Loren had been on tour for about six weeks now. She spent most of her time on the east coast and was having the time of her life. Between concerts Loren was promoting her new album with interviews. She went on Good Morning America and performed her single Fight Song. Loren also made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The View and Live with Kelly and Ryan. Not to mention she out cooked the chefs on The Chew. They were impressed by her skills in the kitchen.
Mel came to visit and brought Aid along as a surprise. Loren was performing in North Carolina at the time. They had fun playing tourist and sightseeing. They even spent the day at a public beach with Loren barely being recognized. It was a miracle.
Loren had been having fun with the band as well. After shows or rehearsals they'd usually sneak off to a local bar or attractions. They would even take over studios to help Myles and the band record for their first album. Most of the time Loren could blend in and have a normal experience. Other times she would get mobbed and Myles had to grab her and make an escape. After a few close encounters with eager fans Kelly had Loren's body guard follow her whenever she stepped out of the hotel. Loren wasn't pleased at all, but Kelly wouldn't budge at all on the subject.
Yes, during the day Loren was having the time of her life. Nighttime though—nighttime was different. At night when Loren was all alone in bed she couldn't help but to think of him. She wondered what he was doing. Was he thinking of her? Did he hate her? Was his drinking getting worse? Had he read her notebook yet? Every night the questions and memory of him—of them together would haunt Loren. Every night ended with tears as she laid her head to rest.
Loren had a two day break and flew Nora to New York City for mother daughter time and wedding dress shopping at Vera Wang Bride. It only took Nora four dresses before she found the perfect dress. It was a vintage style lace sleeved dress with a sweetheart neckline. It was beautiful. It was Nora.
As Nora was coming out of the changing room she spotted Loren gazing at a beautiful trumpet style wedding dress. Nora remembered catching her looking at a similar dress not long ago.
Two years ago…
Nora was walking down the block to meet Loren for lunch not far from the studio. They tried to make a lunch date at least once a week. It wasn't always easy with their hectic schedules. As she turned the corner she spotted Loren staring into a window of some sort of boutique. She had a sweet, dreamy smiles on her face. As Nora got closer she saw that the boutique was a bridal shop. Now Loren's dreamy smile made sense.
"What are you looking at?" Loren jumped at the sound of Nora's voice. She couldn't help, but to giggle at her daughter who had a hand over heart. Obviously startled out of a deep thought. "Mom you scared me!"
Ignoring Loren with a cheeky smirk, she looked into the window and saw a beautiful display of dresses. The one in front of Loren was a lace trumpet style dress. It was off white with an illusion neckline. It was gorgeous. It was Loren. "That's a beautiful dress." Loren's smile grew as she nodded looking up at the dress once more. "It really is."
"It would look amazing on you."
"You think so?"
"Let's go try it on!" Nora started for the door when Loren grabbed her arm. "What? No way." She shook her head frantically. "The paparazzi will have a field day if they spotted me inside a bridal shop. Plus, Eddie and I aren't even engaged yet."
"Yet?" Nora's eyes went wide with excitement. "Does that means there's been talk?" Loren bit her lip and nodded. "It's come up before."
"Really?" Nora loved Eddie like a son, but the two were so young. It seemed too soon to be considering marriage.
"He's my one and only mom. We've been through so much together." Loren said as if she could read Nora's mind.
She nodded in agreement. Eddie and Loren had been through hell in back together. "More than most people have in a lifetime. Most people wouldn't have found their way back to one another."
"We did though." Loren said proudly. "It doesn't matter what life throws our way, we'll make it through to the other side—together." Nora eyed her at the confidence in her tone. "You seem pretty positive of that."
"I am. No matter what, it's me and him until the end. Forever and always."
Nora thought back to that day as she watched her daughter. Her smile wasn't dreamy. In fact there was no smile on Loren's lips at all. There was more of a yearning look in her eyes. As if she was thinking of what might have been.
She sighed. What could have happened to cause Loren to end things? Nora never once bought the whole long distance excuse. That wouldn't break the bond they once shared. It had to be something more. Something major for Loren to let go and end things. Nora figured her daughter and Eddie would have been married by now. Or at least finding their way back to each other. Not across the country barely speaking.
Yes Nora knew. Although Loren put up a façade for her, Nora knew they weren't talking again. Loren and Eddie would chat nonstop when they're talking. Now, Loren didn't even mutter his name. It was obvious her daughter was hurting. Well, at least to mama bear it was obvious. She always could see through that forced smile of Loren's. Nora's heart ached for her baby girl.
