Page 57 of Get Me (The Keatyn Chronicles 6)
"So, go," he says, shrugging her off.
"It meant a lot to all of us," Gracie says, throwing herself into Riley's arms.
Gracie looks so pretty tonight. Her hair is in a cute little pixie cut, a style she's been growing out since she shaved her head to play a girl dying of cancer in a role that was recently nominated for an Academy Award. She spent hours at the pediatric cancer ward immersing herself in the character. And, even now, she goes back as often as her schedule will permit. I can't tell you how many times Mom about shut down the whole movie. Watching your daughter die on screen is not easy. I can't imagine how horrible it would be in real life.
Because of both their experiences, she and Mom starting working with Aiden to add another Moon Wish label wine to raise money for families whose children are affected by the disease.
I'm so proud of her.
I'm proud of all my sisters, all but one of whom are sitting in the front row with us.
The triplets, now seventeen, are following their dreams as well. Emery isn't here because she's getting ready to grace the catwalk tonight to kick off this year's Paris Fashion Week. Her schedule is the reason why we decided to have a daytime world premiere in Paris for The Keatyn Chronicles trilogy. We're all attending the fashion show and then going to an after party. Ivery's highly anticipated sophomore album is due to release next month. Her angelic voice combined with Troy's DJ mixes have catapulted her to the top of the dance charts. And Avery designs a mass market brand of clothing called Stevens. All four girls were recently featured on the cover of Teen Vogue wearing pieces from the line.
"What'd you think of the parts Aiden and I added?" Riley asks.
"I know I fought you on them. But, you were right. The chase scene was amazing."
"It should have been. We used a lot of my real footage--digitally enhanced."
"And, more importantly," Aiden adds, "no Maseratis had to be sacrificed during the making of the film."
"I thought Aiden's point of view was perfect," Gracie says. "I cried so hard. Even knowing that you chose him, I was worried in the movie that you weren't going to. It was so poignant. How he wanted to hate B. Did he really stop and make you dance with him before you told him?"
"Yeah, he did."
"I can't believe you put him through that," Ivery agrees.
"Oh, give me a break," I say. "He and Riley totally embellished that part to pull at your heart strings. And the part where he says it was a fireworks kiss; he totally copied me."
"Girls, don't listen to her. I was a mess. My heart was nearly shattered," Aiden says dramatically.
Ivery says, "I cried so hard, too."
Aiden gives me a smirk.
Mom and Tommy join the conversation. Little Lincoln Stevens is almost eleven years old now, but he didn't come with them. Not when the movie ended up with an R rating. I tried to get Riley to cut out some of the swearing so it could be PG-13 like the first two, but he stood his creative ground, citing all the f-bombs in my later journals. And I couldn't for the life of me cut out the I fucking love you scenes. They were too special.
"I felt bad for Aiden in the movie too," Mom agrees. "I remember that morning we talked about it. I told you to call him."
"I didn't want to tell him on the phone."
"I'm glad she didn't tell me on the phone," Aiden says, finally sticking up for me. "So, Boots, I hate to break up the trip down memory lane, but we need to head out."
I glance at his watch. The ridiculously expensive one I bought him when I wasn't sure I'd see another Christmas. "We have plenty of time before the fashion show. Speaking of memory lane," I say to Riley. "I was surprised to see you added a photo with Ariela in it. Maybe you should call her sometime. See how she's doing. It'd be nice to see you with the same girl more than once. I swear, you must have a stable of blondes hidden behind your house."
"No fucking way," he replies. "I'm perfectly happy with Shelly."
I bite my lip, holding back a smile.
"What?" he asks.
"Her name is Shelby," Gracie and I say.
He rolls his eyes as everyone laughs. "Whatever. Close enough."
The actors who played Keatyn and Aiden join us. I congratulate them on another success and give them huge hugs.
I watch Riley pat Aiden on the back and discreetly say something to him.
