Adore Me (The Keatyn Chronicles #5)

“Wow. That’s pretty much on target, except it makes it sound like he’s kind of a slacker. And he’s not. He’s highly motivated.”


“Oh, my gosh. Listen to the end. The most positive aspect of their union is that their combined ambition can drive them to do miraculous things together. Their relationship is enlightening and full of pleasure.”

“I think the pleasure is referring to the mental kind,” I say as I watch Peyton lick her lips.

“He’s got amazing arms, don’t you think?” she asks dreamily.

I look at his biceps flexing to hold the rope. “Yeah, he’s got great arms. All that guitar playing, I suppose. And he loves to golf.”

“Really?” she says, her eyes getting big. “Me too. Well, I like to drive the beer cart.” She stops staring dreamily at him and says, “Okay, let’s match you and Aiden.”

“Oh, no. That’s okay. I don’t even know his sign.”

“Luckily, I do. Did you know on his birthday he’ll be 18? And that I’m already 19?”

“No, I didn’t know that.”

“We don’t really tell people.”

“Why? Were you held back?”

“In a way. We missed a year of school when my mom got cancer. It was the worst year of my life for lots of reasons. I was scared she’d die. Pissed I had to leave my friends and move to California. Although the worst part was watching her lose her hair. She had the most beautiful hair. Anyway, we’re both a year behind and part of what made me put Go to boarding school on my bucket list. I couldn’t handle it like Aiden could.”

I look at Aiden driving the wave runner, laughing, and having a great time. He now appears to be on a mission to make Damian crash. He’s driving in tight circles and trying to whip him around like you would to get someone off an innertube.

“He didn’t tell me.”

“I know. He doesn’t like to talk about it either. Alright, so what’s your sign?”

“I’m a Leo.”

“L-e-o,” she says as she types. “And he’s a Sag-it-tar-ius.”

“He is?” I say in shock. I seriously never would have guessed that. And I know every single Sagittarius quality by heart, because I’ve studied B’s horoscope more than I have my own.

“Oh, wow. Listen to this! When you get together the result is usually fireworks. You are both dynamic and like to enjoy life to the fullest. As a couple, you are lots of fun to be around. And you encourage each other. And even though the Sagittarius’ philosophical ways can compete with Leo’s love of all things material and bigger than life, they can still get along. They admire and respect each other and together they radiate energy.”

“That’s okay, you don’t have to keep reading,” I say. “I get it. We’re a good match.”

“But there’s so much more,” she says excitedly. “It says the Sagittarius’ sign is an archer, meaning he goes slowly and likes to take his time surveying his target. Oh, and he’s a flirt. It says you might be bothered by that though because you like to be admired. It also says it will be a relationship full of passion and heat. So you’re a good match horoscopically.”

“Is that a word?”

“Ha. I have no idea. But you know what I mean. It also says here that Leo’s sometimes pout to get their way. Do you do that?”

“Of course not,” I say, shaking my head.

“She’s lying,” Damian says, suddenly standing in front of me. “What are you two doing?”

“Nothing!” Peyton says, her eyes big as she slams the laptop shut. “Just girl talk.”

“Did you girls realize it’s 2:30 already and almost time for Thanksgiving dinner?”

“Uh, no,” Peyton says. “What time is dinner?”

“It’s at three. And we can’t be late.”

“Oh, I better go get ready. What are you wearing, Keatyn?”

I grab her arm. “Come with me. I have the perfect dress for you to wear.”

“Meet us in the great room, boys,” I say with a wave to Damian and Aiden.

I pretend to be just taking her up to get a dress, but internally I am freaking out.

I assumed because B and I were so perfectly matched it meant he was my destiny. I mean, we fell in love at first sight, and we were perfectly cosmically matched. We were made for each other.

But so is Aiden?

I drag Peyton up to my room trying to focus on clothing.

I take her into my closet and pull out the gorgeous red slip dress I bought back when my goal was to seduce Aiden. “Here, wear this.”

I hand her a strapless bra and the dress.

When she puts it on, she goes, “Wow. Just the way this dress glides over my skin feels sexy.”

“You look amazing, but the bra looks bad. You may have to take it off.”

“I can’t go braless.”

“Just try it.” She undoes the bra and pulls it out from underneath the dress. “Now, look.”

“I feel so sexy. Like, I’ve never really wanted to be sexy before. More like I just wanted to look hot, you know?”

“Yeah, I know. Did you bring some strappy sandals?”

“I have a pair of silver heels.”