"That would look fabulous on you." Loren rolled her eyes with a scoff. "Yeah right."
"Seriously. This style would be perfect you. You'll have to keep it in mind when you go shopping for your big day." Loren shook her head with a sad smile. "Yeah, I don't think I'll ever get married."
Nora didn't want to hear Loren talk like that. She knew her daughter was heartbroken, but she had to realize there was a light at the end of the tunnel. "Just because your relationship with Eddie didn't work out, doesn't mean you will not find someone in the future sweetie." Nora put her hand on her daughter's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You'll find the one someday."
Loren shook her head. She didn't want anyone else. He was her one and only. "What happens when you already found the one, but you ruin everything?"
She gasped quietly. Nora was caught off guard. Loren never brought up the break up. "Baby girl-" Loren shook her head as she fought back the tears. "We better head out if we want to get some lunch before you catch your flight."
Nora watched as Loren's walls went right back up and ten feet higher. She knew not to push. Not to question her. It would do nothing but push her further away. Loren would open up, when she wanted and only then. There was only one thing Nora could do.
She grabbed her daughter's arm and swiftly brought her into a hug. Nora held her tight. "I'm here baby girl. No matter what, I'm here." Loren simply nodded and held her mother tighter.
For Eddie, the past six weeks were a blur. No longer drinking he threw himself into his music. Eddie wrote and recorded day and night. He felt like he was practically living at the studio.
Eddie would occasionally have lunch with Max. He tried to make time for his father as best as he could. Ian would check on him daily as before. Although alcohol hadn't touched his lips in weeks, you could still see Ian's concern written on his face. Eddie couldn't blame him completely.
Eddie tried to settle into a routine. To start moving on, but it seemed useless. Anytime he stopped working she appear in his head. Eddie always tried to shake the memories away. He didn't want to think about her. He hadn't even read the notebook. Eddie couldn't bring himself to. It hurt too much. So instead, Eddie worked until exhaustion would hit and he'd pass out on the couch. It was as if Eddie's life was on auto pilot.
Working nonstop seem to pay off though. His album was done seven weeks early and would be releasing in September instead of November. It lined up perfectly for the world tour come January. The tour he was now dreading.
The day Eddie finished recording his last song, Jake got a phone call from Ed Sheeran's people. Ed had to drop out of a music festival in New York City and wanted to know if Eddie would fill in. Of course Eddie jumped on the opportunity. More work would help him keep his mind off a certain brunette that haunted his dreams.
Jake had a plane charted in a matter of minutes. Eddie only got an hour notice to get to the airport. He was in the middle of lunch with his dad at time. Luckily Max was understanding and even offered him a ride to the airport.
"Are you sure you don't mind taking me to the airport? I can call the car service." Eddie asked as he through his phone and headphones into his messenger bag.
"Not at all." Max motioned his arms as if to wave off Eddie's concerns. "Nora's flight comes in around the same time. I was planning to surprise her at the airport anyway." Eddie smirked. "Well aren't you the romantic one."
"What can I say-" Before Max could finish his statement he noticed his son gathering things like a madman. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Uh, yeah actually. I need to finish packing and I can't find my song book anywhere. It should be somewhere around here."
"Say no more, I'm on it."
Eddie clapped one hand on Max's shoulder before running up the stairs. "Thanks Pops. You're a life saver."
Max looked all around the living room with no luck. It had to be around here somewhere. Max went over the side table and opened the drawer. There it was. A leather bond notebook. Max thought it had to be it. As he picked it up a small delicate jewelry box caught his eye. It had been a long time since he had seen the familiar box. Max remembered it clearly.
Two years ago…
Eddie was leaving for tour in a few days and brought a bag of tacos over to MK for them to have lunch. As they were finishing lunch in what once was Max's apartment Eddie started talking about his tour. Usually before a tour Eddie would practically be bouncing with excitement. At that moment though, he seemed indifferent about it. This was concerning to Max.
"Do you feel ready for this tour?" Max asked standing up throwing away the trash from lunch.
"Yeah—I do." The uncertainty was evident. "Everything okay?" Eddie nodded as he made his way out onto the balcony and sat down. Max followed. "Why the hesitation then?"
"There is no hesitation Pops. I am ready for this tour. My music is better than ever. I happy with my crew. This tour is going to be lit."
