Hate, actually

Chapter 10

"And now go, make mistakes,

make amazing mistakes, make glorious 

and fantastic mistakes."

- Neil Gaiman

●●●

Lauren is saying something to me but I can't really hear her. My mind is occupied with too many things.

It's been about two weeks since Leonardo proposed and lot has happened between then and now.

My mom is going through some sort of gene therapy. She's been moved back into the hospital.

The doctor says the therapy is supposed to depress her cells so that there are too many of them, and as a result, they kill themselves. "Cell suicide," he called it.

It's supposed to control the number of cells she has and eliminate the ones that threaten her life. He said that after trial and error, they've finally combined the right medications that can rewrite her genes in order to get the cell death to happen quickly.

It's supposed to work for all types of cancer and since Mom's has spread, this therapy is a miracle.

It took me four full days to understand all of this, and now that I do, I've allowed myself to be excited for the first time in years.

If it all works out, a lot of things will change - not only for me and Mom, but for the whole world, really.

And yes, I did ask about all the other treatments and therapies tried by researchers that never worked, and they told me that they've been working on this one for 30 plus years. I was totally sold.

In these past two weeks, I've also managed to meet a lot of Leonardo's family (they're really great people, not at all what I expected), I've managed to babysit Kira four times without accidentally killing her, and plucked up the motivation to start writing again - except poetry is all I can write at the moment.

Life hasn't been too abusive. Not nearly as much as it usually is.

"Sadie, are you listening? She's looking at us right now," Lauren whispers.

I look around. "What? Who? Who's looking at us?"

Its nearing midnight and we're at Leonardo's book launch. He wrote some business related book and even though it was business related, I was quite taken aback at the fact that he had the discipline to write it and finish it.

The surprise didn't end there. He's also giving them to the public free of charge so that business minded people who don't have the means to go book shopping can benefit. I never took him for a philanthropist.

Since the event is open to the public, Lauren, Steve and I are at the VIP area along with Leonardo and some of his close associates for security reasons.

As Leonardo mingles with Steve and introduces me to people every so often, I have assumed a semi permanent seat at the far corner of the room, next to Lauren.

"Adrenaline! And don't make it so obvious that I've told you she's looking," Lauren chastises me.

I'm a little taken aback. What would she be doing here, I wonder.

'Adrenaline' is a girl Lauren and I know from highschool. She hated our guts mostly because she liked Steven, and the other reason being, when her and I were the only two options left at cheerleading tryouts, they picked me. She claimed I was too fat to make the cut.

Her name is Adrianna, second name Lynn; hence the nickname Adrenaline. Lauren and I thought we were the smartest people on earth for coming up with that, since the amount of actual adrenaline she gets when she comes across an attractive guy is quite unexplainable if I'm honest.

The latter might even become a topic of interest in some research centers.

She goes from acting annoyed with the world to being enthusiastic about everything.

I look around again and spot her. She's almost unrecognizable. She's gone from being the trendy teenager I knew to a sophisticated looking young woman. She's standing next to an unfriendly looking man who I assume is her date.

"What is she doing here?" Lauren echoes my thoughts.

I shrug. "Beats me. The prospect of never seeing her again has kept me going since we graduated highschool."

"I hope she isn't friends with Leonardo. Imagine having to be civil to her."

"I wouldn't give two shits if they're friends, there's no way I'm being nice to her. I remember junior year when John Mccarthy stole the school's treasure box and she lied that I was in cahoots with him. I nearly got expelled."

Lauren snorts with laughter. "I remember that. You asked them to take fingerprints."

"It's not my fault they didn't even have surveillance cameras in the storage room and we all know her stupid dad paid the school more than necessary. Who did you leave Kira with by the way?"

"You're such a mom, Sadie. She's with a babysitter."

"And you trust her?"

I tend to doubt Lauren on her parenting skills only because she's my friend and I have witnessed too many stupid things she's done in her life.

She finds this beyond amusing.

