Alissa laughed. “I guess not. And no, those aren't what they look like. Those are different bikini bottoms. She said no one's matching their swimsuits anymore. Seems matching is out.” She shrugged.
Another knock on the door made Jacobi freeze. The only other person who'd knock would be the one who'd threatened her with punishment. Her mother. Then the door burst open, and Jacobi relaxed a little. Diggs stood there, and he was upset. “How could you be late for Dad's surprise party?” he questioned.
Jacobi's eyes bulged. “Dad's? What do you mean, Dad's? I didn't know ...”
“Whatever. You were just out being fast. Anyway, Mom wants you downstairs. Now!” Diggs snapped, more upset than she'd ever seen him. He eyed the swimwear on the bed.
“Okay.” Jacobi tried to cover up the little pieces of cloth, but it was too late.
Diggs snatched them. “What are these? What are you doing with thongs and G-strings, Jacobi? Don't tell me my little sister is turning intoâ”
“They're not mine.” She snatched the couple pairs of bikini bottoms he held and stuffed them back into the bag. She wanted to punch him in the face, kick him in the neck, anything to momentarily shut him and his protective-big-brother-on-a-rampage mouth up.
“See you in the family room,” he snarled as she reluctantly followed him, Alissa on her heels. “And if I find out you and some boy ...” He didn't finish his threat, but she got the message.
As soon as she walked into the family room, she smelled something in the airâtrouble and punishment. Her mother's expression told it all. Someone was going to feel her wrath as soon as company left.
“Jacobi, sit down. There's something we need to tell you.”
Just then, Hunter ran in holding a paper airplane. “Mom, what does
S-E-X
spell?”
Her mother almost fell out of her chair, and Jacobi had to cover her mouth to prevent herself from laughing.
“Hunter, where did you learn that? At school? Were the kids spelling that word at preschool? Did you tell your teacher?” Her mom rattled off the questions, clearly worried that someone was tormenting her little monster.
“No, it's right here. It was in Jacobi's stuff.” He handed her his airplane.
Her mother unfolded the airplane and read the paper. “Jacobi!” she hissed, getting up and snatching her by the arm. She pulled her into the kitchen. “What's the meaning of this ... ?” She held out the paper. “Are you having sex, or do you just plan on doing it?”
16
KASSIDY
D
iggs had gotten under her skin and raised her antennas. Now all she could think about was where he was, if he'd ever talk to her again, and what she could do to positively win his attention. Kassidy exhaled. She hadn't even captivated him yet, and already he was exhausting. He was also exhilarating, she reminded herself, and that was something she wasn't used to. Not even Brent had made her mental wheels spin like Diggs. Diggs not only whirled through her mind and made her reconsider her too-many-boys problem, which she'd never really seen as a problem before; he'd also upped his worth by refusing to share. No one had ever come straight out and made that clear. She'd never encountered anyone else like him; she didn't share, either. A guy was all hers or nothing to her. She, on the other hand, could see whomever she wanted. Carsen, Romero, and countless New York guys served as proof of her doing whatever whenever. As long as they could have moments of her time, they never complained.
A smile parted her lips. “Diggs is different, but even the different can get got,” she assured herself as she turned a corner and trekked up the block, looking for something to occupy her time until it was time for her date. Glancing at her watch, she saw that she had plenty of time. Diggs's driving away and killing their conversation gave her more minutes to spare than she'd have liked. If she'd known he was going to go on without her, she could've just left with Carsen. “Nah,” she said, that would've killed her chance with Diggs, she was sure. He'd made it clear that if she was takenâor appeared to beâhe was off-limits.
A horn tooted, interrupting her thoughts. Kassidy looked to the street and saw Romero whizzing by. Yummy was on the back of the moped, sticking out her tongue and giving Kassidy the finger. Knowing Yummy thought she had one-upped her because she was with Romero, Kassidy waved and laughed at her stepsister. Then she halted in her tracks, and a new plan formed in her skull. The car Diggs had been driving was parked in a driveway across the street. It must be Diggs's and Jacobi's house, she thought. She didn't realize they lived so close. She knew they were all in the Hills, but never would've assumed they lived almost on top of one another. Without pause, she made her way to the house and up the short sidewalk. Her finger was pressing the doorbell before she knew it.
“Kassidy,” Jacobi greeted, opening the door. “What's up?” She stepped onto the porch.
Kassidy grinned. “Nothing. I was just on my way to a party, and realized this is your house. Wanna come with?”
Jacobi nodded yes, but said, “I can't go anywhere. This lady who lives hereâthe lady I thought was my mother, but couldn't possibly be because of her coldheartedness, put me on punishment. Can you believe it?” she asked sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
“Oh no. So you can't have company, either?” Kassidy asked, hoping to be invited in. She had to see Diggs.
