Date Me (16 page)

I smile at my driver. "What's your name?"

"Allan," he says.

I say into the phone, "Allan just drove better than Tommy Stevens did in that car chase in
Trinity
."

Allan beams at me.

Mom laughs uncomfortably, so I say, "I gotta go. Be safe.”

I hang up and say to the driver, “Do you think you could take me down to that coffee shop?”

I'm a little nervous about going back in the store, just in case Vincent would think to go back there.

"Sure,” he says.

I open my wallet. I have no cash.

Shit. I never have cash. "I want to pay you something, but I don't have any cash."

He shakes his head. "You don't owe me anything. That was the most fun I've had in a long time. Unless, of course, you can get me a part in Tommy Stevens' next movie. That's the only thing that could top this." He pauses. "Speaking of that, you do kinda resemble Abby Johnston. Did that guy mistake you for her?"

“Sorta. He has a thing for her. Thought I looked like her. Used to call me Abby. He's a little off his rocker. One of those rich guys that thinks he can have anything he lays his eyes on."

"But he couldn't get you?"

"Not today, thanks to you."

He studies my face again. "Yeah, I don't see it. Like when you had your sunglasses on, you kinda resembled her, but as soon as you took them off, it's easy to see your eyes are very different."

"Do you have a card, Allan?"

"Sure." He pulls a card out and hands it to me.

I read it. "
Allan Broadmore, actor.
Thanks."

His phone buzzes with a text. "Obviously, not a full-time actor. That's my boss. I’ve gotta get back there.”

"Thanks, Allan."

"I didn't catch your name."

"It's Maggie."

"Fun times, Maggie. Maybe I'll come see your show sometime."

"That'd be cool. I'll be the one, um . . . kicking."

I get out of the car and stand outside the coffee shop.

There’s a text from Annie and the girls asking where I am. I text back and ask them to meet me here.

I take a photo of Allan’s card and send it to Tommy with a text.

Me: Please call this guy and give him a job in your current endeavor. He has excellent driving skills. When you call him, tell him Maggie the Rockette suggested him.

Tom: That’s kind of a weird request, even for you.

Me: He may have just saved my life.

.

Tom: Hang on, your mom's calling me.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to slow down the adrenaline coursing through my body.

Then I say a prayer.
Thank you for letting me get away. Please keep my mom safe. My family safe.

My phone buzzes.

I open my eyes and look down at it. It’s Tommy.

“Hey,” I say.

“We're bringing you home. This isn't working.”

“No, you aren't. I'm sorry, but you're not.”

“We can make you.”

“How? I'm emancipated, and I have my own money.”

“Don't get smart with me.”

“Well, you try getting chased through the streets of New York City by a psycho and see what kind of mood you’re in.”

Tommy laughs just a little. “You know, I did that in
Trinity
.”

“Yeah, I know. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I love you and Mom, but I love my sisters more. Vincent called me Abby today. He’s different. Worse, I think. Mom’s not safe either. You worry about them, and I’ll take care of me.”

I start to get tears in my eyes as I see my friends walking down the street toward me.

Tommy says, “We’ve got to do something.”

“I agree, but you’ll have to excuse me now, my friends are almost here and I have to go pretend to be a normal teenager.”

Garrett is calling me back, but I don’t answer.

I can’t deal with him right now. I can’t deal with any of them right now.

I have to act normal.

I’m normal.

A normal Eastbrooke girl shopping in New York City with her friends.

Just breathe, Keatyn. It will be okay.

“Hey,” Peyton says. “You missed out on all the excitement.”

I laugh.

I actually, really laugh.

They have no idea the excitement I just had.

“I need some coffee,” I say.

What a stupid excuse.

“I need coffee too,” Maggie says. “So what’s up next?”

“We need cute pajamas for PJ day. I know a great lingerie store. Should we go there next?”

“That sounds fun!” Katie says. “I’m thinking I need some new lingerie too.”

