“That you loved me.”
He nods but stares out at the waves, his mind clearly elsewhere. “Yeah. When our call dropped, I looked out into the crowd and our eyes met. She looked so hurt. She shook her head at me, turned around, and walked away. I left my trophy onstage and ran after her. I told her all about you. How you encouraged me. I told her you were seeing other people, but that we promised to give each other another chance when I came home.”
“What’d she say?”
“That she’d take me for as long as she could have me.”
“She sounds like Aiden,” I say, looking out at the water, where he, Damian, and Mark are floating on boards and chatting.
“I didn’t tell her about the stalker. I couldn’t. I tried to keep it casual. Right before I came back to Malibu, she asked me why I kiss my tattoo before I go out. I told her that you and I have matching tattoos. She left mad. That’s the last time we spoke. Honestly, I don’t even know why I kiss it. It’s habit, you know?”
“I know why you do it. That tattoo symbolizes living your dream. Because that's when it all started. Our trip. My birthday. Our tattoos.”
“You'll always be a piece of me,” he says, leaning his shoulder against mine. “You were my first love.”
“You were my first love, too. I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too.” He looks out at the water again and says, “I like Aiden.”
“I like Aiden, too.”
He shoves his shoulder into me. “I told you it was fate you went to school there. That there was someone you were going to meet.”
“I feel old, B. I must be out of surfing shape.”
“Or maybe it’s because you were hit over the head, in a car accident, got shot, flew across the country to find me, and then just about blew yourself up.”
I laugh. “Well, at least that makes me feel better.”
“Her last text says we’re through.”
“I’m gonna call her,” I say.
“Why?”
“She’s never going to believe your story. Oh baby, I lost my phone when I was kidnapped by a madman, held captive, and almost died in an explosion. But, thankfully, my Keats threw the bomb in the ocean and saved me.”
“Yeah,” he laughs. “It does sound totally made it up.”
I take his phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling her. I’m serious.”
“What? No!”
“Watch me.”
“What are you gonna say?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re not going to script it first?”
“I’m done scripting my life, B. I’m just living it. What’s her name?”
“Jaida.”
She says, “Hello?”
“Hey, I’m, um, this is Keats.”
“Ohmigawd. Do you know where Brooklyn is? First, I was pissed. Now, I’m just really worried. Is he okay?”
“Where are you?”
“Malibu. I thought he might be here. We had a fight. And then he was gone.”
“He was kidnapped.”
“What?” she says, sounding like she doesn’t believe me.
“Why don’t we explain it to you in person?”
“Is he with you?”
“Yeah, and he’s going to be okay. We’re all going to be okay.”
Seven months later . . .
SATURDAY, AUGUST 18TH
The dress of your dreams.
3pm
“They're late,” Kym says, checking her watch for the hundredth time. “Did the boys really need to golf today?”
“Apparently,” I say, knowing Damian, Tommy, Aiden, and Matt Moran will come home with seconds to spare, but happy to avoid the chaos of their dates getting ready.
Peyton is getting her nails and hair done at the same time. She's escorting Damian on the red carpet tonight, and Aiden, as promised, will be my arm candy.
Red carpet appearances are all timed so that each star arrives at a different time depending on their clout, role in the movie, etc. We’ll walk the carpet, see the premiere of the movie Mom and Tommy filmed together in Vancouver, make our appearance at the after party and then go to my birthday party, which is being held at the same place as last year.
Troy bought the club, known as The Side Door, a few months ago. He renamed it Chaos, upgraded the DJ facilities and dance floor, and—with his Twisted Dreams connections—has been bringing in some of the world’s hottest DJs while he's out touring.
I've had my premiere and party dress picked out for a month, so I’m flipping through a magazine while Kym divides her time between looking at her watch, reminding Peyton of red carpet etiquette, and making sure Mom and I will be ready on time.
Damian strolls into the house and Kym immediately questions him. “Where are they?”
“They stopped for a beer,” he says with a shrug. “They said they have plenty of time.”
“If your father says all he has to do to get ready is shit, shower, and shave, I might just punch him in the face.”
After she’s gotten Damian and Peyton ready and out to the car, she rolls another rack of dresses in.