Page 69 of Sunrise
My dad always said that is a fancy way of saying things out here cost more. It's true, they do, but that's what you get with a place like this. The tourists come, and they are happy to drop more money for the experience.
"You always loved being on the water. I think it will be good for you," I tell him with a small smile.
"You should come with me one day and take a break from the inn."
"Ah, Travis, I haven't been on the water since they died, and I don't think I can go again. I ... I haven't even been swimming in the ocean," I admit. This is Travis, after all, and we were friends growing up before we started dating.
"Oh, Lin, it's like riding a horse... okay, maybe not." He cringes.
"It's okay. Maybe someday, but I don't see this summer being that day."
We sit in silence for a moment more.
"So, what do you plan to do now?" he asks.
I know he means now that Kade is gone and the season is starting early.
"I had a deal with Kade to use his name to boost sales here, so I guess that's my next move. I will be selling the Kade Markson experience this summer, and I get to be the front and center part of it."
"Hired new security?" He nods toward the new guys.
"Kade sent them in case fans got out of control. Also, sent a PR firm to handle the interview and media requests," I say.
"He's paying for it?" he asks.
"Yeah, why?"
"Oh, Lin." Travis shakes his head and says nothing else as he stands. "I don't think your story with him ends here. Call me if you need help between now and when your seasonal crew gets here."
With that, he leaves me with my mind racing. There is no future for Kade and me, no matter how much I want there to be. I'm not moving to Hollywood, and he isn't giving up his big role and everything that goes with it.
There is no us anymore.
Chapter 32
Kade
I hate everything about this movie. I hate the part. I hate the other actors. I find I am just hating LA in general.
Acting gives me no pleasure anymore, and I'm actually dreading heading into the studio all day. The first part of this movie is being shot here in Hollywood, and we haven't even hit the on-locations parts, which will be filmed next month.
I'm on my way home, and I can't stand sitting in this traffic. I miss being able to roll down the windows and enjoy the sea air in my face.
Like I do every evening on my way home, I pull up the Sunrise and Sunset Inn's social media and see what the girls are posting. Both inns are booked, the PR rep I hired for them tells me.
This weekend they had a Sunset bonfire, and they posted a photo together on the beach along with some guests. Mostly girls.
The #TheKadeMarksonExperience is trending. Mostly girls visiting the inns and going to the places Lin and I visited. I notice a few of the more local ones like the cove and the Arch Bridge are missing. Somehow, that feels significant, like the most important parts she kept for just her and me.
So many photos in that hashtag are Lin with guests who are happy to see her and talk to her. So, I get new photos of her daily. She looks so damn beautiful, but her smile isn't the same one she gave me. It's more forced. I know she hates being the center of attention, and my heart breaks for her, and I wish I was there to protect her from that.
I get home, and Wren is there, and he doesn't look happy, so I'm instantly on guard.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Okay, don't kill the messenger. I'm just as unhappy about this as you are, but I have to tell you because it's my job," Wren says and holds his hands up like I'm going to lunge at him. "The studio wants you and the cast to make an appearance at a club tomorrow night."
"No," I growl.
