Chapter 9

Loren was sitting across from Eddie at the dinner table, while Nora sat across from Max and Mel was at the head of the table. Everyone was joking around and smiling, Eddie couldn't stop looking at Loren, who would smile at Eddie every 5 minutes.

"Look I'm more fabulous than a thousand dollar bill. Ask Adam." Mel said taking a sip from her water.

Eddie put his feet out in front of him, accidentally hitting Loren's feet. Instead of pulling away, he left them there where Loren kept nudging his feet. They were playing footsie and even though they thought they were sneaky, everyone noticed. Mel was smiling and Max winked at Nora. "Hey Loren, I was thinking you, your mom, and Mel of course,"

"Of course," Mel said smiling.

"I was thinking you guys should come to the bungalow with Eddie and I. Get away for the weekend."

"I would love that, Mel, Mom?"

"Oh you can count me in!" Mel said pulling out her phone, "Shopping for new bathing suits now." She said getting up and sitting on the couch.

Everyone smiled, "That's very nice, but it is only Monday."

"So? C'mon Nora!" Eddie said leaning back in his chair. Loren smiled at Eddie who smiled back.

"Yeah, c'mon Nora!" Mel said from the couch.

"Fine, only if Loren and Mel get at least a B on their history test!"

"Wait why do I have to get a B?" Mel said.

"Because you just a C" Loren said.

"You Tates suck." Mel said.

Nora started to clean off the table, "Here Nora let me help" Max said.

"You don't have to do that." Nora said.

"I want to." He said smiling. Nora always melted when he smiled at her like that.

"Okay," she said smiling, "No Eddie, you can't help!"

"Why?"

"You've helped enough today" Nora said smiling.

Eddie sat next to Loren and Mel who were looking at bikinis. When Eddie sat down Loren averted her attention to him, "It sucks that today is only Monday."

"Yeah I'm excited to see you in a pink bikini." He said.

"Oh really? Are you going to wear a matching speedo?"

"Oh hell yeah, then you and I can lip sing to 'Sexy and I Know It'"

"Perfect." Loren said giggling. There was a knock at the door.

"Who could that be?" Nora asked.

"Probably Adam." Mel said, getting up. She walked over to the door and opened it. It wasn't Adam, but instead Cameron was standing there. Mel went to slam the door, but Cam put his foot in the door and slid in.

"Loren I-" he started but Eddie interrupted him.

Eddie stood up in front of Loren and pointed at Cam, "You need to leave, now."

"Back off lover boy, she's my girlfriend and if I want to talk to her I will and there is nothing you can do to stop me.," he said starting to take a step.

Eddie shoved him backwards, "She's not your girlfriend anymore. Now get, the hell, out." He said planting his feet. Loren sat there frozen; she didn't know what to say. She just looked at the wall and didn't turn her head.

"You have no right to tell me to get out." Cam said.

"No but I do," Nora said from the kitchen. "And you really don't want to see mama grizzly come out, Cam."

Cam didn't move, he stared at Loren, "Loren I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you! I love you." That did it. Loren jumped up out of her chair, walked right up to Cameron and slapped him in the face so hard there was a red mark on his cheek.

"You don't have the right to say that to me. Now I suggest you get the hell out of my house before I kick you out." She said turning around.

"Bitch!" Cam said standing up straight with angry eyes.

Eddie saw a treat and shoved Cam back more, "Out!" he said.

Without missing a beat, Cameron swung and punched Eddie in the face. Eddie saw the shock and pain in Loren's face, this guy hurt the women she loves, he was going to hurt him. Eddie swung his fist with everything he had straight at Cam. Cam fell face-first onto the floor, but he was able to get himself up. Max stepped in then by grabbing Cam and escorting him out the door. Eddie's lip was already swollen and bleeding. Loren stood in front of him and touched his face gently.

"Are you alright?" she said with worry.

"I'm fine, are you alright?" He said.

"I'm good, sit down, let me get you ice." She said, going to the kitchen.

Max stood in front of Eddie, who was sitting on the couch, "Good job, son," he whispered. Eddie smiled and winced, his mouth hurt. Nora kissed the top of Eddie's head and said thank you. Mel, still standing by the door gave him thumbs up and a smile. Loren knelt in front of Eddie and wiped his mouth, gently, with a wet paper towel.

"Well, that was fun, but I must go." Mel said. She said goodbye and left quickly.

Knowing what Mel was doing, Max did the same, "Well I have to open up the club," he said, "Nora care to join me?"

Nora looked at her outfit, she was in jeans and a tight tank top, "Do I look club ready?"

"You look beautiful, Nora." Max said grabbing her hand and leading her to the door.

"Well that was weird." Loren said. She turned her head and Eddie was looking at her, "What?"

"Nothing." He said.

She shook it off and sat next to him on the couch. They faced each other; Loren took ice and gently pressed it on his lips.

"Thank you for defending me" she said looking into his eyes.

"No one gets away with hurting you." Eddie said moving closer.

"Do you want to hear a secret no one knows? Not even Mel."

"Absolutely."

She took a deep breath and looked deeper into his eyes, "I only started dating Cam to make you jealous. Then I realized you're Eddie Duran, you just broke up with a model; I had no chance. Then I actually started liking Cam, God I wish I didn't start dating him."

Eddie smiled at her, the ice had melted in the paper towel but Loren's hand was still on his face. They looked at each other in the eyes, and had the best conversation they would ever have, but with no words. They felt as if time had stopped, and nothing else was around them. Just them in this intimate, vulnerable moment. Loren was smiling a shy smile, and Eddie was grinning.

"Loren?"

"Yes?" she breathed.

"You always have a chance."

Review please, I have a few more chapters to go!- Tori 3