Jacobi shrugged. “Maybe tomorrow. Tonight's not a good night. Tossing a glance over her shoulder, she explained, “They're having a celebration dinner for my dad.”
“Jacobi, Mom wants you.” It was Diggs's voice from inside the house.
Jacobi rolled her eyes. “He's getting on my nerves. I don't know what's up with his attitude,” she whispered, more to herself than to Kassidy.
“Jacobi!” Diggs's voice grew closer. “Didn't you hear ...” his words trailed off when he made it to the door.
“Diggs,” Kassidy greeted.
Diggs gave a nasty chuckle, then shook his head as if he wasn't surprised by her presence.
Jacobi looked from Diggs to Kassidy, then Kassidy to Diggs. “O ... kay. I see I'm in the way. Check me tomorrow, Kassidy. I should be able to come out then,” she said, disappearing into the house, calling out to her mother.
Kassidy leaned against the black iron porch rail, her eyes on Diggs. “So are you still caught up in your feelings? Or have you gotten over whatever trip you were on?”
Diggs stepped out of the house, stuck his hands in his jeans pockets, and looked her up and down. The tension was thick and obviousâmuch too intense for two people who weren't even a couple. “What's up with you? You just go around dropping by people's cribs without calling first?”
Kassidy's eyes turned into saucers. She'd never considered that she'd done the exact same thing Romero had done to her. She wasn't one to drop by unannounced, or at least she didn't used to be. This dude was definitely changing her routine. “Well, let's be clear. I was here to visit your sisterânot you. We have business that doesn't concern youâthat started way before you and I met. So,
no
is the answer to your question. I didn't drop by here to see you without calling first, because I didn't come here to see you. Clear?”
Diggs walked down the few porch steps, laughing. He turned and locked eyes with Kassidy. “You think you're something, huh? You got these little boys in your pocket, eating out of your pretty model hand, and now your ego's inflated.”
Kassidy reared back. “How did you know I was a model? You saw my work?” she had to ask, curious.
Diggs shook his head. “Did I see your work? Huh,” he whispered, parroting her words. “
You
are a piece of work, Kassidy. You know that?”
Kassidy walked up to him. She looked up, glaring. “What's wrong with you? Why are you so flip? We just met. You saw some guy pull up on a motorcycle, who you don't even know, by the way. And you assume he's my boyfriend or one of my boyfriends or whatever, and you're wrong. You act like we're a couple and I'm cheating on you or something ...”
Diggs waved her away. “Get outta here. It's not me you're cheating on. And it's definitely not going to be me you're cheating with. I'm flip because I know you. I know your style. You're a pretty girl, I'll give you that. But pretty ain't enough, baby. Not for me. Go play with your Carsen, that little dude on the moped, and your dude in New York. What's his name?” He eyed her. “Oh yeah. Brent or something like that.”
Kassidy's head almost fell off. How in the world did he know so much of her business? She hadn't told Jacobi or Alissa about Brent or the other guys.
Yummy? Has to be.
She didn't know how Yummy had gotten to Diggs already, but obviously she had. “For real, Cali boy, you need to check yourself and your sources. You clearly don't know me,” she said, then walked away. She was going to make herself feel better by doing exactly what he was accusing her of: playing. And if Carsen was gameâwhich he wasâso was she. She'd rather play hard than stand in Diggs's presence and get played.
Â
Forget Diggs and his self-righteous, egocentric, toogood-to-share, selfish behind
, she thought, still infuriated as she got off the bus. Looking at the address Carsen had given her, she saw she was only a few houses from where they were meeting. During the whole horrid pothole-banging bus ride over, Diggs had bounced through her mind. His knowing all her business had caught her off guard, and she hoped it hadn't registered on her face. She usually had time to get into the act, but not today. She'd get him back, she promised herself. She'd make him regret making her feel less-than and low-down. It was true she'd been a player, but that didn't apply when she and Diggs met. At the time, she'd thought Brent was missing, so, in her defense, she wouldn't have been classified as a player then, she rationalized. Still, though, she felt the need to prove him wrong and knock him off of his I'm-too-good-for-games pedestal. His insistence on not sharing told her he was the jealous type, and she knew exactly how to destroy his ego. She'd reel him in, then drop him faster than when he'd driven off and left her standing on the curb like yesterday's trash.
“Where am I?” Kassidy questioned. Her thoughts were so full of Diggs, she'd forgotten to keep up with the house numbers. She stopped, reread the information Carsen had given her, then realized she was steps away from her destination, standing in front of a group of salivating guys. She rolled her eyes. Normally, she'd relish the attention, but after her confrontation with Diggs the Magnificent, she only wanted peace. Peace and Carsen, and not the disturbing feeling coursing through her veins.
