Page 21 of Get Me (The Keatyn Chronicles 6)
Garrett thinks about that for a second then says, "You're right."
Aiden meets me at the front door.
Before I have a chance to speak, Grandpa says, "Aiden, my boy, why don't you and I go have a chat in the library while Keatyn helps her grandma in the kitchen."
Aiden glances at me, those tractor beam eyes holding mine, speaking to me.
I sigh. Because now that I know what they're saying, they make me want to start crying again.
I do what I'm told and head to the kitchen, where the ladies are pitching in to make Christmas dinner. Grandma is sitting at the kitchen table, so I join her.
"Grandpa and Aiden are having a chat. What does that mean?"
"You'll know soon enough," she says with a chuckle.
"How?"
"If he doesn't come back bleeding, Grandpa thinks he's a keeper."
I hang my head. "I can't have a keeper right now, Grandma. I heard about the man who tried to run you off the road. Grandpa agreed that the two of you will stay here in France for a while. Until this hostile takeover stuff gets settled."
"I've always wanted a vacation in France. And any extended time with my granddaughters is welcomed."
"They're a handful."
She studies my face. "For years after your father died, I couldn't look you in the eyes. They are so much like his."
"Are you okay with Mom and Tommy getting married?"
"We can't control who we love. Just like we can't control when someone we love is taken from us. I'm very lucky that there's still a piece of your dad in you. And when you have kids someday, he will live on in them."
"Inga read my palm."
"She read mine years ago. Thought she was nuts at the time, but the woman was spot on. How many kids did she say you would have?"
"Four. But I don't think that will happen."
"Why not?"
"When she read it again, she said that death is coming for me."
"Death comes for everyone, eventually."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," I say, dropping the subject so Grandma won't have to think about losing someone else she loves.
"I like Aiden."
"I like him too."
"Is he the reason for all your cryptic questions about love?"
"I love him. But part of me still loves Brooklyn. And until I'm with him again--until I can see him again--I can't give Aiden my full heart."
I see Grandma glance behind me.
"He's not bleeding," she says. "Whoever you choose deserves your full heart."
"I know."
"Keatyn," Aiden says. "Wanna go for a walk?"
Grandma winks at me.
"Yeah, sure," I tell him.
I join him in the hall. He takes my hand and leads me up the stairs and into my room.
"I thought you wanted to go for a walk?"
"I just want to talk to you."
"You're not bleeding," I say.
"Why would I be bleeding?"
"Grandma said if you weren't, it meant you and my grandpa had a good talk."
"We did." He pulls me into his arms. "I love you."
I smile at him, but I don't say it back.
I can't.
I shouldn't.
Aiden lets go of me and starts pacing, much like he did on the beach.
"I believe in us," he says. "If you need to go see him--if you need to meet his mom--you have my full support. But I'm really concerned about you going back to Malibu. Is there a way you could get him to change the location?"
"I appreciate your support, Aiden, but I think it would be best if I wasn't with anyone right now."
He moves closer to me, pressing his chest tightly against mine and talking on my neck. "What does your heart want, right now?" he whispers.
"You," I whisper back. "It wants you."
Aiden kisses me, a kiss so powerful it makes me cry guilty tears.
"What's wrong, baby?" he asks gently.
"You know my life is a mess."
"Your grandpa just gave me some good advice about life."
"What'd he say?"
"That if you follow your heart, it will always lead you home."
I shut my eyes tightly, knowing he gave the same advice to my mom once.
"Do you believe him?" I ask, hoping with all my heart that the answer is yes.
"I think the more important question is, do you? I know what you're thinking. That it's good advice for everyone but you. Right?"
"Kinda."
"To answer your question, I believe that if you follow your heart, anything and everything is possible." He places his hand across my chest. "I love you, and I understand what you need to do. I'm going to help you in any way you will let me, but your grandpa told me this is your battle to fight and that I need to respect that."
"He's smart."
"Remember when I asked you to promise me tomorrow? I didn't fully understand your situation then."
"You don't want my tomorrows anymore?"
