“Thanks, Riley, but I don’t like Aiden. I mean, I did, at first. But he doesn’t like me back. He wants to be my friend.”
“Oh, really? Your friend?” Riley chuckles.
“Don't laugh at me. I’ve been friend-zoned. It’s embarrassing.”
“Keatyn, I swear, you are clueless.”
“I am not clueless. He told me himself he wants to be my friend.”
“I want to be Ariela’s friend.”
“You also want to sleep with her. Aiden doesn’t want to sleep with me. Actually, that’s not true. He said we might sleep together someday. But I had a friends with benefits relationship before. I don’t want that. I want more.”
“And you’re getting more from Dawson?”
“Yes. No. Kinda. He says he loves me.”
“I’m learning that saying it and proving it are two very different things. Night, baby.”
Wednesday, October 19th
A little more disturbing.
7:25am
I’m putting my mascara on, getting ready for class, when my phone buzzes with a text.
I glance down at it.
Garrett: Meet me at that little diner in town in 20 minutes. We need to talk about Miami.
Me: You’re here? In town? What’s wrong?
Garrett: I need to talk to you.
Me: You have bad news? What’s wrong??!!! Is my family okay??
Garrett: They’re fine. We just have a lot to talk about.
Me: Okay.
I sign myself out of school, pretending to have a dentist appointment, and drive to the diner.
Garrett meets me outside my car. The first thing he does is pull me into a hug.
“I swear, you’re going to give me gray hair. I’m glad you’re okay.”
I pull away, pleasantly surprised by his hug.
“Are we going to talk about Tiny? Did you find some clues to connect him with Vincent? Is he going to jail for a very long time? Can I go back home?”
He sighs and shakes his head. “Afraid not. The guy’s like teflon. I can’t get anything to stick.”
“What if we set him up?”
He narrows his eyes at me. “Set him up?”
“Yeah, planted some evidence. Made it look like he killed Tiny. Tip off the cops.”
“I believe in justice, Keatyn. But I won’t discard my morals.”
“So, I guess that means hiring a hit man to take him out isn’t an option?”
Garrett laughs and shakes his head at me. “Very funny,” he says, but then his face gets serious. “There are a few things going on that I want you to know about.”
“I’m about to get the bad news now, right?”
He hands me a tabloid magazine. Sprawled across the front page is a large headline.
Tommy’s Affair With Abby’s Best Friend.
Below is a photo of Tommy hugging Millie. The photo looks damaging. Millie is getting into a car and it does look like he’s saying goodbye to his lover. He’s hugging her tighter than usual.
“This can’t be true.”
“It’s not. Tommy, Millie, and a producer had dinner together in LA a few nights ago. They’re trying to convince Tommy to guest star in a few episodes of Millie’s prime time soap opera. She was tired, so she asked Tommy to walk her out to the car. The reason he’s hugging her so tightly is she just told him the reason for her being tired.”
My eyes get big. “She’s pregnant, isn’t she? Oh, my gosh! I’m so excited for her and Deron!”
“She is pregnant. But the press is going crazy. Pulling out any old photos of them together without Abby. Or cropping Abby out of the picture. Their publicists expect this to get worse before it gets better. I just wanted to make sure you don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks, Garrett, I appreciate it.”
“Now, for something a little more disturbing.” He hands me another paper. This one has the words
Press Release
across the top of it.
Vincent Sharpe of A Breath Behind You Films is pleased to announce casting has commenced for the green-lit film,
Another Day at the Lake
, a remake of the Abby Johnston cult classic. Mr. Sharpe says, “While some roles have been cast, we’re looking for an unknown to play the role Abby Johnston originated. We’ll be doing nationwide open casting calls in many major cities. If you know someone who looks like the main character in the early version of the film, please message us. And be sure to check our website for details, but get ready Miami and New York, we’re coming to you first.”
The paper slips out of my hand and my knees start to give out. “This is brilliant.”
