Page 59 of Fragile Love (Fragile 3)
Knowing she wouldn’t be able to get any more shut-eye, she peeled herself off the bed and stretched, relishing the feeling of her blood giving life to her arms and legs after a long sleep. “You want to party?”
“Not party, really. I guess just...” He thought for a minute as he pulled his shirt over his head. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been out with good music.”
“Didn’t you go to parties when you first came to Los Angeles a few months ago?”
He watched her as she bent over the sink to wash her face. “I did a few times, but I quit going.”
“How come?” Lillian asked, splashing water on her face.
“Because you weren’t here.”
She stared at him, the honesty clear in his eyes. He used to have parties all the time at his place that she never went to. Why should it have stopped? Because I tried to break his heart. “I shouldn’t keep you from having fun, Cayden.”
“Without you here, it was different. None of those people cared who I was. They saw me as a new piece of meat to market. I don’t mean my body. I just mean, I was with Katharina, and then invited to more and more parties. Except no one knew me. Knew that I was in love with you. I wanted to shout it to everyone that I wanted to be with you. No one cared. I don’t want to enter that territory, if you know what I mean.” He stood behind her, hands on her waist, as she rubbed cleanser on her skin. “Now you’re here, and we won’t have much time left in this city. So, we may as well have a good time.”
Lillian dried her face with a soft white towel, and turned to face Cayden. “Sure,” she said, giving him a light kiss. “Let’s go have fun tonight.”
His face lit up. “When are you finished at Katharina’s?”
“Around five, I guess. She never really sets a time. I think she’s taking Andrew around today, so she may not even be there most of the time.”
“She and Andrew seem to be getting along,” Cayden noted as he zipped his jeans.
“I mean, their witty humor matches perfectly.” She looked at Cayden, expecting him to make some joke, but he was staring out the window.
“Freakin’ A,” he said to himself, “It’s been forever since I’ve been out. It’s time to blow off some steam.”
“Are you going to dance tonight?”
“With you.”
“No way!” She grinned. “You know I’m a party pooper.”
“You are not. At least, you aren’t in bed.”
She blew him a kiss. “I’ll come back up after breakfast to do my makeup.”
“You’re not already wearing it?”
“Of course not. I just woke up, you nut.”
“You look like you just walked out of Vogue, to me.” He took her head in his hands and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Let’s go have breakfast. I bet it’s fancier than a continental breakfast. Katharina would make sure of it.”
“Didn’t we have the breakfast last time we were here?” Lillian asked, taking the room card and shutting the door behind them.
“I don’t remember. All I can think about is tonight.”
“What are you doing today?”
“Some interviews for other clients and then a workout with Janine tonight. Since I’m back, she wants to snag me for a quick one.”
“A quick one?” Lillian stuck her tongue out.
“A workout,” he said, totally missing the humor. He was very clearly preoccupied with something inside his mind. “I’ll shower at my place and just meet you there.”
“Where is the café again? Is it a café or a bar?”
“It turns into a bar in the evening. You pass it on the way to Katharina’s. It’s just down the road. I’ll show you.” As the elevator doors opened, he bent at the waist and motioned for her to walk inside first. “After you, my lady.”
