On Monday I manage to avoid any conversations longer than a few words and make my way to my office, shutting the door on the world outside.
When I’d switched my phone back on last night it turned out that Kaden had tried to call five more times before finally giving up.
And since he hadn’t shown up at the apartment I can only assume he hadn’t bothered catching the next flight out to L.A. after all.
I keep telling myself it’s for the best but the sting of disappointment tells me differently.
I guess I can’t blame him for staying in New York.
What’s the point of flying all the way out here just so I can tell him leave?
Because there is no way I can continue to be his girlfriend now. Not with Melinda hanging over our heads.
Maybe those pictures in the papers were a misunderstanding but they were just one of many of Melinda’s attempts to show Kaden that she was the woman he wanted.
Kaden never said anything.
He always told me that I was the one he wanted, but he never told her to stop, never noticed how pictures like the ones in the paper hurt and humiliated me.
Checking my phone, I notice that a couple of the missed calls are from Olivia and immediately feel guilty.
Of course she called.
She would have called to make sure I was alright the moment she saw those pictures on the front page.
She picks up on the first ring. “Claire, tell me you haven’t done anything stupid.”
“I told him we were over.”
She sighs. “Aw, honey. I’m so sorry. But I’m sure he had a good explanation.”
“Always does,” I say then lower my voice to a whisper. “Luke Hart and that snooty actress Nikki Bloom knew about it before I did.” I sit back and sigh. “I don’t know why it’s so surprising. It’s not like we’re married or anything. He never showed the slightest inkling that he might want to marry me one day. Maybe this is just the way it was supposed to end.”
“Okay now you’re talking bullshit,” Olivia snaps. “Kaden loves you and you two are amazing together.”
“When we see each other.”
“And that’s all his fault?”
I huff. “Whose side are you on?”
“Yours, the side I’m always on,” she says. “You love him and I know he loves you.”
I can feel my lower lip trembling and fresh tears are slipping down my cheeks.
“Aw, Claire, are you crying?”
“It’s my fault,” I whisper. “I brought this into our relationship.”
“What are you talking about?”
Between sniffles and nose blowing I tell her about the kiss with Luke, the way we’d made eye contact during his love scene with Nikki and finally the fantasy I’d had in the sex club.
“Oh man, a sex club? What was it like?”
“Olivia!”
“Sorry. Sorry. I hear what you’re saying.” She seems to be picking her words. “It was Luke that kissed you, right?”
“Yes, and I shoved him away…”
Eventually.
“And in the club, the fantasy was Luke and Kaden, not Luke instead of Kaden.”
“I guess, yeah. It was just like, if there was going to be two men – doing me – the other one may as well be—”
The door suddenly flies open and Luke pokes his head in.
“Luke!”
“Hey,” he says. “I heard you were here and just wanted to check in.”
I can hear Olivia laughing over the phone and can’t help smiling. Her laugh has always been infectious and it feels good to smile.
“I’m fine. I will be.”
“Great!” He makes a pained expression. “Sorry, I mean, I’m glad you’re okay.”
I point to the phone and he shoots me with a finger gun before slipping out again.
“His voice is even sexier over the phone.”
“I’m not having this conversation right now.”
“No, you’re right…” Olivia says then asks. “So what’s he wearing?”
The rest of the day passes relatively quickly.
I throw myself into my work and manage to avoid the sympathetic looks thrown my way by the crew. Apparently the news of my breakup spread fast.
I check my phone while I’m packing up to find no missed calls. Kaden hadn’t tried calling again since Sunday.
It’s a good thing.
I swallow the lump in my throat and finish packing up before returning home. The flat is dark when I get there, as expected.
Of course Kaden wouldn’t be there waiting. I’d told him not to come.
It’s a good thing…