I roll my eyes at her and grin. “Don’t get all excited. I used to think I would marry Brady. Clearly, I don’t know what the hell I want. Except for a dress.”
“We need to go shopping. Let’s see. If we skipped the tea, left for New York now,” she says, looking up at the sky doing the math in her head. “Hmm. There’s no way we could get there, find a dress, get back, and get you ready. I have a better idea.” She picks her phone up off the bed. “I’m calling Kym.”
“Oh, gosh, don’t do that!” I tell her. Kym is one of my mom’s best friends, as well as her and Keatyn’s long-time stylist.
“Why not?”
“Because she’ll tell Mom everything.”
“What’s there to tell? You’re going to a dance.”
“Yeah, I guess. Fine. I’m desperate.”
“I’ll put her on speaker.”
We hear Kym answer with, “Keatyn, darling, how are you?”
“That depends on how you’re doing finding me a wedding dress on such short notice.”
“I’ll have at least a dozen for you to try next week and a seamstress on site to make any alterations necessary. Are we still meeting at the vineyard on Friday afternoon?” Kym replies.
“Yes, providing all goes well on set this week. So, Kym, what are you doing today?” Keatyn asks casually.
“Oh boy,” Kym says, immediately catching on. “Why does it sound like you need something last minute?”
“We do. Gracie is on the line with me. She got invited to Homecoming at Eastbrooke and thought she was supposed to wear a gown instead of a cocktail dress. Do you have anything good in your office?”
“I always have something good in my office, Keatyn. Do you need hair and makeup too, Gracie?”
“Um, that would be nice,” I say, looking down at my chipped nails.
“And a manicure,” Keatyn says. “She needs something really cute.”
“And preferably not age appropriate,” I say.
“Your mother says all dresses must be age appropriate.”
I give Keatyn my puppy dog eyes. I need her on my side.
Keatyn smiles at me then says, “Gracie knows that and agrees with her. But this isn’t a public event. This is her first Homecoming. She needs something sophisticated. Something that’s both sexy and a little edgy. The kind of dress that would knock a boys socks off.” I bounce on the bed happily and silently clap my hands. “And while you’re at it, bring her a really hot dress for the after party along with shoes she can dance in. We’re at the usual hotel. Penthouse.”
After she ends the call, I bounce toward her and give her an excited hug. “You are the best sister ever!”
“Gracie,” she says seriously, holding my arms, “You can always tell me anything. I’m always here for you. Just because the triplets are a few years older than you, doesn’t mean they have the life experience to give you good advice.”
“Except for Avery,” I laugh, because she always gives good advice.
“Except for Avery,” she agrees as there’s a knock on our door.
“You two decent in there?”
“Knox?” Keatyn’s face crunches up in confusion. “What the hell?”
When the door opens, Riley and Knox both bound onto our bed. It seems sort of surreal sometimes to think my sister gets to sleep with Knox on screen and then go home to Aiden. My friend—I mean, my former friend—Kylie, used to say Keatyn was one lucky bitch.
“Gracie!” Knox says, rubbing his hand across my hair. “Heard you got in a fight last night.”
“Meow!” Braxton says, joining us by flopping his body across the bed.
“What are you doing here, Knox?” Keatyn asks.
“He wishes he went to Eastbrooke,” Dallas drawls from the doorway. “I told him not to come.”
“But here I am anyway. Better than hitting Vegas again, don’t you think?”
“I thought you had to work?”
“Got done early. Took the red eye. I heard you need a date for the dance,” he says, batting his eyes at my sister.
“I already have two dates,” she says, pointing toward Riley and Dallas.
“Fine,” Knox says seriously, holding his hand to his heart. “I thought Riley might need some emotional support. I know what a trying time this is for him.”
“Bullshit,” everyone says at once, laughing.
“Fine. I thought maybe I could meet a woman here. A normal one.”
“Ah, now the truth comes out,” Braxton says. “I’ll let you be my wingman. Brax will be on the prowl tonight too.”
“Knox doesn’t believe in being the wingman,” Riley jokes.
“Gotta be in the limelight all the time,” Dallas agrees, while Keatyn nods her head and laughs.
“This is why I want to go to Eastbrooke,” I say, although I didn’t realize I said it out loud until Braxton says, “Speaking of Eastbrooke. Your boy is still crashed on the floor.”
“He’s not my boy,” I say, even though I wish he were.
“I’m crushed,” Baylor says from the doorway. God, how does he look so perfect in the morning? His hair is a little mushed to one side, but it just makes him look cuter. And those blue eyes and long, dark lashes.
Shit!