“And scary,” Garrett says quietly, grabbing my elbow so I don’t buckle to the ground. “Basically, he’s doing tryouts all over the country, but what he wants is someone to turn in your picture and tell him where to find you. On the website, it mentions they will do some surprise casting calls. As in, you can nominate someone without their knowing and he will show up, surprise them, and let them audition.”
“The good news is, I don’t really look that much like my mom.”
Garrett shakes his head and holds out a picture of my mom from the movie. She’s in a swimsuit. Her hair is in soft waves. She has a sweetness to her face that I never used to have. But coming here has changed me. Softened me, somehow.
“You do, Keatyn. Has anyone at school mentioned that?”
“My friends went to see one of Mom’s movies. When they came back, they said I remind them of her. Mostly that my voice and gestures are identical.” I start to panic. “What would I do if someone from school sent in my picture without me knowing and he showed up?”
“It’s my job to prepare for that possibility. Let’s go inside and order some breakfast. I have someone I want you to meet.”
I follow Garrett into the diner, my mind still spinning at the lengths Vincent’s going to in order to find me.
Garrett stops at a table, moves out of my line of sight, and says, “Meet your new babysitter, Cooper Steele.”
Cooper Steele stands up to shake my hand.
Holy hell.
Please tell me that
babysitting
involves him spending every single night in my room.
In my bed.
This guy is the definition of rugged hotness. Muscles on top of muscles, short buzzed hair, tattoos. He’s not quite six feet, but a woman could learn to love flats if her reward was that body.
He's wearing tailored black cargo pants and a tight white thermal shirt that allows me to see the outline of a buff chest and muscular shoulders.
Women in the diner are staring.
I look around. No, they're drooling. Imagining what's bulging where we can't see.
I lean around Garrett, shake his hand, and smile. “Hey, I’m Keatyn.”
He gestures to the seats across from him in the booth, so Garrett and I slide in.
A waitress comes over, filling our cups with steamy coffee and flirting with both Cooper and Garrett.
But the coffee is lukewarm compared to the man staring at me with intensity.
She takes our orders and then Garrett says, “Cooper is your new interim soccer coach and will be teaching Health class.”
Clearly, I’m going to be needing private lessons on drilling the ball into the net.
“We already have a soccer coach.”
“She just got an amazing offer. Seems it’s always been her dream to teach soccer to underprivileged children. A charitable foundation, conveniently, just offered her that dream. Six months of handing out soccer balls in third world countries. The catch was that she has to leave tomorrow. When she hesitated about leaving her girls with no coach, Cooper was recommended. His soccer experience, combined with the urgency of the offer and outstanding references, allowed for a quick hire.”
“You don’t really look like a soccer player,” I say to Cooper Steele.
Cooper gives me a barely perceptible squint of his eyes, but doesn’t respond.
Garrett continues. “He played on the United States Under-20 Men’s National Team, which qualified for the World Cup. Graduated with honors from Brown University, and is an accomplished MMA fighter.”
I look at Cooper. He gives me a teeny smirk. One that is supposed to irritate me, but I’m not sure how it could. The smirk brings out the beginnings of a sexy set of dimples.
“So, I don’t get it.”
“You told me she was smart,” Cooper scoffs.
Garrett turns to me. “With the letter I just showed you, the possibility of Vincent showing up randomly at Eastbrooke has increased exponentially. I want someone on site to help protect you.”
The waitress interrupts us by delivering our food. After she leaves, I say, “So you’re basically my bodyguard? Just how old are you, anyway?”
“He’s twenty-three,” Garrett says. “He’s also the son of a decorated military man and is an expert marksman.”
“So he’ll have a gun with him at all times?”
“Obviously, he can’t.”
“Garrett, if you hired him to protect me, that means
I’m
paying him to protect me. I’d love to know what I’m getting for my money. A soccer player who knows how to throw a punch and kick the shit out of guy in a ring, and
would
be a good shot
if
he had a gun, doesn’t really make me feel all that safe.”
“Fine. I pulled him out of the Farm.”
