Page 30 of Stalk Me (The Keatyn Chronicles 1)
“What did you lie about?”
I hang my head. I can’t even look at him. “You,” I mutter.
“What did you say?”
“I’m sorry, really. It was like something inside me snapped. I said, That’s enough. I told her I knew what really happened between you two. Then I said, While I may look virginal, I can assure you that I’m not. I whispered to her that the party was boring. Then you heard the other part.
“I’m pretty sure everyone heard the other part. So what did you whisper to Ellie?”
“I lied again, because I was mad. I told her the same thing I told Vanessa. That we had another party we had to go to, but that we wanted to at least make an appearance. Everyone knows you save the best parties for last. Ellie is a big blabbermouth. She’s going to tell everyone that we’re going to a better party. A party Vanessa wasn’t invited to. ”
Cush whistles. “Ohhhh, she is gonna be pissed at you. ”
“No, she’s gonna be pissed at us, but I don’t care anymore. I really don’t. ” Then I look at him. “I’m sorry I lied about you though. I shouldn’t have. It makes me just as bad as her. And I’m sorry I let you kiss me like that. I shouldn’t have, but I had just told her we had sex, so I couldn’t exactly stop you. My mom’s right. Once you start lying, it’s hard to stop. I suck. ”
He reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You’re not like her. You might have lied about what we did, but you aren’t using it against me. And I don’t care why you kissed me back; it was hot. So are we really going to another party? I am all dressed up, and it’s not even ten. ”
“I lied about that too, but Mom and Tommy were going to a party tonight. ” I grab my cell and call my mom.
“Hey, honey. ”
“So, I’m all dressed up, have a hot date, and nowhere to go. Tell me you are at a fabulous party that we can crash. ”
“We are. I’ll put your name in at the door and text you the address. We’re about ten houses farther down the beach. ”
“Awesome. ”
My phone vibrates. It’s Brooklyn.
B: Hey, change of plans. The guys and I decided to head out early.
Me: You left me?
B: Didn’t really think it was a big deal. You know us, we’re not big planners. We just sorta ended up here. I figured you could just drive down tomorrow or something.
Me: James won’t let me drive there by myself. There’s some stalker issues going on that I haven’t told you about. I’m not really allowed to go places all by myself.
B: Sucks. Oh well, maybe next time.
“Maybe next time?” I mutter. “What the hell? That’s all I get? Sucks?”
“What’s wrong?”
“That was Brooklyn. You know how we’re supposed to leave in the morning?”
“Yeah. ”
“They left without me tonight. ”
Cush starts laughing.
“Shut up. ”
He puts his hand in front of his mouth. “I so called that. I told you he doesn’t treat you right. ”
“I don’t really appreciate your gloating. ”
He smiles at me. “Maybe not, but your night is about to get a whole lot funner, Miss Douglas. ”
I squint my eyes at him. “That almost sounds like a threat. ”
“Now you have no excuses. And trust me, I am going to kiss you again. ”
We park on the street. I’m barely out of the car when Cush closes the door and pushes me hard against the side of it.
He snakes an arm around me and presses his lips into mine.
It’s a nice kiss. Cush kisses quite nicely.
No.
Nice is not the word for it.
Hot. Smoking hot. Sexy. Steamy.
Those are better words.
“Um, we should probably get to the party,” I tell him, pulling my lips away from him. I can’t keep letting him kiss me.
His lips leave mine, but he doesn’t stop. He blazes a trail of kisses down my neck instead. The scruff on the side of face is tickling my skin, and I breathe in the wonderful, musky smell that is Cush.
Am I really in love with Brooklyn?
I mean if he was my one truelove, isn’t he the only guy I’d ever want to kiss again?
If I’m kissing Cush, and liking it, what does it mean?
The only answer I can come up with is that I’m going to have a very large glass of wine and see if I can get my brain fuzzy enough to shut the hell up.
A doorman escorts us to a bar in the entryway, where I get a Chardonnay and Cush gets a water. There’s a band set up in a huge room overlooking the ocean. Mom and Tommy are not in this room, but I stop and introduce Cush to an aging film star that is actively looking for his fifth wife, an up-and-coming actress that played mom’s younger sister in her last romantic comedy, and a well-known director. Then I spot Millie and Deron. Well, mostly I spot Deron. He’s six feet and nine inches of pure black muscle, a Lakers forward, and the husband of Mom’s best friend, prime time soap opera star, Millie Santino.
“There they are,” I say to Cush.
“Is that Deron Wallace?”
“Yeah, he’s a beast on the court, but he’s really a big teddy bear. His wife, Millie, and my mom have been best friends for years. ”
I take his hand and lead him back to where they are and introduce him to everyone.
“Keatyn, you look stunning. That dress is to die for,” Mille says, after kissing both my cheeks. “It’d be perfect for Cannes. Can I borrow it?”
“You’ll have to ask Mom. I think she’s supposed to wear it. ”
“You thief,” Mom says playfully.
“It’s Kym’s fault. ”
“Well, you make a very handsome couple. Where have you been, all dressed up?”
“Had a school party to go to. It was Monte Carlo themed, but it was kinda lame, so we left. ”
While Cush is involved in an intense discussion with Tommy and Deron about the varying horsepower of exotic cars, I walk out onto the deck to get some fresh air and think.
I’m kinda upset that Brooklyn left me.
No, I’m really upset.
Because I realize I was completely wrong about everything. Brooklyn doesn’t like me. He doesn’t love me. I’m just a convenient hookup.
