Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
LIVIANNA/LILY
Then
Sugar-Laced Lingerie & Satin Sheets Still Warm
The room breathes slow and sweet like passion right before reality bites down.
“Livianna Hemings?” a guy wearing a tux and black cap, holding up a sign with my name on it, asks.
He’s standing at the opening of the terminal where I’m getting ready to enter to go to baggage claim. A smile grows wide across my face. This has Bren’s sweet signature all over it.
“Yes, I’m Livianna Hemings.”
“Your hat and sunglasses almost made it difficult to know who you were, but I was warned you would probably be wearing something to hide yourself.” He shakes my hand. “Welcome. I’m here to collect you and take you to the hotel.”
“Great. Did Bren arrange for me to be picked up?”
“Yes, he did.” The guy gestures to the bag area. “When your luggage comes out, tell me and I’ll retrieve it for you.”
“Thanks. It won’t be hard to spot considering it’s five o’clock in the morning and I was about the only one on the flight.” I peek around the nearly empty airport. “It seems nobody travels this early.”
“It’s rare for it to be this slow.” He steps closer to the baggage carousel. “What color is your suitcase?”
“It’s a black Gucci bag with a black-and-red stripe in the middle.”
“I know just the style.” He waits for it to drop onto the metal space before us. “Is that it?”
I search for my red tag on the handle. “It is.”
We gather my belongings and head straight to the hotel. My stomach fills with butterflies and my entire body grows light. I’m so excited to surprise Callum, I can hardly sit still.
We arrive at the hotel, I get my luggage, tip the guy, and strut to the front desk. I remove my glasses and wait for the concierge.
A uniformed woman who looks to be in her forties strolls over to me. “Can I help you?”
“Yes. My brother, Brendan Hemings, is staying here and left an envelope for me to pick up.”
Her eyes round and she grins. “You’re Livianna Hemings. Welcome and let me say, my daughter is a huge fan.”
“Oh, that’s very kind.” My cheeks grow warm. “I’m actually out of the business now.”
“You’re getting out of acting?”
“Yes, but tell your daughter thanks for supporting me.” My chest expands. “If she likes my style, make sure she knows I’m starting a fashion company.”
“Really? That’s great.” The lady laughs while typing something on a keyboard. “She wears all The Ember line, so I’m sure she’ll follow your new adventure. What’s the name of it?”
“It’s called—” Tell her Lehlani Rose Designs. My heart aches and I shrink. “Livianna Grace Designs.”
“Easy to remember. Even though I know who you are, I need to check your ID.”
“Of course.” I fish out my license and show it to her.
The woman reaches into a drawer and pulls out an envelope. “Here’s the item your brother left for you.”
“Thank you.” I take it from her and excuse myself.
As I approach the elevator, I take out the key card and a piece of paper. Bren left a little note inside.
We’ll be on the twentieth floor. Follow the signs once you get off the elevator and you’ll run right into the suite. Love ya, Bren
I find it endearing that Bren made sure they were staying on the twentieth floor to reflect Callum turning twenty. Bren may seem like he doesn’t care about much, but he’s pretty sentimental when it comes right down to it.
I take the lift to the floor while my breathing goes into overdrive. It’s been over three months since I’ve seen Callum. We’ve been having a hard time and I know this trip will change everything for us.
I find their room and slip inside the suite. They were going to host a party here, so I’m shocked to find it clean and nobody sleeping on the furniture in the living room.
Better for me. I don’t have to worry about waking anyone.
I notice a bathroom off to the left side of the entryway. A thought comes to mind and I decide to make my grand entrance even that much more desirable.
I roll my suitcase into the restroom, take out a pink-and-black lace lingerie set, and put it on. It matches my hair, which now has black shadow roots but is pink everywhere else.
Callum told me he doesn’t like my hair brown, so I styled it this way to surprise him. I hope he likes it.
Once I’m presentable and squirt a little more of my perfume on, I gaze at my reflection in the mirror.
I rub my lips together to smear my gloss over them. Perfect.
I keep my luggage where it is, check my text from Bren to make sure I go into the correct room, and try to hold my excitement at bay.
“Please, God, help me make this trip a success.” I leave the area, sneak through the suite, and open the door to Callum’s bedroom.
I sway into the darkened area. It’s almost pitch black, so I find the edge of the bed and let my voice sing to wake him.
“Happy birthday, love.”
“Uh…what?” he murmurs as the lights flick on. “Fucking hell. What are you doing?”
I expect him to be sitting up, but what I see instead has the floor opening under my feet and taking me into a free fall.
