Twisted Lines (Blurred Lines Volume 6) (4 page)

She takes a sip of her tan-colored coffee. “Hmmmm, not sure I’m buying that, but whatever, I’m glad he’s gone.”

“Who?” I ask, shocked, my mind still on my brother. I pick up my mug and take a sip, allowing the hot liquid to scorch my throat all the way to my stomach.

“Fileze, of course. Damn, where’s your head?” Jessica goes to the cupboard, takes down a bag of chips, opens them, and puts one in her mouth. “So what’s up? You here for good or what?”

I sip another hot mouthful of coffee, glad I don’t have to explain where my head really is. The truth is I wouldn’t even know where to begin. So I skip her second question and answer the third one. “Maybe.”

Jessica either doesn’t realize I’m being vague or isn’t really interested. She swallows and scowls. “Maybe? Maybe don’t pay the rent. I can’t afford this place on my own. If you ain't stayin', you need to get your shit and go so I can find another roommate.”

“Sorry, Jess. I know I’ve been a terrible friend." I toss the rest of the cash at her. “Here’s all I have. When I get more I’ll give it to you. Just don’t spend it on… you know. Drugs.”

She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Cade, how dare you?” She tucks the money into the waist of her undies and walks over to the couch. “You working tonight then?”

I walk over to my bed. “Yeah.” I pull my comforter over the top of my head. “You going back to bed?”

“Nah, I’m gonna watch some daytime TV. I’ll wake you at seven.”

“Thanks, Jess. You know I love ya, right?”

“I know.”

I can’t believe it. She left. Walked out. Again. I wait in my hotel room fifteen minutes. She has to come back. She wasn’t wearing any shoes. But she doesn’t.

It’s like, no matter how hard I fucking try, Cadence and I can’t seem to get more than a few hours together. I’m not even sure what happened.

“Such an ass.” I walk into the bedroom, pick up my phone, and dial Diane’s number.

She answers on the third ring. “John.”

“You hear anything?” I see Cadence’s bag on the floor and freeze. Usually I leave other people’s shit alone, a consequence of growing up in my family.

“Actually, yeah, and you aren’t going to fucking believe it.”

“Really?” I pick up Cade’s bag and set it on the bed, then sit next to it. “What’s the news? Did they find Zane?” I unzip the bag and tell myself I won’t touch anything. I’m just going to peek. There’s a phone and a folded piece of paper, like a letter, I think.

“Hell no. Apparently he’s into a lot of illegal shit. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll stay far away. Don’t you watch the news? Read the paper?”

I can’t help it. I pick up the letter, unfold it, and see her name written across the top.

“Sometimes,” I hear myself say, but I’m too busy reading Zane’s letter to Cadence. When I’m finished, I reread it. “Holy fuck.”

“John, are you even hearing me? I don’t talk just to hear myself talk, asshole.”

“Yeah, sorry. What’d you say?” I as, refolding the letter and pulling out her phone.

“I said the rumor is Zane made that whore Cadence the new owner.”

“Hey, don’t call her that, Diane. And yeah, I just figured that out.”

“Looks like you, Nigel, and Scarlett have a new boss to answer to. Shit, it’s the most fucked up thing I’ve ever heard, and I’ve been in this business a long time. Maybe too long.”

I scroll through Cadence's contacts and recent calls. The only call she made was to me. There aren’t any contacts. “God, I really am an asshole. No wonder she was freaked out.” I toss the phone back in Cadence’s bag and zip it. “Diane, I’ve got to go. Talk soon.”

I quickly change and dial Justin’s number. “You dropped off Cadence at her apartment, right?” I ask when my driver answers.

“Yes, sir.”

“You remember where she lives?”

“Of course, sir.”

“Excellent. Meet me downstairs in five.”

I hang up and call the florist on file in my phone.

A young woman answers the phone. “Anytime Florist. How can I help you?”

“Yes. Hello. I need your help. It’s important.”

The young woman snaps her gum. “Of course it is, sir. What are you looking for?”

“Flowers that say, ‘I royally fucked up. I’m an ass. Please forgive me.’ You have any flowers that mean that?”

She giggles. “You need a big, expensive bouquet if you want them to say that, sir.”

“Alright. Give me one of those. I’ll be there to pick them up in twenty minutes. Does that give you enough time?”

“Not really, sir. Usually we need an order placed at least twenty-four hours in advance.”

I swallow down an angry retort. “Right. Well, is there any way you can do this as a favor for John Cruze?”

She snorts. “You trying to tell me you’re
the
John Cruze?”

“That’s right.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” She hangs up.

“Fuck.”

I quickly brush my teeth and hair, spray on some cologne, change into something more appropriate for a date, spray on more cologne, and walk to the elevator.

“Down, please, Steve.”

He presses the button but gives me the cold shoulder.

“Did you help out Cadence?”

He gives me a dirty look.

“If so, I really appreciate it.” I pat him on the arm. He jerks away. “Look, we had a misunderstanding. I’m going to make it up to her.”

He gives me another dirty look. “Really?”

“I swear.” I take out my wallet and hand him a couple hundred. “I don’t know how much you gave her. If this isn’t enough, let me know.”