“The Farm?”
“Yes, he was currently at the top of his class, training to be a CIA agent.”
Damn.
“That makes me feel better.”
“Obviously, what I just shared with you is confidential.”
I nod at Garrett and look at Cooper. “Is this something you want to do? Do you feel this is beneath you?”
He shakes his head. “I’m honored that I was recruited for something of this nature. I hadn’t really considered the commercial side of things.”
I laugh. “In other words, I’m paying him very well?”
“Basically,” Garrett says. “And I’m always on the lookout for people that fit into my organization. The fact that he is young and
just
a soccer coach means no one will think twice about him.”
“How involved is he going be? How much are we supposed to interact?”
“I know you don’t want a traditional bodyguard and I don’t think one is necessary at this point. Remember when the school office got broken into and you thought Vincent was there?”
“Yes.”
“He’s the cavalry, Keatyn. I want someone on site if something goes down.”
I scrutinize Cooper some more. “Smile for me.”
He looks at me kinda funny, but then the corners of his mouth pull up into a smile, popping out those adorable dimples. I shake my head. “Vincent is going to be the least of your worries. You should be more worried about fending off underage schoolgirls that are used to getting anything they want.”
Garrett looks at his watch. “Okay, you need to get back to school. When Cooper is announced as your new coach, use your acting skills and pretend to be surprised. And be on guard. Always. And pay attention. If you hear anyone talking about Vincent’s announcement, go straight to Cooper. He’ll get you out of there safely.”
“Got it.”
Always hot with you.
Lunch
I get back to school in time to have lunch with Maggie, who talks endlessly about her crush on Jake, all the possible reasons for why he hasn’t texted her yet, and a bunch of gossip that I’m not really paying attention to. My mind keeps running through horrible scenarios involving Vincent showing up here.
And something keeps gnawing at the corner of my mind. Something about the letter is bugging me, but I just can’t quite pinpoint what.
“What happened to the popular table?” Maggie asks, pulling me back into her conversation.
“What do you mean?”
“Look at it. It’s changed.”
I look at the table. It has changed. Whitney and Peyton are there, of course, but they are down to one minion. Tyrese is gone. Dawson, Jake, and Bryce are there, but no one else is.
“Well, after Homecoming, Whitney banished Rachel and most of the minions to a different table. I’m sure they will all make up. Where’s Katie at?”
“Retaking a test. I have to say, I’m hating that you’re in the play. I miss all of us hanging out and studying in your room.”
“Me too. How is Annie doing? She hasn’t really talked to me lately. Is she mad at me?”
“No, she’s freaking out about Ace going to her parents’ anniversary party.”
“Why?”
“He looks like a dumb jock, so she thinks they won’t approve. Her sisters all married skinny, nerdy types.”
“Well, hopefully they give him a chance. I would think as soon as he starts talking, they’ll know he’s smart.”
“I hope so. Regardless, she’s freaking out.”
“I don’t think it’s just that. I think she helped Aiden with the stars. She’s been avoiding me ever since.”
“She’s afraid you’re mad at her.”
“I’m not mad at her. She’s one of my best friends.”
“I think she’s not that used to having friends who stand by her.”
“Well, she better get used to it, right? We’re not going anywhere.”
Maggie smiles at me and nods. “Right. Oh, shit, here comes Dawson.” Then she says, out of the corner of her mouth, “Or are we supposed to be happy about that?”
“I’m not sure.”
She laughs. “Let me guess. It’s complicated?”
We both start giggling. “Do you ever feel like you have no idea what you’re doing with your life?”
“All the time,” she says. “All the time. Hey, I gotta get to class. See ya later.”
As Dawson walks me to French, he says, “I missed sitting by you today. I’m so glad we got back together last night.”
“We didn’t get back together, Dawson.”
“I meant
back together
. You make me feel so good, Keatie.”
“We shouldn’t have. I mean, I shouldn’t have.”
“But you said you wanted to.”
“I needed to know if things would feel different. Did they feel different to you?”