“Hey, you lookin' for something, baby? Because if you are, I got what you need,” one of them said.
“How could she possibly want you, when I'm right here? You want someone who's not going to talk about it, but be about it. Right, lil momma?” asked another one, rubbing his hand over his goatee and eyeing her like he owned her, which added to her discomfort.
“Leave her alone. She's with me,” said a deep voice she was certain she'd never heard before. It was strong, and obviously commanded respect and attention, because none of the guys replied. That caught Kassidy's interest.
“Thanks,” she began, then turned and looked into Carsen's eyes. He was still, hands down, one of the finest guys she'd ever seen. He was cuter than Brent in a rough-around-the-edges way, but couldn't touch Diggs. He'd made it into the top three, and that was good.
“No. Thank you,” he complimented, smiling as he walked up and took her hand in his. He wasn't as tall as she'd thought he was, but he had a certain confidence that made him appear taller. “Are you okay? You look a little ... disturbed, if you don't mind me saying so. Please tell me I didn't miss too much. I'd just stepped out the house when I heard them fools tryna get at you.”
Kassidy reared back her head. How Carsen had sensed her feelings, she didn't know, but it sure felt good. Carsen had erased the disappointment Diggs had caused, and she was immediately at ease with him. At that moment, she believed it was okay to tell him any- and everything, but she'd didn't. She knew better. Good moments passed, she told herself, and so did information. Your personal business could pass from one person to another like hers had passed from Yummy's mouth to Diggs's ears. “I was feeling a little disturbed and disappointed, but I'm fine now that you're here, Carsen.” She flirted, letting his name dance off her tongue while he still held her hand.
“Good. Good. That's what's up. As long as I'm around, you don't gotta worry about people bothering you. Dudes like them,” he said, nodding his head toward the boys who'd crassly tried to hit on her. “And just so you don't think I hang with dudes like that, I don't know those guysâthey're kids.” He winked. “So, can I drive you somewhere, Ms. New York? You shouldn't be walking with stray animals like that hanging around. What direction you going in?” he asked, teasing.
Kassidy laughed. She liked his game and how he kept her smiling. Flirting shamelessly, she giggled and tucked her hair behind her ear with her free hand. She shrugged and gripped his palm tighter with the other. “Well ...” She swung the hand that he held back and forth. “I was coming to meet this really fine dude who drives a motorcycle, but now I don't know. It depends ...”
“On?”
“Where you're going,” she whispered two inches away from his ear. “Because wherever you go, I go. I'm with you.”
He laughed and led her to a convertible, not a motorcycle. She almost choked when she saw it. Not that she didn't know boys with cars; she knew plenty. But in New York, where she came from, an average young guy with a motorcycle and ride like his wasn't something she saw every day. “You sure? So you trust me like that?”
Â
Kassidy couldn't remember the last time she'd been so relaxed around such a fine boy other than Brent. As much as she'd tried to fake the funk with Diggs, she hadn't been totally at ease, not like she was with Carsen. Diggs was intimidating; Carsen was easy. He'd made her comfortable from the giddyup, and he seemed to be as carefree as she was. Plus, he came with a bonus point, one that Diggs didn't possess: Carsen was nonjudgmental. His laid-back quality kicked in as soon as they sped off, with the top down, headed toward the main street.
She closed her eyes and basked in the warm California sunshine. Her hair did the cha-cha in the breeze, and she ignored the traffic and all distractions. She felt at peace knowing that she was sitting next to someone protective who wanted to have fun, not tie her down. A guy who'd made it plain and clear that he didn't care if she had a boyfriend or not.
“You ready, Ms. New York?” Carsen asked, pulling over to the curb.
She suppressed a smile. She'd shown him her teeth too many times in a short period, and she'd didn't want to appear eager. She was Kassidy, New York model, after all. “Ready for what?” She sat up just as a valet was opening her door.
“J's. It's supposed to be
the
spot here in LA. I thought we'd try it together.”
She'd heard someone mention a J Restaurant & Lounge before, but couldn't remember who. They'd said the place was great, but Carsen had only said J's, and she couldn't see the signage from where she was. Too many people were gathered in front of the place. “You mean J's Restaurant & Lounge?”
“Yes. Aren't you hungry?” Carsen asked.
Kassidy raised her brows in thought. As a model, she didn't always eat much, and sometimes had to remind herself to do so. Other than salads, low-carb meals, and an occasional treat, she wasn't that into food. Today, though, was different. She'd sit down to a meal if it meant being in good company and not going back to her house. She didn't feel like arguing with Yummy, pretending so she wouldn't hurt Romero's feelings, or running into Diggs. She'd had enough of the foolishness.