14
KASSIDY
K
assidy sat at her desk, drumming her fingers on one hand and picking up her cell with the other. She'd e-mailed Brent, attempted to send a Kassidy-would-like-to-Skype-with-you request, texted, and even dialed him again. Still, no progress. Raking her fingers through her hair, she tried to rid herself of the aggravation and disappointment that overcame her. She'd been so focused on Carsen, and now Diggs, that she hadn't concentrated enough on finding Brent to see what was wrong. Because there was definitely a problem. Had to be. She and Brent had been so close, so together, that not an hour went by without them speaking, verbally or through technology.
“Where are you?” she questioned, then looked at her desktop calendar. There was a big red circle around Friday. Faith was due back then, and Kassidy couldn't wait to hear what she had to report about her MIA boyfriend. “Yes!” she whispered, relief replacing the disappointment. She picked up her cell, anxious to hear what Faith had to say. She dialed and was sent straight to voice mail. “What's up with these phones? Faith's is never off,” she said loudly.
“I don't see why you say that.
Faith
is off,” Yummy said, standing by her door, chewing as usual.
Heated anger engulfed Kassidy. She opened up the Record app on her phone, set the phone down, and spun around in her desk chair. She looked at Yummy with utter disgust. “Give me back my shoes.” Her words were clear and icyâloud enough to be recorded.
Yummy stood straight and stopped chewing. “Give me back my paper. I know you got it.”
Kassidy got up from her seat and crossed her arms. Yes, she had Yummy's paper, but Yummy couldn't prove it. However, she could prove her shoes were gone, and that's all she needed to get the parents on her side. “I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't take anything, but you did. Why would you take all of my left shoes? What's up with only the left ones, Yummy?”
Yummy rolled her eyes. “Same reason you took my paper.”
Kassidy laughed. She had her stepsister now, live and recorded on the phone. She loved her cell. She was able to record telephone and outside conversations. “I told you, I don't have whatever stupid paper you're talking about. Now give me back my shoes. I have places to be and people to meetâthings you wouldn't know about.”
“Oh. So you think I don't know, huh?” She bit into a candy bar. “Let me see ... You have to meet Carsen, who,
B-T-W
, I do know,” she said. “And you're supposed to meet your friend Faith on Friday. Because that's when she's
supposed
to be back from New York to give you the goods on your boyfriend, Brent, who you seem to love more than anything, which is why you keep cheating. Right?” A weird look moved over her face.
Kassidy raised her brows. How in the heck did Yummy know Carsen? More importantly, who'd told her about Brent and when Faith was coming back? “For your information, Ms. Nosier Than Thou, you don't know what you're talking aboutâ”
“No!
You
don't know what you're talking aboutâfor instance, Faith. Your
friend
. She's not coming back from New York Fridayâ”
“Yes. She. Is!” Kassidy yelled, walking toward the door.
It was Yummy's turn to laugh. “No. She's. Not.” She finished off the candy bar and wiped her hands on her pants. “She can't come back from New York Friday if she's already here!”
Kassidy was just about to slam the bedroom door closed in Yummy's face, but a thought made her freeze. She had thought she'd seen Faith in the mall. Could it be that she really had?
Yummy nodded. “Let's get this straight. I don't like you any more than you like me, but our parents are married, so I gotta look out for you. If you look bad, we all do. Plus, I know what I'm talking about. Trust.”
Kassidy's computer speakers rang, pulling her attention away from Yummy. Her stepsister had been right about one thing, if nothing else. They didn't like each other, so why should she trust her? she questioned as she opened the video-conference application, hoping it was Brent. It wasn't. “Ha,” she yelled to Yummy, rotating her monitor and accepting the request. Faith's pretty face appeared on the screen, and a city view that could only be a New York scene was behind her. Kassidy knew New York like the back of her own mind, and she was certain she was looking at Manhattan.
“Hey!” she greeted Faith. “One sec,” she said, excusing herself to close the bedroom door on Yummy, who was shaking her head.
“Don't trust her, Kassidy ...” Yummy's words trailed off as the door almost met her face.
“Okay, so give me the DiggsâI mean the dirt on Brent,” she said, plopping down on the computer chair. “Did you see him? Did you tell him I'm looking for him?”
Faith's pretty face was serious when she shrugged her shoulders. She shook her head. “He was supposed to be at this shoot, but he wasn't. I gave one of the other models the message, though. He said Brent was working on the other side of the pond. Seems he's been there since you left. Got a last-minute shoot,” she explained.
Brent went overseas?
Kassidy pressed her lips together, pondering Faith's bit of bad news. She shrugged. It wasn't so awful. In fact, it made sense. It explained why Brent's phone was going straight to voice mail. He'd probably powered it down because international rates were disgustingly high, and he had possibly gotten a temporary overseas number until he got back to the States. It also explained why she couldn't get through to him via video conference. All she had to do now was wait for him to reply to her e-mail, and everything would be back to normalâwhatever that was now. Then she could find a way to see him. “Across the pond is better than disappearing!”
Faith nodded, smiling. “Yep. I agree.”
“Well, that gives me time to do what I gotta do here. I can't wait until you come back so I can fill you in on the details. There's a new one added. This guy named Diggsâ” Kassidy began.
“Diggs?” Faith questioned, her expression changing. “Did you say
Diggs
as in digs in the dirt? Weird name. I thought you were seeing Carsen and someone else.”
Kassidy shook her head, then caught Faith up on her guy habit.
“It certainly isn't taking you long to take Cali by storm,” Faith said, a huge smile on her face.
Kassidy shrugged. “I wouldn't say that. I only went riding with Romeroâwho I don't like, like
that
. I only talked to Carsen, and this Diggs guy ... let's just say he won't be easy to hook.”