“What for?” Maggie asks, nudging Katie with her elbow. “You planning to attack Dallas?”

Katie smirks. “Nope. I’m just going to look so hot that he won’t be able to resist me.”

After we all get coffees, I call our driver and we head to the lingerie store.

We all pick out fun pajamas to wear for PJ day.

“Let’s have a lingerie party tonight,” I suggest. “We’ll drink wine and wear something fabulously sophisticated.”

We have a great time giggling and trying on silky chemises, robes, camisoles, gowns, all sorts of stuff. Annie buys a gorgeous long silky gown.

She says, “Who cares if I didn’t make Court. I’d rather buy a gown like this. I feel like a movie star.”

We shop until we can’t shop anymore then head to my loft.

When I walk in my front door, I instantly feel safe.

At home.

While the girls check out the place and claim their bedrooms, I walk into my closet, sit on my chair, and finish my prayer.

Please let this be over soon.

Hot tub naked.

7pm

We all freshen up our makeup, put on our lingerie, and do some shots. By eight, we’re all a bit tipsy and feel like partying.

“This loft is amazing. We should be having a party,” Maggie says.

“Maggie, we
are
having a party,” Annie scolds.

Ariela and Katie agree. “Do we know anyone in the city we could invite over?”

I can think of two boys who happen to be in the city right now, one of whom has some very important sucking up to do. “Let’s invite some boys.”

“Which boys?” Katie asks.

“Our Homecoming dates. Just our Homecoming dates. But we need to make it fun.”

Maggie mutters, “All we have to say is we’re half naked and drinking wine in a killer loft by ourselves. Get your asses here.”

I laugh. “Well sure, that would work, but let’s make it fun.”

“Wait!” Annie says. “If we invite them to come and then they stay, that would mean we’d have to sleep with them.”

“Sleep with them here, yes. Have sex with them, no. It’s not any different than hanging out in their room at school.”

“What if he sees me in the morning and it scares him away?” Annie asks.

“You’re gorgeous, Annie. You’re not going to scare him away.”

“So what are we gonna say?” Peyton asks me.

I type something in my phone and send it to each girl. “Read what I just sent you and tell me what you think.”

Me: Mission: Impossible.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to dance with lingerie-clad girls, drink excessively, eat decadent food, hot tub naked, and party all night long. If you can handle this mission, please reply immediately to get the address, then get your sexy ass here. This message is for your eyes only. Do NOT bring your friends. This is a VERY private party.

P.S. This message will self-destruct in five seconds.

“That’s awesome!” Katie squeals. “So we’ll invite Dallas for me, Parker for Maggie, Riley for Ariela, Ace for Annie, Dawson for you. But what about Peyton? Do you have a date for Homecoming?”

“I have a date, but I don’t want anyone to know who it is. So if I invite him tonight, you have to promise not to tell anyone at school.”

“Deal,” the girls all say.

“Should we send a picture of all of us, holding drinks in our lingerie?” Katie asks.

“No. We want them to be surprised when they get here,” Maggie tells her while I type the proper boys’ names in and send the text.

“Okay, I’m sending it.”

Dallas is the first to reply.

Dallas: I am getting my ass on a train.

Riley: Dallas and I are getting our asses on a train.

Parker: I’m so there.

Ace: Does Annie know about this? Is she really in lingerie?

Me: Yes, she does. And yes, she is.

Ace: On my way :) Did she tell you that we’re going out?

Me: She did :)

Ace: Tell her to check her phone. I just made it Facebook official.

Me: Awww, she’ll love that. I’ll tell her.

“Annie, Ace says you need to check your phone. He did something he wants you to see.”

She looks confused, grabs her phone, presses a few buttons, and then screams, “He MADE IT FACEBOOK OFFICIAL!!!”

“Made what Facebook official?”

She grins hugely. “He asked me to be his girlfriend last night. He just put it on his profile.”

The girls all scream excitedly.

