The Middle of Love

Chapter 4: Cali Bound

Katie:

"Caden's alive," I tell him humorously. "He lied to me all those years." I drive out of the car lot and just go.

"So..." Axl speaks, "Where are we going?" He asks.

"Nowhere in particular, why?" I lie to him for the first time, and it makes me sick to my stomach, but I ignore the churning feeling in my gut and turn onto the ramp to the highway that will take me to Cali.

"Because that isn't like you, at all." He says.

"Fine, I want to go to Cali," I tell him. "I want to see Caden and hear it from him in person."

"Did you tell your parents?" Axl asks me.

"No, I told Jack though." I tell him, "It was a bit impromptu."

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asks me

"No. I'm not Axl. The boy I grew up with, and I thought was dead is suddenly alive. I don't know what to make of it."

"Maybe this is something you should be doing by yourself."

"Probably, but it's too late, I'm not turning around. If I do, I'll lose the nerve and I'll never do it."

"I did something like that with Cassidy." He says. "I missed her, and Sean and Darrin and I were going to go visit her, but I kept changing my mind."

"I'm not going to change my mind if that's what you're hinting at Axl, I need to do this. This is closure."

I pull off at the next exit to rent a room for the night, it would be a hotel in.

"One room, two beds." I tell the concierge, "One night."

"The only available room is the honeymoon suite." The concierge says.

"It'll have to do. How much?" I ask he gives the price. I swipe my platinum and sign for it.

"What's the verdict?"

"So, up for a honeymoon?" I ask him humorlessly.

"Whoa, I haven't even been dating you for three months yet. Moving kind of fast there aren't you sweetheart?" He grins wrapping his arm around me and kissing my temple.

"It's the only room available Red," I tell him kissing his cheek.

"Top floor end of the hall." The concierge says.

"Thanks." I take the key and we head to the elevator. He turns to me and grins pinning me to the wall of the elevator. "I guess it's good we don't have any bags." I grin. "You just wouldn't be able to move fast enough with it."

"Less talking." He growls quietly as he kisses me overpowering me. I wrap my arms around his neck. I kiss him back with a grin at his impatience. The elevator dings and I pull away and walk out.

"Come on Red," I tell him unlocking the door to our room. "Don't get any bright ideas," I warn him. "I'm going to go out to get some clothes for tomorrow. Don't worry big guy, I'll bring some things for you too." I promise him before walking out with the key.

"Oh, no you don't." Axl wraps his arms around me following me out. He follows like a lost puppy. "No, stay." I end up dragging Axl down and out to an open outlet mall and we go shopping. Clothes, shoes, suitcases, and a lot of other things we probably didn't need, but I decided to get anyway. We make it back to the hotel and I head to the shower. I turn on my music so that I can hear it.

Taylor Swift plays on my phone. As soon as a new song starts I'm finished getting into my pajamas and head to the main living space.

Axl is lounging on the sofa playing catch with his flip phone.