Free Famous (Famous #1) by Kahlen Aymes Page B

“Thank you for having faith in me, Martin. I hope I didn’t let you down.” Both Cade and I had argued with him over and over, which, given this was my first movie, I would never have had the guts without Cade’s support.
    “Of course not, honey. You and Cade were more perfect together than I could have hoped. I’m grateful you two insisted on trying new things with some of the scenes. I owe you, big time.” He was a little drunk, and though not affectionate by nature, hugged me goodbye before stumbling out the door to a waiting cab.
    Everyone was filing out, and for the last time, through all of the goodbyes to others, my eyes searched for Cade. I hugged Ethan, Gavin, Wendy and Dawson goodbye. Dawson whispered in my ear as I hugged him.
    “How you holding up, Brook?” I just looked at him, and gave a small shrug. “Find a way to talk to Cade. He is losing it.”
    I nodded slightly, my heart seizing again. “I have. I will again, I promise. Thank you for everything, Dawson. I’ll miss you.” He leaned in to kiss my cheek.
    “Bye, Brook.”
    David was tugging me out, knowing full well I hadn’t said goodbye to Cade. I saw him watching us from across the room, and I wanted desperately to go to him. He held my eyes, and pushed away from the bar he was leaning on to move toward us.
    “Hello David, sorry I wasn’t able to talk to you much tonight. Thanks for letting us borrow Brook these last months. It wouldn’t have been the same without her.” Always the gentleman, Cade said what was politically correct and included David in our conversation. As he spoke to David, his eyes were on me, only flickering to David’s face once or twice.
    Cade let out his breath as the corner of his mouth twitched in a half smile as his eyes came back to my face. It didn’t go unnoticed by David, and I could sense the tension building between the two men. David couldn’t wait to leave; evident by the way he was pulling on the back of my dress.
    Not to give up our secret meeting in the morning, Cade made the pretense of telling me goodbye for the others’ benefit. Everyone was watching us to see how it would go down, our on-set chemistry something that was speculated by many of the cast and crew to be an off-screen romance as well.
    Cade took me in his arms and when he held me tight against him, his arms tight around my back, it felt like heaven. Breathing in his scent, I clung to him, my arms around his waist. All I need are his arms around me , I thought. He kissed me twice, once on the side of my face, and then my temple.
    “I’m really going to miss you. Try to keep in touch if you can.”
    I felt my stomach lurch and my heart drop. Tears stung my eyes despite the fact that I would see him in the morning. I hugged him closer to me not wanting to let go. I nodded, the top of my head brushing his chin. “You have to know I’ll miss you, too, so much,” I said into his chest. I’d been close to him a lot over the past five months, held in his arms, kissed him, held on for dear life, both on set and off.
    I took a trembling breath and forgot David standing behind me, forgot everyone but Cade, as I looked up into his deep blue eyes. “I couldn’t have done this without you,” I whispered. “Cade, the song, was so beautiful. Thank you.” My voice cracked as he drew me back into his embrace.
    “Oh, Brook,” he whispered softly, so only I could hear. I felt his breath in my hair as he breathed me in, and his hand at the back of my head as his hold on me tightened. My hands clutched at his back and shoulders of their own volition, my fingers winding into the material of his shirt. Behind him, Sarah, who played his mother, Elyse, was crying softly, as she watched the two of us clinging to each other.
    Slowly, Cade pulled my arms from around his waist, lightly kissed me on the mouth, and then each of my two hands. “Take care of yourself, love,” he said.
    I couldn’t speak, but could only look at him with pleading