Gracie rolls her eyes and gives Keatyn a little hug. “You know I’m just teasing.”
“Where were you planning on staying tonight?”
“It’s Homecoming. Party all night, right? And I have a date for the dance.”
“You do?!” Keatyn asks.
“Yep,” she smiles and nods at the field.
“The quarterback? He asked you?” I say.
“Do you think I would have come all this way to surprise him if he hadn’t?”
Dallas and I share a worried glance.
This feels like the beginning of a major conflict scene in one of our teen movies.
“You’re surprising him?” Dallas asks, on the same train of thought as I am.
She bounces in her seat. “I told him I didn’t think I could make it but that I’d try. He’ll be so surprised!”
“I bet he will be,” Dallas says, nudging me.
“Riley, I think I need a hotdog,” Keatyn says, suddenly grabbing my arm. “Come get one with me.”
I buy us both hot dogs and hand one to her. “I have a feeling the quarterback is going to have two dates.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” she says. “Shit. Gracie is always such a good girl. Spunky and opinionated, but I didn’t think she’d ever flat out disobey Mom and Tommy.”
“Sounds like she didn’t exactly disobey tonight.” I grin.
“And hanging out with a band!”
“Twisted Dreams,” I cough, reminding her that she hung out with a band when she was a teen too.
Her expression and eye roll is an exact match for the one the Gracie made a few minutes ago. “He was my best friend since we were kids. Not someone I met backstage at the teen awards.”
“Sure you aren’t mad at her because she broke up with Brooklyn’s nephew?”
Tears threaten her face immediately. “Maybe. I miss Brooklyn so much. I still can’t believe he’s dead.”
“Me either,” I say, Brooklyn was a three-time pro surf champion who died in a surfing accident just a few years ago, was Keatyn’s first love, and one of my best friends.
“I thought she and Brady would be together forever.”
“She’s fourteen, Keatyn. Do you really think she needs to decide on her forever love now?”
“Yeah, you’re right. At her age, I was pretty boy crazy. She’s so mature about her career, sometimes I forget how young she is.”
“Do you know what they got in a fight about?”
“No, she won’t tell anyone. Or at least she won’t tell me.”
“Maybe because she thinks you won’t be on her side.”
Keatyn’s arm immediately goes up to her chest, offended. “I’ll always be on her side!”
“Maybe you should tell her that.”
She sighs big. “Yeah, I suppose you’re probably right.”
“What the fuck, Keatyn?” a familiar voice says. “You give my brother a cushy job but you can’t pick up the phone and call your favorite Johnson brother? I want to live on the beach in California and drive a Ferrari too.”
“Brax!” Keatyn yells, excited to see my youngest brother, who adores her. “I didn’t think you were coming!”
“Change of plans,” he says, slapping me on the back. “Good to see you, bro. You finally get up the balls to come back here?”
“Braxton!” Keatyn scolds.
“What? You know I’m right. You say so every year.”
Keatyn’s face turns pink. “I don’t say that. Not exactly.” I raise an eyebrow at her. “Fine. Every year I do mention that I wish you would get over it and come with us. It’s not the same without you, Riley. You’re such a big part of why Eastbrooke is so special to me.”
I can’t help but smile at her. “I’m glad I’m here this year.”
“You are? Oh, Riley, that makes me so happy.”
“Okay, jeez, enough with the love fest,” Braxton says. “Let’s get back to me and my cushy job.”
“How are you doing?” Keatyn asks him. He and his long-time girlfriend just recently called it quits.
“I’m enjoying the spoils of single life again. Wine, women, and song. Okay, maybe more like beer, women, and meaningless sex.”
“Thataboy,” I tell him. “Just like a Johnson.”
“Braxton, if you want a job, you’ll have to convince your brother. He’s in charge.”
Braxton puts his arm around her. “Come on, Kiki. You know you love me. And we all know who wears the pants at Captive. Riley didn’t even know you hired Dawson.”
“That was an unusual situation,” Keatyn says with a frown.
“Which I fully supported,” I say, backing her up, knowing it was hard for her to keep it from me.
“Speaking of love,” Keatyn says. “Did you get your invitation to the party next weekend, Brax?”
“I did. I’m still checking to see if I can get out of work on Friday. Is it a big deal? You’re always having fundraisers.”
“Not fundraisers where Aiden and I get married.”
“No, shit? It’s about fucking time.”
“I know. So come, please, if you can.”
“I will. Who’s winning?”
“We are,” I say as we head back to the stands.