“I think that calls for another shot,” Peyton says with a grin as she pours another round.

“Ace, Riley, Dallas, and Parker replied. They’re getting their asses on the train.”

We drink, laugh, giggle, and dance. The boys, minus Dawson and Camden, all arrive about a couple hours later.

They look hilarious. Dressed in camouflage and with black marks under their eyes. Like they’re going on an actual undercover mission.

And they like the lingerie.

I immediately show them the bar, make each boy do a body shot off his girl, and get the music cranked up. Then the boys do a few more shots to catch up.

Peyton and I are at the bar, eating chips, when our phones buzz at the exact same time.

“Cam,” she says.

“Dawson,” I laugh.

I answer the phone, buzz them up, then go greet them. When I open the door, Dawson is standing there holding a big bouquet of flowers and wearing a sheepish grin.

Cam swats him on the back of the head and rolls his eyes. “So whipped.” Then he looks me over from head to toe. Taking in my sheer orange sherbet and bright pink two-tone chemise. “This is a great loft. You're a keeper.”

“I’m a keeper because of real estate?”

“No. You’re a keeper because of your ass, but I was told to be polite.”

I break out into a wide smile.

I like him already. I can see why everyone thinks Camden is so hot. He’s tall, dark haired, and has a chiseled face. He’s taller than Dawson, with a leaner build. More like Riley.

He walks by me, smacks my ass in the exact same way Dawson does, grabs Peyton, and heads to the bar.

“Flowers, huh?” I say to Dawson. “You must have done something bad.”

“Well, my dad says flowers get you laid, but jewelry gets you out of jail.”

“So you’re just looking to get laid?”

He gives me his sexy-ass grin. But his eyes say something different. “I made you cry, Keatie. I don't ever want to make you cry.”

I set the flowers down on the bench and give him a hot kiss.

“Can we just do it right here?” he asks, pointing to the bench.

“I thought you had some sucking up to do?”

“Speaking of that.” He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a huge handful of big ring gummy Lifesavers. “I brought party favors. Thought I'd share the magic.”

“You liked it that much?”

“Keatie, I loved it.”

“I love you. Thank you for the flowers.”

“I love you too. I have another surprise for you later.”

“I can’t wait. But for now, let’s go get you a drink.”

We play pool, dance, drink, and have fun.

I dance crazily around Dallas and Riley. Ever since that night at the Cave, the three of us often crank up the music in their room and just dance around like maniacs. One of our favorite songs is playing, so we naturally congregate together.

After dancing, people start to pair off.

Ace and Annie sit on the couch talking and holding hands. Peyton and Camden are naked in the hot tub. Riley and Ariela have wandered upstairs to “watch a movie” on the big sectional couch, and Maggie and Parker have already claimed one of the bedrooms as their own.

Katie, Dallas, Dawson, and me are playing pool. It’s boys against girls and since Katie and I both suck, we’re using different techniques to distract the boys.

After a couple games of me suggestively leaning over the pool table, Dawson drags me to my room, locks the door, and attacks me.

It's literally a throw-me-on-the-bed, rip-off-my-panties, wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am kind of thing.

“Was that my special treat? No offense, but I get that all the time,” I tease.

He’s slightly out of breath. “I just had to get that out of the way.” He pulls on the strap of my nightie. “I almost brought you in here after you, Peyton, and Maggie were grinding on each other. That was fucking hot enough, but the way you were leaning across the pool table, I couldn’t take it any longer.”

“So tell me about this surprise.”

“Shouldn't I just show you?”

I run my finger lightly down the front of his chest. “I don’t know, maybe.”

He gets off the bed, grabs my hand, and pulls me into my bathroom.

He stops in the center of the room, pushes the spaghetti straps off my shoulders, and watches with delight as my nightie slithers down to the floor.

He grabs a couple towels off the rack, lays them across the floor, and motions for me to lie down. He steals one of my makeup brushes off the counter, turns on the tub, and holds the brush under the water.