Page 28 of Get Me (The Keatyn Chronicles 6)
That many times.
11:55pm
Twisted Dreams and I are on stage. We just finished an interview and now the world premiere of the "Meet Me at the Beach" music video is being shown.
While the video plays, they ask Damian and me to stay on stage for the countdown to midnight.
A makeup artist runs powder across our faces and a producer says, "You'll be on screen for the midnight kiss."
"But, uh . . ." Damian says.
"We don't have time to discuss. And watch what you say. Your microphones will be live," she tells us. "And, we're back in three, two . . ."
The New Year's countdown starts, the ball drops, and Damian looks into my eyes. If they flash back to us, we'll probably look like we're in love.
"3! 2! 1! Happy New Year!" we yell as confetti and glitter drop from the ceiling.
Damian grabs me around the waist, goes Ribbit into my ear, and then dips me dramatically and kisses me.
I come up hugging him and laughing.
We get the okay to leave the stage and I immediately find Aiden.
"I need a New Year's countdown redo," I say, slipping into his arms.
"You looked like you liked it," Aiden says, referring to my kiss with Damian.
"It was supposed to look that way. The dip was dramatic so people wouldn't notice he didn't fully kiss my lips. Kissing Damian is like you kissing your sister."
Aiden cups my face with his hands. "Sounds like you need your lips fixed."
A big grin forms on my face. "That's exactly what I need."
People are still kissing and cheering. There are more shouts of Happy New Year. Confetti is still swirling through the air. But when Aiden's face is close to mine and he slowly starts counting down from ten, it's like the world disappears and there's only us.
"9 . . . 8 . . . 7 . . . 6 . . . 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1."
The second our lips touch, mine are fixed.
"Happy New Year, Boots."
"Happy New Year, Aiden."
"Next year, and from now on, I don't care what's going on in your life. I'm going to be the one kissing you at midnight. We'll run away if we need to keep you safe, but those lips are mine from now on. No more pretending, unless you're on a movie set. Promise me."
"Uh . . ."
Aiden frowns but says, "Fine. Promise me that if we are together next year, I'll be the only one you kiss at midnight."
God, he is so amazing.
"I promise. Speaking of that, who did you kiss at midnight?"
"I kissed my sister on the cheek and then Riley kissed both of us. I really want to get you home."
"Why's that?" I flirt.
His hands move very inappropriately to my ass, giving it a squeeze. "I think you know exactly what I have in mind."
"Maybe I want you to tell me."
"We still haven't used the feather from your naughty Santa."
"Oh, gosh. We better get going."
The camera loves you.
3:20am
Of course, we couldn't leave right then, so it's already past three by the time we're all in the limo heading home from the party.
Aiden's arm is wrapped around me, and I'm still thinking about the feather when I feel my phone vibrate inside my clutch.
Other than a few selfies with everyone at the party tonight, I really haven't looked at my phone. Cooper told me he'd handle everything. That we should relax and enjoy our night.
I pull my phone out to check it.
There are some Happy New Year group texts, but one catches my eye.
B: Had I known you were partying with Damian tonight, I would have joined the fun. Loved the video.
I reply.
Me: Happy New Year, B!! I'm glad you liked the video. We had a lot of fun making it.
B: You know, the camera loves you. But, then, I always said you have a very expressive face.
I drop my phone in a panic, instantly knowing that I'm talking to Vincent and not B.
Aiden sees the look on my face. "What's wrong?"
Damian picks up my phone. "That doesn't sound like something Brook would say."
I bury my hands in my palms, trying to drown out their voices so I can think straight.
"You're right, he wouldn't say that. I think Vincent has his phone." I turn toward Cooper. "Will you please call Garrett and find out who is on B's security detail tonight and where the hell he is?"
Cooper starts dialing.
Aiden touches my arm sweetly, but I pull away, my hands shaking. "I. Need. My. Phone."
"You're not thinking of replying, are you?" Damian asks.