Lauren smirks. "I wouldn't know because she arrived ten minutes after I left and I've never met her."

My eyes widen in shock and Lauren cackles loudly enough for the people mingling close by to hear half because of all the wine she's had and half because she really is crazy.

"I'm kidding! She's a friend of my mom's. You know, when I was pregnant I told Steve that you will be such a mom when you finally know about Kira and I was so right."

I roll my eyes. "How ironic."

"It looks like you ladies are having a good time," Steve says as he and Leonardo approach us.

Lauren stands up abruptly and falls into Steve's arms, giggling.

Yep, she's has too much to drink, I think to myself.

Steve smiles wryly. "She couldn't touch alcohol when she was pregnant and now she's overdoing it."

"Ah," I nod my head in understanding.

"I think I'll take her home," Steve announces and both Lauren and him bid us farewell before they make their way out of the building.

Leonardo turns to me. "You okay?"

He seems a little moody. I wonder why.

I nod. "Yeah, I'm great."

"Should I take you home?"

Geez, does he want to get rid of me that fast?

I shrug. "I'm ready when you're ready."

"Very well then, let's go," he says. He grabs my purse and takes my hand in his.

He thanks everybody for coming and we're led out of the place by Blade, his security guard.

When we're leaving, I'm not sure why he's taking purposeful strides. I can barely keep up. I wonder if he's had another argument with Cara. I saw them talking frantically in the garden through the large window that I was seated next to.

In the car, I turn to him. "Is something wrong?"

He furrows his eyebrows and puts the car in reverse. "No. Why?"

"You just seem a little upset."

Before he can answer me, his phone rings. He checks the caller ID and hits the answer button on his steering wheel and I can hear the conversation through the car speakers.

"Hello, sir. Should I start sending everyone home?" A male voice comes out of the speakers.

"Yes. Make sure you lock the place up and give the keys to Blade when you're leaving."

"Very well, sir."

Leonardo hangs up without so much as a goodbye. I decide he seems a little too upset for me to probe him about what's wrong.

We cruise through the dark in a silence that isn't too unbearable.

I'm about to say something but my phone rings before I can.

It's Kai. I try not to smile as I hit answer.

With Kai's modelling ventures all over the country along with Leonardo's events that I've had to attend, Kai and I haven't really had time to see each other, much less have a proper conversation, which is why I can't resist answering his call despite the fact that Leonardo is sitting right next to me.

"Kai!" I'm trying to sound as casual as I can.

Kai lets out a tired breath. "I've missed you so much you have no idea. Are you free tonight? Or rather this morning since it's past midnight."

"You're in town?"

"Yeah, came back in the evening. I was gonna let you know but I literally fell asleep the moment I got home."

I smile a little to myself. "Yeah I'm free. My aunt will be home, though so maybe your place is better. We tend to make a lot of noise..."

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize just how wrong they sound.

Leonardo is looking at me curiously and I feel the need to explain what I really meant to him, but Kai cuts me off when he starts laughing like a madman.

I groan into the phone. "You know what I meant, Kai. Get your mind out of the gutter."

"I literally said nothing. Zilch," he defends, still laughing.

"But I know what you're thinking, stupid."

"Okay fine I'll let it go for now," I can almost see the smirk on Kai's face, "my place it is then?"

"Yup."

"Do you want me to come and pick you up?"

"I'll let you know in like five minutes. I'll text you the verdict."

"Okay princess," he says in that mischievous voice of his, "I'll see you soon."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye."

"Bye."

"Bye."

I roll my eyes, with a smile I can't seem to wipe off my face. "Goodbye Kai."

I hang up before he can start up another round of goodbyes.

"Who was that?" Leonardo asks, as if he's my actual dad.

I want to laugh at how controlling he is but I suppress the feeling because the situation I'm in isn't really a laughing matter.

"He's my best friend," I try to reply casually. "Say, do you mind taking a detour and dropping me off at his place?"

