I realize that I have no flipping idea what I look like. “Uh, excuse me,” I say, hopping out of bed and rushing to the bathroom.
When I shut the door, I realize how ridiculous I must have looked. Like a two-year old who was going to pee her pants.
But then I appraise myself in the mirror and am I glad I did. I mean, everyone has to pee, right?
I brush my teeth quickly and run a brush through my hair, wipe the mascara smudges off my cheek, and dab on some chap stick.
“Let’s order breakfast!” Keatyn is saying as I come back out. She jumps up and grabs the hotel phone. “I’ll just order a bunch of everything and we can share!”
I go toward the door. “Hey,” I say, a little awkwardly to Baylor. I’ve never been allowed to spend the night with a boy before. Not that we spent the night together. I just mean I’ve never woken up and they’ve been there.
“Good morning,” Baylor says, running his hand through his hair, trying to get it to lie flat. “Can we go out on the balcony for a minute?”
“Uh, sure,” I say, following him. Damn. Is he mad at me because I said he’s not my boy?
“It’s chilly,” he says, running back inside to grab a blanket off the chaise. He brings it out and wraps it around us.
“It is,” I say as we sit down next to each other with our shoulders touching. Actually, it’s more than our shoulders. It’s all the way down our arms. “You’re warm though.”
“Gracie,” he says. “I need to tell you something. Dallas asked me about it last night and it’s all I’ve been thinking about. I know we’re not going out or anything, but that girl, Krissy . . . I, um, have been sleeping with her. I think that’s why she’s mad about you being here. She’s older and she’s slept with a lot of guys, from what I understand. I only did it—god, I sound so lame—because I hadn’t before. Most of my friends had done it last year. I had been waiting for someone special, but didn’t want to be the only virgin. And Krissy was interested in me. And she’s older. And I hadn’t met anyone special—so, I just wanted you to know. Maybe you don’t care. You probably don’t. And now you probably hate me. If you do, I understand. I just wanted to be honest with you. I like you.”
I frown, the thought of him with anyone disturbs me way more than I expect.
“I’m glad you told me,” I say flatly.
“Um, what about your boyfriend?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend anymore,” I snap.
And, I swear, Baylor’s blue eyes sparkle when I do. Not to mention the devastatingly handsome smile that is spreading across his face.
“Bad breakup?”
I let out a sarcastic chuckle. “You could say that. He slept with my best friend while I was visiting Eastbrooke.”
“Oh, wow. I’m sorry. Is that why you decided to come to Homecoming? Are you trying to get back at him?”
“No! Please don’t think that. I came because—”
“Food’s here!” Keatyn yells out the door, interrupting me.
“Because why?” Time feels like it stands still when he reaches up and touches my face, his blue eyes gazing intently into mine.
“Because I like you too.”
Hotel Suite - Connecticut
KEATYN
We have breakfast then the boys go golfing while Gracie showers.
I get a call from my former Eastbrooke roommate, Katie. We were on the dance team together, she took Dallas’ virginity, and was nicknamed Tigger because she was so bouncy. She’s well-endowed and her boobs tend to bounce as much as she does. I haven’t seen her since she came to California on spring break.
“I wish we were at Homecoming right now,” she pouts.
“I’m actually here.”
“What? You went without me?”
“Yeah, last minute. I’m with Riley.”
“Oh, gosh. It’s his first time back, isn’t it? Maggie filled me in on what’s been going on with him and Ariela.”
“Did she tell you everything? Like about next weekend?”
“The party? I got the fancy invitation for the—wait! No, way! Are you and Aiden getting married?”
“Yes. I hope you can come.”
“I’ll be there for sure. Can I tell you a secret?”
“Yes.”
“I hate my job.”
“I thought you loved teaching?”
“I do,” she says with a sigh. “Maybe it’s that I hate myself. I gave in and slept with the hot young history teacher. Why can’t I date guys my own age? Why do I keep falling for fresh out of college boys? Boys who need a mother more than they need a girlfriend. I mean, can they really not bother to pick up their underwear when they know I’m coming over?”
“I suppose it depends what time you’re going over there and if their mom picks up after them.”
“Oh! Shut up! That was one time!” She giggles. “Oh my god, I will never live that down, will I?”
“You never should’ve told us that his mom made you breakfast.”
“Funny thing is, his mom and I are still friends! I had lunch with her the other day.”
“Well, she is closer to your age than he is.”