"All right," he says, "we really have to go now."
"You and Riley looked sneaky. What's going on?"
"Nothing," he says, dragging me toward the exit.
"I heard him say something about luck."
"He just said with any luck, he'd accidentally lose Shelby somewhere between the premiere and the party so he could hang with all the models."
"Are there any models left that he hasn't already dated? Or any aspiring actresses? I wish he'd aim a little higher, age-wise. Maybe find someone who's already successful. Maybe I should set him up with--"
"Riley doesn't want strings. Ariela broke his heart when she wouldn't come to California with him after graduation."
"Did you talk to him about it? I was shocked he added that photo from the Day at the Lake cast party. They looked so in love in that picture."
"I tried to talk to him, but he just turned it around and gave me shit."
"About what?"
"Us. He said I couldn't give relationship advice until I'd put a ring on it."
"You did put a ring on it. In the gazebo. That's all we've ever needed," I say with conviction, realizing I've been silly. I don't need a piece of paper to tell us we're in love. We can have a baby and not be married. Our love is all that matters. It's all that's ever mattered.
The corners of Aiden's beautiful mouth turn down for a second. I'm about to ask him why, but am interrupted by him telling our temporary bodyguard that we're going straight to the car and not stopping for autographs.
"Cooper always lets me stop," I say, already missing him. He left a few weeks ago to go help out an old friend with something he said he couldn't really talk about.
"No autographs," he says firmly. Which is weird, because he's always so supportive.
As he drags me toward the car, I'm trying to at least wave to the fans yelling my name.
"Stop rushing me, Aiden. You're starting to piss me off."
When the limo door shuts behind us, he gives me a hard kiss, which manages to both cool down my temper and heat up my insides at the same time.
I mov
e my hands to the front of his pants, forgetting I'm mad and thinking about the hotness behind his zipper, when his phone rings.
He pulls it out of his jacket pocket, checks the display, and hands it to me. "It's Dallas. I'm sure he wants to talk to you."
"Hey, Dallas," I say.
"Riley's predicting box office success."
"He always does."
"What do you think?"
"I think I agree with him. He outdid himself on this last installment and releasing the full three-movie version was brilliant."
"Wait. Did I hear that right? Is this history in the making? Did you just admit to being wrong?"
"Yes, I said it. The alternating POVs he stuck in there that seemed so jarring in the script were seamless in the movie. You'll be busy adding up the money." Dallas is Captive Films' chief legal counsel and a partial owner. "How's RiAnne feeling? Baby five cooperating?"
"I can't tell you how many times this week she's said she needs this baby out of her. She's pouting because she couldn't come to Paris and is now craving macaroons."
"Are you getting her some?"
"Of course."
"You're a good man."
"Always have been."
"Damn straight. Tell her we'll celebrate with dinner at the beach when we get back."
"Sounds good. Tell Aiden good luck tonight."
"Okay," I say. "Bye."
But as soon as I hang up, I turn to Aiden. "Wait. Why did Dallas just tell me to wish you luck?"
He gives me a smirk. "Probably thinks I'm going to need it. You know, holding off all the models that will be hitting on me at the fashion show."
I kiss him. "You're bad."
"So are you. You never told me Brooklyn wished on the moon too. Was that part added just for the movie?"
"Nope. It's totally true."
"And you still chose me?"
"I didn't have a choice, Aiden. You've had my heart from the second I met you. I just had to make things right with him. And I had to be sure. After everything I'd been through, I didn't trust myself. But when it came down to it, B and I both knew. We were great first loves. We weren't forever loves. It happened exactly like that."
"What was your favorite part?"
"Oh, gosh. I have so many. The heartbreakingly beautiful love. The I fucking love you. The first time we said I love you. The Christmas tree."
The limo stops at the base of the Eiffel Tower.
"What are we doing here?"
"Thought we'd take in the view. It's a gorgeous evening."