I'm treading some really dangerous territory over here. But give me a break; I feel like I haven't seen Kai in forever and there's no point in making him drive out this late to pick me up when he's obviously jet-lagged. Leonardo also doesn't want me caught dead in another cab for as long as we're 'together'.

He furrows his eyebrows. "It's past midnight."

"I'm aware."

"Why can't you just see him during the day?"

I nearly huff in frustration. "He's been away for a while and I miss him."

My replies - for once - are short and sweet. The contract didn't mention anything about a moody father figure who goes by the name Leonardo Romano.

"Just put the location onto my GPS."

He wants to say something else but he doesn't. I can tell by the way he does this poker-face thing I've noticed he usually does when he's annoyed.

I smile in triumph, and Leonardo doesn't miss this.

I message Kai, warning him that Leonardo will be dropping me off. I wonder how he'll feel about that.

After a ride accompanied by silence, we finally reach Kai's place.

"Do you even have a change of clothes?" Leonardo asks curiously, as we're parked in the driveway.

I shrug. "I'll wear something of his. Been doing that since we were like thirteen."

He nods his head, lips pursed. I can't for the life of me tell what he's thinking.

I grab my purse just as Kai opens the front door. He's shirtless in nothing but sweatpants and his dark hair is all disheveled. I really like his hair when it looks like that.

Before I can even find my bearings, Leonardo opens his door and exits the car. I quickly hurry out as well, not wanting to miss the drama that will unfold as my boyfriend meets my fiancè.

Leonardo unexpectedly puts an arm around my shoulder before reaching out to give Kai a firm handshake with his right hand.

Kai just looks uneasy, and I can tell he's trying not to narrow his eyes.

I do the expected introductories and they both nod their heads. I don't know if I'm imagining things, but it almost looks like they're staring eachother down. As if they're about to have a duel.

I want to laugh - but I also want to slap myself because I don't know why I'm finding this situation funny.

Leonardo's eyes then narrow in recognition. "Aren't you one of Steve's friends? I think I might have seen you at his place... When I picked Sadie up the other day."

Kai nods awkwardly and scratches the back of his neck. "Yup."

His mouth is set in a thin line, an indication that he is not happy. If Leonardo's noticed, he doesn't show it. In fact, he seems a little less tense.

I can only assume the latter is because Kai is Steve's friend - which makes Leonardo trust him a little more. He won't have to worry about a scandal involving his fiancée reaching the paps.

But that doesn't mean he's completely relaxed, though. He's still a little tense and I'm not surprised. Leonard's very protective of his company and his brain has probably zeroed in a rival - I mean this is business after all.

Leonardo smiles stiffly.

"Well, I better get going," he puts a chaste kiss on my cheek and turns back to Kai with the same stiff smile still intact, "look after her."

This entire time, I'm stifling a laugh. Kai is giving me a 'what the f**k is so funny?' look and I nearly giggle.

Leonardo gives me a stern look that makes me feel slightly chastised, before he leans down to hug me goodnight.

"I hope you don't have plans later on because I'll be here at eight in the morning," he says.

His arms are still around me, his face only a few inches away from mine. I am not longer in the mood for laughing. This is awkward. Really, really awkward.

"W-wait. Why?" I ask.

He rolls his eyes. "Wedding stuff. Have you forgotten already?"

Oh yeah. Another meeting with the wedding planner. Kill me now.

I sigh. "Alright. I'll be ready."

He looks uneasy and reluctant to leave. He genuinely never looks uneasy and I honestly can't help but smile at him reassuringly.

The dynamics here are weird, because Leonardo and I are currently not on any bad terms whatsoever.

I should've just let Kai pick me up.

Once Leonardo's car is out of sight, I turn around and give Kai sort of a sheepish smile.

He just lets out a big breath, rolls his eyes and fails miserably to hide his smile.

"Let's just get inside and watch your terrible Hallmark movies already."

That's one thing about Kai. He can't stay mad at me.