The game ends with the Cougars winning by three touchdowns.
“You’re going to stay with us at the hotel,” Keatyn tells Gracie. “Not stay out all night.”
“Whatever. I’m going to surprise Baylor now! He’s going to be so happy!” she says rushing off.
“This ought to be good,” Dallas whispers to me.
“What should be?” Braxton asks.
“The quarterback asked Gracie to Homecoming. She told him she didn’t think she could make it and is surprising him.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“One of the cheerleaders has his number on her face.”
“Ooh, cat fight. Love those,” Braxton says. “But Gracie’s my girl. If he fucks her over, he’s going to have to answer to me.”
“Us too,” Dallas agrees.
We watch as she runs down onto the field, taps him on the shoulder, and says Surprise!
“He definitely looks surprised.”
“Oh, he’s giving her a hug,” Keatyn says.
“That’s a good sign, isn’t it?” I ask.
“Depends,” Braxton says. “Check out the cheerleader at three o’clock. She’s heading his way and she’s got the march.”
“What’s the march?” Keatyn asks him.
“You know. The mad, pissed off girl march.”
I laugh. “You’re right. She does.”
We continue to watch as the cheerleader grabs the quarterback’s arm.
“She just said What the fuck, Chad?” Braxton says. “I can read lips.”
“She definitely said what the fuck, but his name is Baylor. Baylor Hawthorne,” Dallas says.
“As in Hawthorne House Hawthorne?” I ask.
“Yeah. His grandfather is on the Eastbrooke trust committee with me. He’s only a sophomore. Good kid. Great athlete.”
“Oh, boy. The cheerleader slapped him across the face and marched away!” Braxton says. “She looks sad. I should go comfort her. Excuse me.”
I grab the back of his shirt. “Don’t you dare, Brax. She’s not exactly legal.”
“Looks legal enough.”
“Where are you staying tonight, Braxton?” Keatyn asks him.
“It’s Homecoming. I’m partying all night,” he replies. “Aren’t you?”
“Actually, I’m kinda tired,” Keatyn says. “It’s been a really long week.”
“It’s been a long week for all of us,” Dallas agrees.
“Pussies. How bout you, bro? You ready to scope out some of the alum? If I can’t go young, maybe I’ll look for a cougar. I’ve never done one before.”
I shake my head. It’s official. I’m getting old.
I don’t even want to attempt to keep up with my younger brother.
Or maybe Vegas just cured me from partying for a while.
Gracie appears to have a serious conversation with the quarterback then leads him in our direction.
“Baylor, this is my sister, Keatyn Douglas,” she says. “And her friends from Eastbrooke, Riley Johnson and Dallas McMahon.”
“Don’t forget me,” Braxton says, popping up behind her.
“Brax!” Gracie screams. “My favorite Johnson brother! I’m taking you up on your offer to hang out in the Hamptons this summer.”
“That’d be cool,” Baylor says. “My grandparents have a place there. We could hang out.”
If Gracie is thrilled by his invitation, you’d never know it. She just gives him a quick smile.
“I saw the movies,” Baylor says. “Pretty cool to meet you all. So, does Stockton’s really exist? Because we’ve all been down in the basement of the chapel and there is a Mary Jane Stockton crypt, but the leaf doesn’t open, so there’s no place for a key. No one can figure out how to get in.”
“We may have changed some details to protect the innocent,” I say.
“Or maybe we completely made it up,” Dallas goes.
Keatyn adds with a smile, “Or, maybe it’s a little of both.”
“Damn, we could use a place to party besides The Cave.”
“You go to The Cave?” Keatyn asks him. “Usually that’s only for upperclassmen.”
Baylor shrugs in a way that reminds me of Aiden when he was at Eastbrooke. When you’re a star athlete, good-looking, and rich, exceptions are made.
“We had plenty of fun there,” Keatyn says. “And even though we thought we were the only ones who knew about it, we found out later it’s really not a secret.”
“Baylor is taking me there tonight,” Gracie says. “I can’t wait.”
“Um, Baylor, I’m curious,” Keatyn says. “Why did that girl just slap your face?”
He lets out a breath and shrugs. “That’s Krissy. She asked me to Homecoming, but I told her I already had a date. Today at our lunch table, I was telling my friend I was bummed that Gracie couldn’t come. I’m sure glad she did though,” he says, smiling at Gracie and wrapping his arm around her waist.
“So she just assumed you’d go together or did you tell her that you would?” Keatyn asks, trying to clarify the situation.
“I told her if I didn’t have a date we could go.”
“Typical girl,” Braxton says. “Always reading too much into it.”