“What if I give you a French kiss, monsieur. Will you tell me then?”
“Depends on how good a kiss it is,” he flirts, sliding his hands into my hair.
I wrap my arms around his neck and move my lips slowly toward his. Then I stick out my tongue and rub it sloppily across his cheek, laughing.
He quickly stops my giggles with his own powerful tongue. Moving it with the grace of a Degas ballerina.
Until the first bell rings.
“I better get going,” he says. “What color are you going to get on your toes?”
“What color do you think I should get?”
“A sexy red, maybe?”
“I was thinking a soft pink.”
“That would be pretty. Is the dress pink?”
“No, but my bag is.”
“Makes sense. Have fun.”
“I will,” I say, prancing away from him.
But he grabs me by the waist, pulls me back in, and gives me a kiss that leaves me reeling.
All that sunshine.
8:30am
I meet the girls at Whitney’s car and we head to a posh day spa.
We’re quickly taken back to a private pedicure room with three chairs.
“What color should I get?” Peyton asks, holding up a bright red and a hot pink.
“I like the red for me and the pink for you,” Whitney teases, pulling the red out of Peyton’s hand.
Peyton laughs. “That’s always what we get. Maybe we should go crazy and switch it up. You get the pink, I’ll get the red.”
Whiney laughs too. “You’re right. We do always get the same thing. Maybe we should get something funky. Keatyn, what would you suggest?”
“What color are your dresses for tomorrow night?”
“Mine is black and Peyton’s is an icy blue.”
“Oh, pretty.” I grab a sparkly, metallic charcoal and hand it to Whitney. “This is for you.”
“Really? I won’t look Goth?”
“No, dark nails are totally acceptable. Besides, this has glitter, so it will sparkle.” I elbow her. “You know, in case Shark sees your toes in soft lighting.”
She grins. “I usually make boys wait, but I don’t think I’m going to with Shark.”
“Really?” Peyton says, turning away from the polish wall and giving me a surprised look.
Whitney shrugs. “Sometimes you just know when it’s right.”
Peyton, who is standing behind her, pretends to stick her finger down her throat and gag.
I try not to laugh.
“I’m glad you’re happy,” I say to Whitney. “All right, Peyton, what color for you?”
I stand next to her and stare at the wall of polish.
“Pedicures are supposed to help relieve stress, but choosing a polish totally stresses me out!” she says.
I scan the silver polishes, choosing one that is a soft color but also has an iridescent shimmer to it. “This one.”
“Oh, I like that. My shoes are silver, too.”
We get situated and soak our feet in the warm water.
I turn the massage chair on, lean my head back, and close my eyes.
This feels so good.
“Do you want something to read?” Peyton asks, tossing a paper into my lap before I can respond.
I’m about to throw it back at her when I see a headline at the top with Mom’s photo underneath.
I quickly open the paper to the Entertainment section and scan the article.
The headline reads, Crowds Line Up To See To Maddie, With Love.
I scan the article.
“This is the kind of rare movie that both critics and fans alike will be raving about,” movie critic Tim Steward proclaims.
Fans outside the packed midnight showings were excited to see if Mr. Steward was right. We did our own poll among those exiting the theater, and fans had a lot to say about this film and how Maddie’s story touched them.
“Abby Johnston’s movies usually make me laugh and fall in love,” local resident Alice Truluck said. “This movie made me cry, physically ache, and feel completely uncomfortable. But it still made me fall in love. This is an amazing story of redemption. Abby has to win an Academy award for this.”
Rumors are flying as to why Abby hasn’t attended any of the premieres held around the world this week. Also notably absent from Abby’s life is her long-time beau, Tommy Stevens. Inside sources say a split is imminent.
There’s a photo of Tommy and Bad Kiki getting on a private plane with the caption, He’s moving and taking the dog with him!
Abby left earlier than planned from Vancouver where the movie she and Tommy were filming together has wrapped. Tommy’s publicist said in a statement: “Abby and their adorable children plan to join Tommy in New York, where he will be filming the third movie in the blockbuster Trinity series.”
But a day earlier, Abby’s publicist contradicted that statement. “Like many on the Vancouver movie set, Abby has come down with the flu and won’t be attending the premieres.” And, when pressed further about the health of the couple’s relationship: “Abby will not accompany Tommy to New York. She’s taking some time away from the movie industry.”
Those of us who have seen the frightening photos of a too-skinny Abby hope she’s planning on eating during her break.
“I got accepted to Brown yesterday,” Whitney says happily, causing me to stop reading. “Did you get a letter, Peyton?”
“No, not yet,” she says. “But I don’t care. I applied to some more schools this week.”
Whitney looks surprised by this. “You did? I thought we were going somewhere together? We’ve talked about it since freshman year. We go to the same college. Join the same sorority. Party it up.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not sure the East coast is where I want to be.”
“Where else could you possibly want to go?” Whitney says in a snide voice. Like anything other than an Ivy League college would be unacceptable.
“I applied to a few California schools. I’d like to be closer to home.”
“California? Seriously? I’d hate to live in California. All that blonde hair and sunshine would piss me off.”
I purse my lips in defense of my favorite state and am just about to say something when Whitney turns to me. “No offense.”
“I love the feel of the sun shining on my face,” Peyton says, dreamily. “And I’d like to trade my car in for a convertible. Drive around with the top down all the time. Never have to deal with the snow again.” Peyton sighs. Then she tosses a magazine toward me. This one is rolled open to a certain page.
I flip it over and see a photo of Damian and Troy coming out of a club with a chesty blonde in a tight dress who’s hanging onto Damian’s arm. Could this unidentified blonde be the girl to finally snag Damian Moran, the son of mega-hit director, Matt Moran, and lead singer for the band Twisted Dreams, whose studio was mobbed by tweens earlier this week?
I take my phone out and text her, not wanting to say anything in front of Whitney.
Me: She’s with Troy.
Peyton: I know. I was just showing you the pic.
Me: California, huh?
Peyton: Yes!! We talked about it in St. Croix. I’m so happy!! Stop texting me though. I don’t want Whitney to get suspicious.