Thanks so much for the reviews of chapter 8. I don't own any rights to Hollywood Heights storyline or characters; this is the fantasy world I created.

Keeping Secrets Chapter 9

Fighting For My Marriage

I have been riding on this bus for four and a half hours trying to figure out my next move. Do I kick her ass the minute she opens the door or do I give her the chance to explain herself before I kick her ass. Either way it goes, I've decided to kick her ass.

Yeah I know, little Loren Tate isn't a violent person. Well I'm not Loren Tate anymore; I'm Loren Duran the wife of international rock star Eddie Duran. I'm Loren Duran, the wife whose husband had a secret friendship with another woman. Not just any woman, his ex-fiancée who just happens to be the same person responsible for the death of his mother. Somehow she was able to weasel her way back into my husband's life and I'm going to fix that problem the minute I get off this bus.

Wait a minute; I don't even know where she lives. I doubt it's listed in the telephone book. How do I get her address? I guess I should have figured that out before I got on this bus. It's not like I can walk up to someone and say, "excuse me, can you tell me where Chloe Carter lives?" There's one person I can call, I hope I can trust him. Pulling out my phone I turn it on. The phone dings indicating I have voicemail messages. "More messages from mom I bet," saying to myself. Ignoring the messages, I call MK club.

"Hello?"

"Grace, it's Loren. Don't say my name, are you alone? Answer yes or no."

"No."

"Mom or Max?"

"The first."

"Can you leave the room?"

"No."

"Is she standing near you?"

"Yes."

Damn. I need this information. I'll take the chance, "Grace, I need Tyler's number. Can you give me his number?"

"Sure, is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything is fine, I just need his number."

Grace says giving me Tyler's number.

"How are the twins?"

"Missing their Aunt Loren," Grace says.

"Is that Loren you're talking to Grace?" I hear mom ask in the background.

"Sorry Lo," Grace whispers to me.

"It's okay, thanks for the number. I will talk to you later," I end the call before mom can get on the phone. I take a few deep breaths then dial Tyler's number. He answers after three rings, "This is Tyler."

"Hi Ty. This is Loren."

"Lo are you okay? Where are you?"

"I've been better," I say. "Look Ty, I don't have much time. I need some information but you can't ask me why."

"What kind of information do you need?"

"I need Chloe's Fresno address."

"Why do you need her address Lo?"

"No questions. Will you please give me the address?"

"Lo, I don't think that's a good idea. Call Eddie, he loves you. He's a wreck. He misses you."

"What about how I feel Ty? I'm a wreck, the man who says he loves me, has a secret friendship with his ex for five years and then kisses her the minute she gets out of jail. Explain to me how is that love."

"We all make mistakes. Eddie made a mistake and he regrets it. Chloe has a way of persuading men to do what she wants. Did you ask him why he kept his friendship a secret?"

"No I was too busy throwing punches to ask questions, Ty." I'm sure he can hear the sarcasm in my voice.

"Work things out with him. Don't throw away five years of marriage."

"Maybe you should have had this talk with him before he befriended her; maybe he would have thought twice before he kissed her." My voice is dripping with sarcasm now.

"You and Eddie belong together. I'm sure that kiss meant nothing to him."

"How do you know Ty, you weren't there? She didn't reach out to you when she was in prison. You didn't go visit her every month for five years. You didn't buy another cellphone so she could call you. You didn't pay her rent for five years so she would have a place to go when she got out of jail. You didn't kiss her. Eddie did."

"What do you want with Chloe?"

My patience is wearing thin by now. Tyler is making this more difficult that it should be, and I snapped. "Just give me the damn address Tyler," I say through my teeth, I hear Tyler take a deep breath before he gives me the address. "Thanks Ty, please don't tell anyone you gave me Chloe's address. I apologize for being bitchy. I'm just trying to figure things out."

"Will you answer one question?"

I sigh, "one question."

"Why did you and Eddie keep your marriage a secret for almost a year before telling your family and close friends?" Tyler asks before ending the call.

The bus pulls into the station in Fresno; I step off the bus go to the window to get the bus schedule then walk out to the curb. I decide to make one more phone call before getting into one of the taxis waiting at the curb. After five rings the call goes to voicemail. "Hi this is Eddie, leave me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can," beep.

"Was I just the rebound chick you married five years ago? Do you regret marrying me? Do you still love her? Did you even think about how I would feel when you were visiting her every month? Why did you kiss her Eddie?" I end the call. I get into the taxi and give the driver the address. I lean my head back and rest my eyes, rethinking my strategy. Twenty minutes later, the taxi stops in front of a small one story house in the middle of the block. It reminds me of our house in the valley. I hand the driver a hundred dollars and ask him to wait for me. I take several deep breaths before I open the taxi door and get out. I slowly walk up the walk way to the front door. I crack my neck, roll my shoulders, crack my knuckles then knock on the door. After a minute the door opens. Standing before me is my husband's friend; Chloe Carter.

"Hi Loren. I was wondering when you were going to contact me." Chloe steps back and gestures for me to come in. I walk through the door and turn around. Chloe closes the door. "Have a seat, let's talk," she tells me.

~jm~