Hollywood Heights! Leddie must go on

chapter 5

Loren slowly swam laps back and forth in the pool trying to wrap her head around her doubts. Eddie had taken the roses to the garage and called Jake to tell him what happened. They were going to get to the bottom of who sent those flowers. He promised her everything would be taken care of. She knew he would do everything he could, but the fact that someone found them so quickly when no one knew they were going to be there bothered her.

She was staring out past the edge of the infinity pool at the ocean when she heard a big splash behind her. She squeaked as a pair of strong hands grabbed her under water. Eddie's head and torso came up out of the water, dripping wet, and he pulled her back against his chest. She had to resist the urge to melt into him.

"Are you feeling better?" He asked with his lips up against her ear.

Loren turned to face him and saw real concern in his eyes. She thought she had put on a good front after her initial shock at the flowers; apparently she hadn't.

"I'll be ok," she said with a wobbly smile.

Eddie sighed. "I won't lie; I'm a little concerned. I mean, you don't even have an album out yet, and someone already has you on his radar."

"Eddie – "

"I'm sorry, babe, but I need to tell you this. I think from now until we get this resolved, you need to stay where I can keep an eye on you."
"What do you mean?" Loren asked.

"You need to stay at my place."
"Are you kidding?" Loren laughed pushing away from him. "Mom would flip. There is no way she's gonna let that happen."

Eddie grabbed her face tenderly with his hands and looked her directly in the eyes as he spoke, "I would never forgive myself if anyone ever hurt you. It's bad enough what Chloe and Adriana have done to you, but that's nothing compared to what some real psycho could do. I want to keep you safe, and the only way I can do that is by keeping you with me 24 - 7, at least for now."

"So are you going to school with me too?" Loren jokingly asked.

"Ha!" Eddie laughed. "Well, if I had to I would, but I may be too much of a distraction. I'll hire security for you."
"At school?" Loren shook her head as she laughed nervously, "Yeah, some big goon in a suit and an ear piece won't stand out at all."
"Let me take care of that. What's the matter?" Eddie asked with a grin. "The thought of spending every waking minute with me, except for school, bother you?" He kissed her on the lips and then leaned his forehead against hers. "You are my love; you are my heart," He said, his voice serious. "I love you, Loren, and I'll do anything to protect you."

Loren gasped. She wasn't expecting to hear the words now. Where were the candles and the romantic music? This was just them in the pool working through another obstacle life had thrown at them. There was no overt gesture of romance right now, just tenderness and affection. It was perfect.

Loren squeezed her eyes shut to keep the tears from welling. It was scary. Completely opening up to someone else left you so vulnerable for heartache. It was madness to willingly allow yourself to be in that situation. The thought scared Loren like nothing ever before, not even the stalker. But what was life without love? True, all-consuming love is what makes your heart beat and lifts your soul to new heights.

"Eddie," Loren said fighting back a sob. "I was so scared before."

"Of what?" Eddie asked as he again cradled her face in his hands. "The stalker?"

Loren shook her head, and then somehow found the strength to look him in the eyes. "Of so many things, but mostly of having my heart broken. I didn't realize it, but I have a problem trusting, I mean, really, truly trusting someone else. I did, at least, until you came into my life." Loren took a deep breath and said the words her heart had memorized and that her mind had repeated a thousand times, "I love you, Eddie, with every part of my being," Loren hesitated before she said the last part, "And it scares me."