He turns away like I’ve just done the most offensive thing in the world. “I don’t want your… What did she call you? A whiny movie star? Yeah, I don’t want your fucking whiny movie star money.”

The elevator stops and the doors open.

I step out, feeling a little out of my element. “Alright, well thanks for helping her.”

After a shower I blow my hair out straight, then apply a thick layer of eyeliner, shadow, and mascara. Once I’ve put on a light brush of blush, I remove the teeth whitening strips, brush my teeth, and put on red lipstick. I spray a healthy dose of perfume. For some reason men looking for a
good time
really seem to enjoy that shit.

Jessica said I could wear one of her dresses and, while she’s taller than me, the black dress is short and made of spandex, so it works.

I still have my shoes, and choose a red pair with black polka dots. My reflection verifies what I already know. I look hot.

“Easy money,” Jessica says, slapping me on the ass. She’s wearing a similar dress but hers is silver. She’s teased her hair up real big and put a black bow in it. On her face she applied heavy layer of makeup and she’s got on matching shoes. She looks like an eighties-era Madonna, back when her music was hot and her style was hotter.

“Backatcha, Jess.” I turn off the bathroom light and pick up a clutch, shove condoms in it as well as some lip-gloss. I'm phoneless since I left it at Cruze’s hotel, and that pisses me off.

“You gonna eat something? There’s bologna and cheese in the fridge.”

“Nah, I’m good.”

Jessica takes a huge swig of water and offers the glass to me. I drink, then gasp as the liquid burns. “That’s vodka.”

“Um, yeah. No fucking duh. Think I’m gonna go out there without liquid courage?”

I laugh. “Right. Just warn me next time,” I say with a smirk and finish off the glass.

Jessica huffs and grabs the glass from me. “Fucking bitch, you drank it all?”

“Got anymore?”

“Do Buddhists believe in reincarnation?”

I shrug. A sudden sadness rips through my body. Maybe my brother could come back as a bird, or a tiger, or something even better. “Yes,” I say, hopefully.

“Of course they do.” She reaches between her mattresses, pulls out a bottle, and stuffs it in her purse. “Let’s do this, bitch.”

I open the door and freeze. The largest bouquet of flowers I've ever seen blocks my way out. The fragrance is a mixture of sweet and sultry, roses and orchids.

“What the fuck?” Jess says when she reaches the door.

The flowers move and Cruze’s gorgeous eyes quickly take in Jess and land on me. “I’m so fucking sorry, Cade. I was the biggest dick on the planet. Can you forgive me?”

He presses the flowers toward me.

I stand there, unsure about what to do.

“Well for goodness sake, take the flowers. How many times have I told you to never leave a dick hanging?” She snickers at her joke.

I choke back an irritated retort.

“Let me get those.” Jessica takes them from Cruze’s hands and goes over to the kitchen counter. “These are fucking beautiful. Holy shit, Cade,” she says, along with other things. But I’m no longer listening to her.

“What— how did you— why are you here?” I finally get out.

He looks uncomfortable and I can’t blame him. This isn’t the kind of place most movie stars would find themselves, at least not the one’s who don’t have a drug habit.

“You mind if I come in?” He takes a tentative step toward me, but I step away.

“Let the man in. Damn. Where are your manners?” Jessica walks over and sticks out her hand. “Hi. I’m Jessica. The one with manners. Come on in.”

Cruze takes her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Jessica pulls him into our apartment and closes the door.

“I’m John Cruze.”

Jessica’s eyes grow to the size of saucers. “Like, the John Cruze?”

Cruze’s eyes twinkle. This is what he’s used to: fawning. “That’s me.”

“Holy fucking, motherfucking shit.” She glances at me and then pulls the V of her dress open to expose her perky tits. “If Cadence won’t take care of you, I will. Shit.” She runs her hand down his crotch.

He smiles and gently moves her hand away, then pulls her dress back into place. “Thanks for the offer, but there’s only one woman I want.”

His eyes are on me—all of me. And I can’t help the tingle of lust that shoots into my pussy.

Jessica pouts and takes another swig of vodka. “Want some?” she asks, shoving the bottle in Cruze’s face.

“Maybe some other time, Jessica.” Then he moves over to me. “I was hoping I could take Cadence on a proper date.”

“What, like dinner and a movie?” Jessica laughs. “You don’t have to go to the trouble. Fifty bucks and you can fuck her right here.”

I gasp, and John’s eyes turn angry.

“I see.” His jaws clench and he looks at me. “Is that why you’re all dressed up?”

“Jessica, I need to speak to Mr. Cruze alone. I’ll meet you at Charlie’s in a while.” I shove her toward the door.  

“Sure. Whatever,” she says. “But I’m leaving with or without you at nine.”

I pull her into a hug. “I’ll see ya.”

When she’s gone, I turn on Cruze. “What the fuck gives you the right to come into my home and—”

John’s lips smash onto mine. His incredible lips caress and torture, coercing me into loving every second of it. Until I push him away.

We’re both breathing heavily. A quick glance at the tent in his pants tells me he wants me.