Page 30 of Almost Not Quite Engaged

“You could be Kate?”

“My mother didn’t want anyone calling me Katy.”

“And Kaiser’s better than Katy?” I shove him, shake my head, and narrow my eyes at him. The view from the lobby is stunning. Hawaii is an obnoxious, beautiful guy who’s so pretty you can’t look away. The landscape is so lush like it’s screaming for attention. I reach over and pluck his phone out of his hands and snap a couple pictures.

“Can you send that to me when I get a phone?” I hand it back to him. He looks at it.

“This is really good.”

“Thanks.”

“Can I post it?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Spite.”

The pictures I take are just for me. The only thing truly just mine. That’s the real reason I won’t let him post it. I have a whole secret social account of my photos under a fake name.

He laughs then pulls me next to him and snaps a selfie. “For my family. I’ll show my mom this picture so she can identify you then delete it.”

One weekend of lies won’t ruin me. I’ll channel my mother and Birdie will be wrapped around my finger as soon as I ask her about her tulip bulbs and iris rhizomes. I’ll ask Jack what he shot recently, golf or hunting. I’ve spent most of my life trying not to be like my parents, but I can slip in and out of their world easily. I do love my parents, mom is just difficult sometimes. And my dad loves me unconditionally, but I’m not sure he gets me.

We’re quiet for a while then he nudges me with his foot. “I love my parents but this is my ticket out from under the thumb forever.”

“I get it.” I wish he weren’t reinforcing my worst thoughts about him but I’m here. “Just give me a couple of hours to be show ready.”

Chapter 13

Complicated

ZANE

Maui

She’s all impulse and no control. It’s cute, it’s like this one constantly has her foot in her mouth but doesn’t mind the taste. I wish I could own my shit the way she seems to.

“There’s a finance job waiting for me after my Applause contract runs out, unless I can make the show work.”

“Yuck.” She turns toward me and leans against the front desk.

I purse my lips. “I needed the money to continue the show. It’s easier to dismiss them to their faces than behind their backs.”

“And then you thought up me.”

“Yes. But I couldn’t have possibly come up with you. Given my unattachment to every part of you.” She laughs and I continue, “The money was left to us with no strings, my parents added those.”

She finishes the apple she stole from somewhere. Could be someone’s amenity or lunch, she didn’t care. “Is it the game of taking it from them, or the money itself? For me it would be the game but I’m curious.”

“Not sure yet.”

“I’m guessing your hair budget is what’s sending you over.” She tosses the core into a garbage can from ten feet away. Everyone looks and her attention returns to me.

“The villas are all us. My brother and his idiot friends are next to ours.” I glare at her. “From here on out, you worship me.”

“And you adore me.”