"I'm going to assume lit is a good thing?" Eddie chuckled. "Yeah Pops, it's a good thing. I'm ready for the tour."
"But?" The hesitancy was still there. Eddie sighed as he slumped in his chair. "Loren's staying to finish her album."
"Yeah, I know. She's getting ready for her first solo tour in the summer." Eddie smiled proud of his girl. Yet his eyes held sadness. "This will be the longest Loren and I have ever been apart."
Max nodded. Now it all made sense. "Ah. I see."
"This is the first time, a part of me is actually dreading leaving for tour." Eddie stood moving to the railing as he looked out at the skyline. I don't know what I'm going to do without her by my side."
At that moment Max felt grateful for being a duo with Katy. They never had to be apart. "There's phone calls and texting. Not to mention the calls with the camera." Eddie nodded and turned around to face his father. "Yeah, I know Pops. It's not the same though. We haven't spent more than two days apart since—since the accident."
Eddie rarely talked about that time. Frankly he was okay with that. Max didn't like to think about when he thought his son had died. "It'll be challenging, but everything will work out if you two are meant to be."
"It'll work out. Loren's the one Pops. There is nothing that can break us." Max was shocked by the assurance in his voice.
"You sound so sure." Eddie simply nodded. "I am."
"I've never seen you this confident about a relationship. Not even in the beginning with Chloe." Eddie cringed at the sound of her name.
"I've never felt this way about anyone. Loren is everything I could want in a girl and more. She's my world." Eddie's face lit up as his grin grew just talking about her. "I'm going to marry her one day."
"You've discussed this with her?"
"We have." Eddie chuckled. "Marriage and babies are definitely in the future."
"Babies?" Eddie bit his lip and giggled at his dad's reaction. Max nodded slowly and walked back into the now office. Eddie followed curious of his dad's behaviors. Max walked over to his desk. He pulled out a small delicate jewelry box. Making his way back over to Eddie who stood by the couch, he handed him the box.
"What is this?" Eddie eyed the box inquisitively. "Your mom's engagement ring." He slowly opened the box. There sat the familiar diamond ring. "Pops-" Eddie couldn't seem to form more words. "She'd want you to have it. It has no use sitting in drawer collecting dust."
"Are you sure?" His voice cracked as he fought back the tears. "Yes. It was always meant to be yours, when you met the one."
"You never gave this to me when I proposed to Chloe." Eddie joked. Max shook his head vigorously. "That horrid shrew was not going to get her gold digging paws on Katy's ring. It would have been a cold day in hell before that happened."
"Fair enough." He chuckled.
"Loren though—Loren's a perfect fit for Katy's ring." Max patted Eddie on the shoulder. "Your mother would approve."
"Yeah-" Eddie wiped a tear away. "I think Ma would like Loren a lot. Sometimes I feel like she hand-picked Lor for me."
"I have no doubt she did."
Eddie looked up at his father and smiled. "I don't know when I'll ask Lor to marry me. Today, tomorrow-a year from now who knows, but I'm glad I'll have this when I do."
"Me to son. I know this time apart will be a challenge for you and her, but I believe in the love that you two share." Eddie's smile grew.
"So do I Pops. I know I will marry her one day. She's my one and only. My forever and always."
That had been a wonderful moment for Max. He had been waiting to pass on Katy's ring. She may not be here, but he made sure to keep Katy's memory alive. He figured by now they'd at least be engaged. Katy's ring displayed on he left hand. Now they were barely talking again.
Max loves Loren like a daughter, but sometimes he just wanted to shake some sense into her. There was a bigger reason Loren kept pushing Eddie away. If only she would open up. Maybe then they could figure things out. They belong together. Max was sure of it.
Suddenly Max heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He quickly put the box back and put the notebook in Eddie's messenger bag. Eddie was doing well. He didn't need the reminder of Katy's ring.
"Did you find it Pops?" Eddie bellowed as he hit the last step.
"I did. I put it in your bag."
"You're a life saver Pops." Eddie grabbed both bags. Max checked his watch. "We better get going."
"Your right. You know how Jake is when I'm late."
Max rolled his eyes as they walked out the front door. "God forbid you're late. The plane you charted and is only waiting for you, might actually leave without you." Eddie chuckled as his dad's sarcasm. "Let's go."