Faith nodded. “Well, I hate to get off, but I gotta run. We're wrapping up this series of shoots sometime in the next couple days. And you'll be happy to hear that I've notified some of my contacts and they can't wait to meet you. I told them your portfolio's current. So, we're still on for Friday.”
The screen went dead before Kassidy had a chance to respond. Of course, she'd see Faith Friday. She had to catch up on the happenings in New Yorkâthe city and the industry, and her soul wouldn't rest until she did. She breathed modeling more naturally than air, and now, in Los Angeles, she was beginning to suffocate; but that'd all change soon, thanks to Faith.
“Kassidy?” her mother's voice said, followed by a soft knock before the door opened. She popped her head inside the room. “Just wanted to tell you two things. I have to be in San Francisco first thing in the morning, so I'm flying out tonight. Right after the meeting, I'm flying to Vegas because we're going away for a long weekend, tomorrow through Sunday. Also, you have another appointment at a modeling agency tomorrow.” She handed Kassidy a slip of paper with the details on it.
Kassidy's eyebrows shot up. She was confused. “I don't understand. How can I go to Vegas and be at the appointment ...” She looked at the piece of paper with the details on it. “Thursdayâthat's tomorrow! Plus, I already have plans for the rest of the weekendâFaith's coming back, and she's made some appointments for me, too.”
Her mother nodded. “Good. Good to hear. You needed a friend like Faith here. And weâthe adultsâare going on the getaway. We're still on our honeymoon!” her mother giggled. “And you and Yummy are old enough to stay home. Please don't fight. Please don't give us a reason to have to treat you two like kids.” Her mother walked all the way into the room and gave Kassidy a kiss on the cheek. “Call me if you need anything.”
Â
Kassidy was ecstatic to be left alone without her mother's supervision. Her stepfather was still there, but he didn't count. All he did was go to work or lock himself in his home office. It was Wednesday night, and she could stay out as late as she wanted. Her appointment at the agency wasn't until eleven. That gave her plenty of time to rest in the morning. Looking around her room, she mentally itemized what she needed for the date with Carsen. She'd bought perfect shoes, great for any occasion, including a pair of wedge-heeled motorcycle boots, but she didn't know what else she'd need because she didn't know the complete itinerary for the day. She shrugged. There was no need to guess when she could just ask.
Her phone was in her hand and she was pressing his name in her contact list before she knew it. A dab of perspiration beaded on the back of her neck as the call connected. Why was she nervous, she wondered? She didn't do uncomfortable. She was way too confident for that. Her eyes swept over her monitor, and she knew the reason why. The picture of her and Brent that was her computer wallpaper reminded her that, like Yummy had pointed out, she was cheating.
“Ms. New York ... the one who never takes my calls,” Carsen answered.
Kassidy drew her eyebrows together, confused. She was the one who always called him, a thing she'd never have done back in New York, but here she was close to desperate for fun. She'd have to check him about it later. Now she needed to get ready, so she decided to let it go. “Mr. Cali Boy. You never told me where we're going. Girls need to prepare, ya know?”
Carsen laughed. “Indeed. I don't see why, though. You're perfect.”
Kassidy smiled. Yes, she was as close to perfect now as she could get, but if he'd seen her when she had her shoe dilemma in the mall, he'd think differently. “I'll take that. But what should I bring?” she asked, and began pulling clothes out of her closet, deciding between pieces and outfits as he told her of their plans and where she should meet him.
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Romero was outside in the driveway waiting on his moped when she walked out of the house. His innocent smile dug into her conscience, making her feel terrible. He was so cute, and she hated to play with his feelings. He was, hands down, a sweetie who deserved better than to have his heart and hopes toyed with, but she didn't know how to tell him that he just wasn't
it
for her. He was too available, not her idea of interesting, and seemed to have limited aspirations, like Yummy. He wanted a motorcycle like Yummy looked forward to the next treatâtwo things Kassidy felt were inconsequential. Kassidy shook her head. She just didn't do small-scale ambition and didn't believe in limitations; just as she didn't believe in people popping up unannounced and unexpectedâlike Romero had just done.
“Hi, Romero,” she said, stepping off the porch and onto the sidewalk. Her bag with the motorcycle boots she'd need for her date with Carsen was over her shoulder. She was casual dressy, so there was no need for extra clothes. They were going motorcycle riding, then to an after party. Though she didn't want to hurt Romero's feelings, she had to remind herself that he had come over uninvited, so any ill feelings would be his fault.
Romero got off his moped, dug his hands into his jeans pockets, then headed her way. His smile was infectious, and though she was slightly irritated for his popping up, she couldn't help but cheese like she'd won something.
“What's good, Kassidy?” he asked, his voice trailing off. “Hey, Yummy, what's crackalackin'?”
Kassidy looked behind her and, sure enough, Yummy was there. She rolled her eyes. Yummy, with all the weight of her body and attitude, had a way of sneaking up that Kassidy couldn't understand. She'd never known such a big girl to move so quietly, especially not one who was a loudmouth troublemaker who could literally be heard breathing. She moaned under her breath.
Yummy gave her the side eye. “I heard we'll be home together all weekend. Yippee!” she said snidely. “Well, hurry along, Kassidy,” she rushed, shooing Kassidy like a fly. “You don't want to be late for your date!”
Romero stopped and his smile faded. “You have a date?”
Kassidy exhaled, giving Yummy a death stare. She turned to Romero. “Just going out with some friends, that's all. There are a lot of us,” she added, not wanting to hurt him. “What are you doing here?” she asked, hoping to change the subject.
Yummy giggled. It was low, and probably not heard by Romero, but it rang crystal clear in Kassidy's ears.