Zara holds the white cotton sheet to her naked chest and Callum is pushing himself up off his stomach, trying to pry his eyelids open. I stand frozen, praying this isn’t happening.
He hasn’t noticed me yet. “Zara, turn the fucking lights off. I’m trying to sleep.”
She shoves him in the shoulder. “Cash, Livianna is here.”
“Livianna? What?” He flips over and sits with confusion etched in his features.
Our gazes connect, and my eyes swell with tears. His guilty expression and his pale face tell me everything I need to know.
“Livianna…” He jumps out of bed with no clothes on. “Shit! I didn’t know you—”
“Obviously.” I swallow my crushed heart. “It’s clear you had a great birthday party.”
“Lily… Fuck!” He reaches for his boxer briefs, which are lying on the floor next to the bed. He hops on one foot as he works each leg into them. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to surprise you, but hey, it looks like the joke’s on me.” I spin away and run out of the room.
How could he do this to me?
All my love for him turns to stone. Why did I think this wouldn’t happen?
“Lily, wait!” He grabs my wrist and stops me. “It’s not how—”
“Don’t even try.” My worst fears take center stage in my mind. “I’ll never be her. I’ll always be second best, just a replica. Never the original or the first one wanted. Just the substitute.”
“Lily…please. I’m sorry.” He stands in front of me with devastation running down his cheeks.
How dare he have the nerve to appear like I’m the one hurting him?
“For what? Cheating on me? Lying to me? Or stringing me along all this time?” I flick my arm out of his grip and take in a rush of air. I start to tremble and my head gets light. “You told me once you never forget your first.”
I push beside him and my vision blurs.
Fuck!
I’m about to have a panic attack and Callum is the last person I want to help me.
I rush to the other bedroom and force it open. “Bren…help.”
I fall to my knees and fight to breathe. Bren and three women shoot up from his king-sized bed.
“Liv…” He grabs a blanket, wraps himself up, and slides out of bed. “You’re in the wrong room.”
“No, I’m not. I need…you to get…my medication.” I point to the area where my suitcase is. “It’s in my…purse.”
“Here.” Callum holds out a glass of water and two anxiety pills toward me. “Take these.”
I shake my head. “Not from you.”
“Livianna, why are you like this?” Bren kneels beside me, taking the items from Callum.
“Get him away…from…me.” The room gets fuzzy and everything goes black.
Livianna/Lily
Four Months Later
Blackout Beaches & The Smell of His Skin
Some temptations don’t knock…they slip in, tasting like salt and leather before you even breathe them in.
I come home from my design studio with my heart full for the first time since Callum broke it by cheating on me with Zara. Since that happened, I’ve put all my focus on my business and it’s paying off.
He leaves voice messages and texts every day, saying he needs to explain and asking for another chance. My response is no response at all.
It’s been easy to avoid him, but Mayhem got back in town last night and I’m waiting for the fallout.
I mosey into the kitchen. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, darling.” She pops a cherry tomato into her mouth and peeks at the opening to the downstairs.
“You’ll be excited to learn those manufacturing leads you gave me are working out great.” I place my bags down on a built-in desk on the other counter.
“Yeah?”
“Yep. Everything’s coming together. I’ll even be able to launch a few high-end items to give to a few key influencers by the time the four big fashion weeks start.”
She swallows and her wary gaze lands on me. “That’s wonderful news.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, but you need to prepare yourself.”
“For?” My stomach turns.
“Cash is here.”
My pulse skyrockets. “Here? As in right now?”
“Yes.” She rounds the island and rushes to me. “He doesn’t know you’re home yet, but he says he’s not leaving until he speaks to you.”
“No! He doesn’t get that from me. Why would you let him in?” I glance around for a place to hide. “Where the hell is his car? How did I not see it?”
“Well, that’s another problem.”
I stare at her with a thousand-pound truck running over my rib cage. “Why does that sound like there’s a lot more I need to know?”
“He’s not in a good state.” She runs her palms down my biceps. “He’s been a mess since you ran out of his hotel room. I wasn’t supposed to tell you, but I saw it for myself today.”
“He should’ve thought of that before Zara got into his bed.”
“I know, but…” My mom’s shoulders roll forward. “Livianna, I’m worried about him.”
My mouth gapes and my eyebrows shoot up. “Wow. He cheats and I’m somehow responsible for his behavior afterward. Unbelievable.”
“No, darling. That’s not what I’m suggesting. I’m just saying you had us to lean on. He’s been on the road and isn’t coping well.”
I spin away, grab my stuff, and stomp up the back staircase. “In case you’ve forgotten, my wrists are barely healed.”