As Loren walked out of the airport she wiped a tear that escaped. She was finally close with her mother again. It had been so long. She wasn't ready to say good bye yet. Loren made her way to the car Kelly had described. No more playing tourist and riding in a taxi.
"Did your mother get off okay?" Kelly asked as Loren settled in the car.
"Yeah." Kelly looked up from her tablet and saw that Loren was tearing up. "It was nice she got to come out for a few days."
"Yeah. It was like having a piece of home with me for a while." She smiled sadly.
"She'll be back in a few more weeks for a fitting." Kelly said trying to cheer her up. Loren's grin grew slightly. "I know. I'm counting down the days already."
"Okay, ready for distractions?" Loren laughed. Kelly always knew what to say. "Yes please! Put me to work."
"We are heading to two radio interviews right now. Each segment should last around an hour each. Later you have a Facebook Live interview with a music blog for the festival this weekend. After that you have the evening free." Her face was back in the tablet.
"I thought I had rehearsal with Sheeran today." Loren had been looking forward to that all week.
"He actually had to pull out of the festival."
Loren gasped. "What? Why?"
"Apparently he slipped going down the stairs after one of his shows. He not only broke his arm, but four ribs. He's in too much pain to sing."
"That's horrible. I hope he's going to be okay." Loren took out her phone to send him a text. They had been conversing for a while over the duet.
"He should make a full recovery in a few weeks."
"That's good. I'm bummed we won't be able to do a duet though."
"I just got an email from PR of the festival actually. His people called in some favors and got a different singer to come and take his place."
"Wow, last minute? I didn't think that would be possible."
"The powers of being a superstar." Loren laughed. "True."
"The festival still wants you to do the duet with the replacement. They've been advertising this for weeks now. They're hoping this will help smooth things over with disappointed fans." Loren hadn't thought about the fans who were coming to see him. They'll be heartbroken once the heard.
"Of course. We'll have to double up on rehearsals, being last minute and all. Otherwise I have no issue with it."
"Are you sure, I'm about to send an email to the head of PR giving it ago." Loren nodded. "Send the email. You know I'll do anything for my fans."
"Okay. It's officially ago." Loren smiled. Glad she would still perform a duet with someone. They would have to work hard to make up for lost time, but Loren was sure she could pull it off. With who though was the question? "Who is Sheeran's replacement? Do I know them?"
"Oh yeah—you know him." Kelly said with a nervous laugh. Loren recognized that laugh and cringed. "Kelly. You're not saying-"
"Eddie Duran will be filling in for Ed Sheeran." She said with excitement!
"You've got to be fucking kidding me Kelly!"
Eddie and Jake sat in the plane in silence. They were about half way to New York City. Eddie was binge watching Shameless as Jake was engrossed in his tablets—as always. Eddie wondered what Kelly and him would do if they didn't have those things.
"I just got an email from the head of PR from the festival." Eddie paused, giving Jake his full attention. "Sheeran was supposed to sing with another artist who's also performing at the festival. They've advertised a lot about it. Using it to promote the festival and want to know if you'll stand in for duet as well?"
"Of course I will." He said without a second thought.
"Are you sure?" Eddie shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah. His fans will already be disappointed he's not there. Let's try to ease some of the disappointment."
"Alright man, email of consent is sent." Eddie rolled his eyes at Jake's horrible joke.
"Who will I be performing with?" He asked curiously. Eddie answered so fast, he never even thought about it.
"Hold on, let me look." Eddie watched Jake look up the information on the tablet. "Uh oh."
"Why uh oh?" Eddie had a bad feeling. Jake had tight smile. That never ended well for Eddie.
"Well-" He chuckled. Eddie about lost it then.
"Jake!" He looked up with a wicked smirk. "You're performing with the one and only Loren Tate."
"You're fucking joking right?"
Hey my loves! I've missed you all! I hope you are doing well and enjoyed this nice surprise! I actually updated. I know-I'm shocked to.
Thank you to everyone who keeps commenting and messaging. You are the reasons I keep updating. I wish I could be more consistent for you guys! My life is hectic as I've said many times. Writing is my escape. Thanks for giving me a reason to escape!
So, I know this chapter wasn't much. I needed a set up chapter for getting Eddie to New York. Plus I liked doing the flashbacks. Now you know where their mindset was about the relationship before Loren broke things off.
Please read and review. I love knowing what you guys think! Like I said, your comments keep me writing. I will always keep writing if I know there is readers.
Thanks again for the support. I will update my other story next!
Love you all!