I try to grab my phone from him, but he puts it behind his back.
"Damian, don't mess with me!"
"Keatyn, you need to think this through. Couldn't he track you?"
"I have a number with a Georgia area code and billing address. I'm in a moving car. He already knows I'm in New York. Give me my phone. Now!"
"Give her the phone," Aiden says to Damian in a commanding tone, causing Damian to immediately comply.
Me: What's up, Vincent?
B: What are you talking about? This is Brooklyn Wright's phone. By the way, I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year. This is our year.
I look at Aiden, who I know is reading along with me. "Sick," he says. Then he reads the text out loud.
"What are you going to say back?" Riley asks.
I notice a grim look on Cooper's face as he says, "I'll put her on speaker."
"Garrett!? Where is he?" I yell.
"He's in Malibu," Garrett replies through the speaker. "He had a New Year's Eve party at his house. Refused security."
"But, Garrett! I told you . . ."
"Let me finish. After the rose incident, you expressly told me not to listen to either Brooklyn or his dad regarding their security, so I had a team outside the home."
"Front or back?"
"Front. That's where everyone entered the party."
"Fuck," I mutter. "Call them, Garrett. Tell them to enter the house--by force, if necessary--and find Brooklyn! What about Vincent? Aren't there supposed to be two teams on him?"
"He went to a New Year's Eve party at a mansion in Bel-Air. They couldn't follow him through the gates, so they are waiting for his car to come back out."
"So, in other words, you have no idea where either of them are?!" I look up at Cooper. "Tell the driver to stop the car. I have to get out."
I feel trapped.
Claustrophobic.
Sick.
When the car stops, I quickly get out.
Please let Brooklyn be okay.
Maybe he dropped his phone earlier today.
Maybe he left it on the beach when he surfed. He always does that.
I start walking up the sidewalk randomly, but then see a cute brownstone.
One with steps that I plop down on.
I have to calm down and focus. Focus on getting information from Vincent.
Me: Why do you have Brooklyn's phone?
B: I keep telling you. This is your beloved B, who has a lovely home that is perfect for a party. It was the perfect place to watch your video. I wasn't thrilled with all the comments my friends were making about you, but I guess that comes with the territory of dating someone famous.
Me: We aren't dating anymore. If you were really B, you'd know that. We've been over for a long time.
B: You're just playing hard to get. But know this. I want you back. And no one you love will be safe until we're together. By the way, how's Grandma?
Cooper sits down next to me. "Garrett just called back. Keep in mind, it's just past midnight in California, but they couldn't find Brooklyn anywhere in the house and no one seemed to know where he is. His father apparently isn't in town."
"Do you know about what happened to my grandma?"
"Yes."
I hand him my phone. "Read the texts. Screen shot them. Text them to Garrett. See if there's anything he can do, legally."
"There is
n't, Keatyn. He keeps saying he's B. You aren't going to be able to prove otherwise."
"B would never threaten me."
"If he was the jealous boyfriend, he might."
"That makes no sense, but whatever. I need to talk to Damian."
I peek my head in the limo door. "Damian, start calling and texting all our friends. All the surfers. Girls they hang out with. Anyone and everyone who's numbers you have that could possibly have been invited to his New Year's Eve party."
"Do a mass text to everyone you know," Riley instructs Damian. "Include our numbers on it and we'll start calling each one."
"And pray someone knows," Aiden adds. His voice is like a shock to my heart.
I look at him, at Damian, at Peyton, at Riley, and at Ariela.
My friends.
I become instantly worried.
About location services.
Phone tracking.
Hacking.
My plan is supposed to revolve around Vincent knowing where I was, not where I am now.
I quickly get out of the car and grab my phone out of Cooper's hand.
"Do you have a pocketknife?"
Cooper reaches in his pocket and pulls out something that is much more than a pocketknife.
When my eyes get big at its size, he shrugs. "It's ceramic, passed through the metal detectors at the party tonight."
