“I heard your breakup was really bad.”
“Yeah, I was young and dumb. But we’re friends now. That’s why I’m worried.”
“Have you told her this?”
“Of course. She won’t listen. She has some plan. Thinks she’s going to destroy Whitney and win some stupid contest in the process. What she doesn’t get is that she won’t. Whitney is a devious, scheming bitch, and Peyton is no match for her. She’s too nice.”
“So, I’m supposed to keep Dawson away from Whitney and keep Whitney from destroying Peyton. Anything else I can do for you?” I laugh.
“Actually, yes. I also hear you’re Braxton’s date tonight for a party after curfew. Don’t get the boy kicked out before he even starts.”
“That’s exactly why he’s my date. I’m going to keep an eye on him. You know, he would’ve snuck out anyway. He wants to be just like you.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Probably because wanting to be like me already got one brother kicked out of school.”
“Maybe you should reform your bad boy ways. Set a better example.”
He laughs. “Ha! I don’t think so. Not until I find a girl worthy of that. Let’s talk about Riley.”
“When did I become the Johnson brothers’ keeper?”
“I’m not sure, but Riley loves you.”
“I love Riley too. He’s my best friend. I got really drunk after Dawson and I broke up. He took care of me. I don’t remember much, but I think that’s because I knew I was safe with him.”
“You may be the only drunk girl safe with Riley,” he laughs. “He’s pretty protective of you.”
“I know. It’s sweet.”
“I think he has a crush.”
“Naw. He knows I crush on his brother.”
“Me?”
“Nope, Braxton. He’s the best of all of you. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Keatyn, if you need anything—seriously, if there’s anything I can ever do for you—let me know.”
“Thanks, Cam. I appreciate that.”
I decide to text Aiden. We’re supposed to hang out today, and I need to find out if he still wants to. I’m also dying to know if he was with Chelsea last night.
Me: Thanks for the advice last night. I went to the sing-a-long with my friends and had fun.
Hottie God: I’m glad. It wasn’t as lame as I thought it would be. We had fun too.
Me: Yeah, I suppose when you’re surrounded by cheerleaders it’s hard not to have fun.
Hottie God: You’re mine today, still, right?
Me: I guess.
Hottie God: I need some luck to win the competition. I also need a partner for the lawn games. You any good at the wheelbarrow race?
Me: Probably not as good as a cheerleader.
Hottie God: I didn’t ask a cheerleader. I asked you. Meet me outside your dorm at eleven.
Now, I’m lazily sprawled out on my stomach across Dallas’ bed. He’s sitting on the floor in front of me, and I’m running my hands through his hair, giving him a scalp massage.
The way he’s groaning, you’d think I was massaging something else.
Riley barrels through the door, laden with bags and a tray of coffee drinks. It smells wonderful, especially since all the boys’ rooms seem to smell like an oddly compelling combination of cologne and dirty socks.
“I’m next in the massage chair,” he says as he sets down the tray.
“I want a massage too,” I say.
Riley raises his eyebrows at me. “Yeah, that’s what we want to hear about. Who’s been massaging you?”
I throw a napkin at him, but it falls shamefully to the floor in front of him. He bounds across the bed on top of me and starts tickling me. Holding my arms down, tickling my sides. I’m laughing and screaming at the same time. “Stop, stop. I give up.”
“If only Ariela were that easy,” he comments as he rolls off me.
Dallas laughs.
“So, Dallas apparently has a secret hot date tonight and everyone knows who you’re dating, seeing as it’s tattooed across your chest.”
“They’re all gone, but I’m thinking about asking her out. What do you think?”
Dallas says, “She’s cute. Seems to be pretty into you. I mean, except for the whole not-getting-any thing. But if you’re going to keep dating her, you might as well. Maybe that will open the gates.”
I swat Dallas’ head. “Stop that. They don’t need to have sex. And, Riley, I think you should ask her out. