Something more Hollywood Heights
I'm sorry, I can't Chapter 24
Loren's eyes widen. "Eddie?"
"I mean it, I love you."
She isn't sure if he's had too much to drink, like the previous time. "How much have you been drinking?"
"One beer, I'm serious Loren!" She gets up and heads towards the terrace.
Ian and Mel walk back to the table. "Omg Ian, he told her, he's running after her."
"Let's stay out of it Mel, this is his mess."
"Yes, but that's my best friend."
Ian looks at Mel in the eyes. "He's my best friend too, let him fix this."
Eddie steps out into the terrace. "Loren wait!"
She looks at him, her eyes are full of tears, she's crying. "Why? Why now?"
"Because I've been stupid, it took Rick to wake me up, I was a mess after Chloe, you knew that. Becoming your friend was a choice I made, but falling for you was beyond my control, I can't do this, I need you, now I need something more Loren, I need to know if you love me as much as I love you."
"You had so many chances, I'm dating Rick now, I can't hurt him."
"There's no way you love him; I know you don't!"
"How would you know that?"
"Your eyes, you don't look at him the way you look at me, I know you Loren, tell me, do you love him?"
Loren cringes. "Why do you care?"
"Because I know you don't, I know you love me."
Loren leans on the rail that surrounds the terrace. She feels like she's going to be sick. She's quiet, she takes the night air in to feel relief. He gets closer, he's standing behind her.
"Just tell me, if you don't love me say it!"
She looks at him; small tears stream down her cheeks. He knows she's hurting, he wipes her tears that are easily flowing down her cheeks with his thumb, he slowly leans in, he knows he's taking a huge risk, he can't stop himself, Loren doesn't move, she's confused, she locks eyes with him, he gently presses his lips against hers, he holds her face carefully with both hands, afraid she'll break, that's how fragile she feels in his arms, he deepens the kiss, Loren closes her eyes, she allows the kiss to continue, his lips caress her mouth and before he can do anything else, she slips away from his grip. "You're too late Eddie!" she runs away like Cinderella, running away from her prince, running before the clock strikes midnight, she gets into her car, she doesn't know how but she takes off, she can't hold the tears anymore, she pulls to the side of the street and begins to cry, Eddie said the words she always wanted to hear, he told her he loves her, today out of all days, today when it's probably too late.
The following day, Eddie stops at his parents' house a little early, he needs coffee, he knows his mom sets the coffeemaker to brew on its own, he gets a cup and he sits at the kitchen table, last night felt so right, he knows Loren still loves him, the kiss they shared felt right. She ran away, he regrets taking this long to act on his feelings, he finally admitted his feelings to her. Katy walks into the kitchen bringing him back to reality.
"Hello sweetie, good morning, I've said it twice and no response from you."
"Sorry mom."
"What's with you, why are you wearing last night's clothes?"
He looks at his mom. "How do you know I wore this last night?"
"Look online, they have pictures of you at a wedding, Loren was there too, apparently she sang to the happy couple."
"Mel's brother got married, she sang for their first dance, I didn't even see any paparazzi there."
"You know they're sneaky, why were you there?"
"Ian sort of invited me."
"Either he did or he didn't."
It's awkward how Katy questions him about everything. "Why the third degree?"
"Honey, I know Loren was there, you two haven't spoken since you arrived from Hawaii a couple of months ago, she's off the market, I know she's dating Rick."
Eddie leans on his hands. "Did something happen?" Katy can tell by his demeanor that something isn't right.
"Eddie."
"I told her I loved her."
Katy eyes widen, she drops the cup in her hand, shattering on the floor into a million pieces. "You okay Mom?"
"You did what?"
"I finally told her, I had too."
"But you waited this long? You waited until she's with someone else? You had all of this time Eddie, why now?"
"I don't know mom, I hate to see her with Rick, she belongs with me, she can't marry him."
"He proposed?"
"No, he proposed the day we returned from Hawaii, he was waiting for her, she obviously turned him down."
Katy starts to sweep all of the broken pieces on the floor. "What did she say?"
"I kissed her, she said I was too late, you think she loves him?"
Katy sits on the table and holds her forehead, she's trying to understand her son. "What have you done?"
"Nothing, she's not going to marry him, I still have a chance with Loren."
"Oh honey!"
"I know she still loves me, I kissed her last night, she allowed it, no one kisses the way she did, I know she loves me mom."
Katy's eyes widen. "And you decided to act on it now!"
"I realize it now, I kept running from it, I've always wanted what you and Pops had, I thought I was headed that way."
"With Chloe?" Katy smirks, she realizes it's the wrong thing to say right now. "I'm sorry honey; I didn't mean it that way, you wasted so much time!"
"I want that with Loren, it kills me to see her with Rick, he prances around with her like he deserves her."
Katy sighs. "Now what?"
"I wanted to punch him last night, he danced and paraded with her at the wedding with her, I wanted to tell him it's me she loves!"
"I'm sorry Eddie!"
He holds his head between his hands. "I love her mom, I love Loren, there's no way she loves him!"
Katy sighs. "I'm not used to seeing you like this."
"I don't know what I'm going to do if she decides to stay with him."
"I'll tell you one thing; you're going to have to learn how to live without Loren."
"I started to write some songs, I can't finish them, she's my muse, she inspires me, now I'm blocked, I can't get one lyric going, I'm done mom, I'm lost without her, I need her."
Katy's eyes close, her heart aches to see her son like this. "You're on your own with this honey, I'm not getting involved."
"I'm not asking you too." He places the cup on the counter and walks to the back door. "I'll see you around mom, I'm finally tired."
"You're welcome to stay here in your room; you have some clothes in the closet."
"I guess I can."
He walks up the stairs, Max's coming into the kitchen. "Where's he going?"
"Wait til I tell you." She says.
Loren continues to date Rick. Kelly keeps Loren busy with interviews in the well-known talk shows, she visits sick children in Hospitals, she's finally off to Italy, she's going to look at the newest designs for her clothes line. She's driven to the Hotel in Milan where she'll be staying.
She's picking up her dress for Mel's wedding; she's the maid of honor and she chose a well-known designer in Italy.
She walks into the boutique; she hopes the lady understands some of her Italian. "Buon Giorno."
"Como sta lei?" the older woman asks.
Loren smiles. "I'm here to get the dress…vestido?"
"Ah si, please wait. Si?"
The woman gets Giovanna. She smiles when she sees her. "Loren, I'm so happy to see you, come to the back and try the dress on."
Loren follows her into the dressing room; she tries the dress on and walks out of the room. "I love it Gio, thank you."
"A design just for you."
"It's perfect; did Mel contact you about the color? It looks great."
"Perfecto senorita Loren, she will call about the color, you like the design?"
"Yes, will you deliver it to my room?"
Giovanna smiles. "I will get it packed and ready for you."
"Thank you Gio; I appreciate it, one less thing to worry about."
Loren meets with the woman in charge of her clothing line, after overseeing several styles of tops, shirts and capris, it's midnight when she's heading back to her hotel.
Loren spends a few days shopping, she's in the Hotel to get ready to go back home. Her dress arrives packaged and ready.
She opens the door to her room, Rick is standing on the other side. "Hey beautiful."
"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to surprise my girl."
"I'm flying back tonight."
"I spoke to Kelly, you can stay another night, I want us to have dinner at this amazing Italian restaurant."
"I have to get ready for Ian and Mel's wedding, I'll be touring soon."
"Please? You'll make me very happy if you'd say yes this one time
Loren hates to give in so easy. "Let me slip into a dress, then we can go."
Within the hour they're sitting in a cottage like restaurant a few miles away from Milan. Rick orders the homemade pasta the place is famous for along with a bottle of red wine.
He's the one talking and laughing, Loren's distracted, she's trying hard to be happy, but she can't, she can't stop thinking of Eddie, why did he wait so long? She waited for so long to hear say the words, I love you.
After dinner, Rick orders tiramisu another of their famous desserts. "I'm stuffed; I can't eat another bite."
"It's fine; we can walk back to the Hotel."
"It's too far."
"It's ok hon; I want to see how beautiful you look with the moon light."
"You're always very sweet." Loren tells him.
Rick pays the bill and they walk out of the cottage, they head back to the Hotel. Half way through their walk Rick stops.
"Here, this is the perfect spot."
Loren's curious; she looks around her surroundings. "Is this where the moon light shines perfectly?"
"You can laugh if you want, but this is the spot."
She smiles. "Do you want to talk?"
"Actually I have something to ask you."
Loren shrugs her shoulders, there's a bench nearby, she sits on it. "We have time to talk all you want."
Rick kneels to her eye level; he places a soft kiss on her lips. "I love you."
"I know Rick, thank you."
"I can't wait any longer; I want you to listen carefully."
She looks at him, somehow she knows what's coming next, her heart is racing very fast.
"I'm listening."
He takes a box out of his pocket and opens it. He stares into Loren's beautiful hazel eyes. "I love you, I can't live another day without you, will you finally say yes and marry me?"
Cameras pop out from everywhere, there are several reporters waiting for Loren's answer, flashes go off everywhere.
Everything around Loren has come to sudden stop, she looks at Rick, she doesn't want to hurt him, but, she can't continue with this farce "I'm sorry Rick, I can't!"
Rick narrows his eyes. "Loren, we've been dating for a while, what's wrong?"
She looks at him with tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I've tried, I just can't." She stops a taxi that's driving by, she gets inside, Rick's in shock. "Loren wait!"
Back in LA, Eddie's at his place with Ian, he's helping him look for a permanent home in L.A.
"You could try a Condo."
"I can't decide and Mel's no help." Ian tells him.
Eddie laughs, their phones suddenly buzz, there's a news alert. Eddie clicks on the link.
"Loren Tate and Rick James engaged." Ian looks at Eddie, he lost Loren?
Will Leddie finally happen? Did Loren really mean no?
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