reservations for us to take a limo ride, have dinner on the roof top of Raising The Steaks, and then a drink here before the show.”
Another round of glee appears in her expression.
“But...as you can see…I was barely able to even make this part.”
“We are now seating!” An usher announces loudly.
“Before we go find our seats….I have to pay for the tickets.”
“You haven’t paid yet?”
“Technically no.” I give my jacket a quick adjustment. “Gotta slip outside and let the vultures circle for a minute.” Her lips begin to part when I add, “We took the side entrance so at least you could keep a fraction of your privacy.”
Kadence gives my tie a tug and our lips press together.
Appeasement envelops me for the first time all day.
She pulls back before I have the chance to allow my tongue to coax hers into a meeting. “You’re amazing.”
I give her a lopsided grin. “Well, that beats the hell out of hearing I’m an asshole.”
“You’re that too.”
Don’t agree with her.
“Two minutes and we can head in alright?”
Kady nods her understanding, and I leave her lingering next to the informative displays set up to highlight the cast.
While I’m expecting a handful of photographers to be waiting outside, I’m stunned when there’s enough to rival a movie premier.
Fuck.
“There’s Levi Stone!” Someone announces, instantly causing all of the cameras to shift my direction.
A photo worthy grin plasters itself on my face like someone hit a light switch. My posture instantly shifts to perfect. My hands slide into my pants pockets at the same moment my head gives its signature tilt.
The starving scavengers snap up as many pictures as possible, well aware of the terse timeframe. Some throw out questions about my presence being linked to an actress I’m supposedly dating in the cast. Others having not heard that particular rumor inquire about who I actually brought as my date and beg for me to bring her out.
I respond to no one.
Kady’s been on the internet enough without wanting to add to it. There’s speculation and reports of sightings since we started dating, but her identity is still somewhat a mystery. Until she’s ready to go public, I don’t mind having her all to myself in the shadows. Another great thing about dating her. She prefers low key dates. Local spots where paparazzi aren’t slipping hundreds of dollars to the hostesses in order to get a text about a celebrity trying to dine in peace.
My hand slides out of my pocket and lifts into the air. “Enjoy your evening.”
During my stroll away from the limelight, I shoot Dee a quick text.
Me: Paid in full.
As soon as I step foot back into the lobby, Kady crosses over to me. She gives me a long incredulous stare before playfully pointing out, “Seems like they didn’t leave any scratches when trying to pry your eyes out….”
“There’s actually a cut on my lip.”
Did I mention they have a strict no photos in the theater policy, which includes the lobby? All I’m saying is if a kiss were to escalate it probably wouldn’t land us on the front cover of a trashy tabloid thanks to that little rule.