"I want you forever, but I understand now why forever scares you. It's your situation, not me."
"I lied to you earlier. I don't think he'll forget about me once I take over his company. I think it's going to make him very mad. Very soon, I'm going to have to face him. No matter how much I try to plan for it, I can't control it. And the reality is that I might not survive."
Aiden holds me tightly and whispers in my ear, "Follow your heart, baby. That's all I ask."
I promise myself, then and there, that no matter what happens, to do just that.
Keep following my heart. Keep doing what feels right.
"I wasn't going to tell you again. But I love you, Aiden. I really, really do," I say, tears flowing freely down my face.
"I love you too," he says, gently wiping them away.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27TH
Even when you feel lost.
4pm
After getting hugs and kisses from everyone, Peyton, Damian Aiden and I left for the airport. We boarded our plane and slept the entire flight.
Cooper meets us upon arrival and takes us to my loft.
As much as I loved being with my family, it feels surprisingly good to be home.
Damian checks the place out, helps himself to an energy drink, and then plops down at the kitchen island and starts making calls about the music video production.
Peyton gets her bags situated in their room, kisses Damian, and says she's going to take a bath. I think she's worn out from all the wonderful wedding and Christmas chaos.
Aiden pokes around the kitchen, looking for something to snack on, while I take Cooper upstairs.
I need to give him his Christmas present.
He opens the Tiffany gift box to find a round silver container with the date of his sister's birth engraved on the top. He opens the container, sees what's inside, and looks up at me. "A compass?"
"I know helping me has been hard for you. I just want you to know that I appreciate it. And I know that she'd want you to know that even when you feel lost, you'll never be alone. She's always
with you, Cooper."
"You put her birthdate on the top."
"I think you should start celebrating her life, not remembering her death."
His eyes get watery as he looks up at the ceiling and nods. Then he looks down at the compass, shuts the lid, and runs his fingers across her birthdate. "You're right. Thank you. That is what she'd want."
"You have to stop blaming yourself. You were too young to do anything about it. I also want you to know that it's okay to tell me no. I may not always take your advice, but, regarding my safety, I value your opinion more than anyone's."
He smiles at me. "I'm going to hold you to that."
My nose perks up at the smell of garlic wafting through the air.
"Aiden's cooking," Cooper says. "We should get down there."
As we're going downstairs, the intercom buzzes. I glance at the monitor by the door and see Riley grinning into the camera. I hit the button to buzz him in, then walk out into the hall to greet him.
"I missed you!" I tell him, throwing my arms around him in a hug. "Did you have a good Christmas?"
"Of course. With all the Johnson's around, you know it's going to be a good time." He lifts his nose to the air. "What are you cooking?"
"I'm not sure. Aiden's sauteing garlic for something he's creating."
"Smells good. I'm suddenly starved."
We all gather around the table and eat the pasta Aiden made while we talk through the plan for tomorrow. Riley says, "All the sets from school were delivered yesterday. My family worked on the surfboards, which turned out to be a lot harder to make than we anticipated."
"Why?" I ask. "I thought you were just going to put them on a spring."
"That was the plan, but all the springs we tried were too flimsy and wouldn't support the weight of a person. Then, the ones that would support the weight wouldn't hardly move."
"What'd you do?" Damian asks.
"Let's just say my uncle has a Porsche 911 in our garage that may or may not be missing its MacPherson struts."
"That's brilliant," Aiden says with a laugh.
"We thought so, too," Riley says, his phone buzzing in his hand. He pops up from his chair. "Ariela is here! I haven't seen her since the dance."
"Why don't you go let her in?" I say.
About twenty minutes later they join us in the kitchen, both looking a bit disheveled.
"Must have been quiet a reunion," Damian says under his breath, looking a little jealous.
Riley giggles.
Yes, he giggles.
What the hell were they doing in my hallway?
I get up and give Ariela a welcoming hug and offer her some of Aiden's pasta.
"She's not hungry," Riley says a little too quickly.
She folds her hands over her flat stomach. "I swear, I won't be hungry for a week. I ate so much over Christmas."
