Page 63 of Stalk Me (The Keatyn Chronicles 1)
Gracie is wearing a swimsuit, tutu and fairy wings. Her hair has been “fixed” by one of the girls and has about thirty multi-colored barrettes in it. She’s riding her red trike into the mahogany fireplace wall and giggling each time it practically gives her whiplash. The nanny laughs along with her.
I walk back to Tommy’s office, following the smell of cigar smoke. They have the big sliders open to the courtyard, but I can still smell it. Tommy is sitting at his big wooden desk, and James is in one of the sleek, brown leather chairs across from it.
“Shouldn’t you be getting ready?”
“Probably, but I’m a little worried about your children. Gracie is riding her bike into the fireplace giving herself whiplash, and laughing about it. ”
Tommy chuckles. “They are a handful, but so cute. ”
“Kym is almost here,” James tells me. “You better go shower. You know how she gets when we’re not all on schedule. ”
Tommy leans back in his chair and takes a big puff of his cigar. “So are you excited for the party?”
“Of course I am! And Brooklyn is coming as my date, so it’s kinda a big deal. ”
“Why is it a big deal? You’ve been with him all summer. ”
“You know that, but my friends from school don’t really know that. Like they expect me to be with Cush. ”
“High school drama?” James asks.
“Hopefully not,” I reply.
Mom and I are sitting in her huge travertine bathroom getting our makeup done. My hair
has been blow out, flattened, then teased at the crown for a bit of a retro look. My finger and toenails have been painted a gorgeous pale peach, and my makeup looks simple and natural.
It’s amazing how much makeup it takes to look perfectly natural.
Kym wanted me to look beach-kissed. Lots of peaches and bronzes, which will look really pretty with my cream-colored, scalloped Herve Leger dress.
I love my dress. It’s both sinfully sexy and little-girl flirty.
The strapless neckline is scalloped, and the dress fits tight through the bodice and down to my hip, then there is a flirty little flounced skirt that hits mid-thigh. I feel very sexy in the dress and can’t wait for Brooklyn to see me in it.
And then there are the shoes.
Oh, how I love these shoes.
Nude-colored, satin, platform, t-strap sandals that are embellished with what looks like a vintage jeweled choker and a big ribbon tie at the ankle.
The makeup and hair stylists leave and I’m ready to head back to my room.
“Keatyn, wait. Tommy and I want to give you a present. ”
Tommy walks out of their closet with a small wrapped package in Tiffany & Co. ’s iconic robin’s egg blue paper.
I unwrap the box and look inside. “Wow! These earrings are gorgeous!”
“Tommy thought we should get you something timeless, so he chose the gold and diamonds. I thought we should get you something fun, so we settled on these. Do you like them?”
I hug her tightly. “Mom, of course I love them. They’re incredible, really. I don’t know if I can wear something like this. These suckers look like the earrings you see at the Academy Awards. ”
Tommy quips, “Well, baby, you don’t have to worry about security. People are gonna think the President is in town. ”
“Do you really think you still have to worry, Mom?”
“We’re just not taking any risks, honey. James has it all taken care of. Don’t worry about it. You just have fun at your party!”
I put the earrings on.
“I knew they would look perfect with that dress,” Mom says.
I hug them both again then twirl around.
“Do you think I look okay?”
“You look gorgeous, honey. I can hardly believe you’re seventeen. It seems like just yesterday I was holding you in my arms. ” Mom starts to get misty-eyed.
“I want to go show Brooklyn my dress before Vanessa and everyone get here. ”
“He’s in the living room with James. ”
“Tommy, would you tell him to go in my room? I want to surprise him. ”
“Will do,” Tommy says as he saunters out of the room, looking handsome as usual in a charcoal suit and black shirt.
“We have another surprise for you tonight,” Mom whispers.
“I don’t need anything else, Mom. These earrings are plenty. Plus the party. I’m sure it’s costing a lot. I’m sorry I asked for so much. I think I got a little carried away. ”
“Keatyn, I think it’s fine you got a little carried away. It’s your seventeenth birthday. Lots of kids here have parties like this every year. This is the first big party we’ve ever had. And you never go crazy shopping. Although I swear you have more bikinis and shoes than anyone I know. Just enjoy it, okay. Forget about all the security, eat cake, and dance all night with your friends. ”
“I will. Thanks, Mom, for everything. ”
Mom nods as I run down the hall, through the entry, and back to my wing of the house.
I take a deep breath and open my bedroom door, expecting to dazzle him.
“That dress is awfully short,” he says.
“I, um—does that mean you don’t like it?”
“I mean, you look nice. Is it maybe a little skanky?”
“No! It’s longer than the one you picked for me to wear to dinner the other night, and it was very expensive. ”
“I’m sure it was. Those the amazing shoes?”
I hold up my foot, so he can see the shoes up close. “Yes, aren’t they adorable?”
“What’d they cost?”
I sigh. “It doesn’t matter. ”
“So, I just realized I forgot my wallet. I’m gonna run down to the house and grab it. ”
“Okay,” I say, holding back tears.
Is it bad that I’m half wishing he’d just stay at his house? He was supposed to be dazzled by my dress, not think I look like a skank.
The boy who likes all of me.
8:10pm
Although I had fun hanging out with Vanessa and RiAnne at the hotel, I’ve been avoiding them a little the last few days on purpose. I had such an amazing, stress-free summer. I just didn’t want it to end. I’ve been pretending that I could just incorporate Brooklyn and all his friends into my life, and that everyone would be happy and get along.
I’ve been pretending that my life could be perfect.
That I could have it all.
But I’ve been lying to myself, I realize, as my two formerly separate lives come crashing together right before my eyes.
And it has nothing to do with Vanessa and RiAnne not accepting Brooklyn, and everything to do with the boy who just walked through my front door.
Cush.
When I opened the door, he gave me a grin so big I could see those dimples. Then he stood there and stared at me.
“You look amazing, Keatyn. ”
I stared back, because I couldn’t seem to move. I could only stand there and look at him.
After a few awkward moments, he takes a step toward me, wraps me in a big hug, and kisses both my cheeks. Then he gently pushes me away from him and looks me up and down again.
“I’ve missed you,” he says sincerely. “And I owe you a big apology. The stuff I said, blaming you for what Mandy did. I was upset. Not thinking straight. I’m really sorry. I know it wasn’t your fault. ”
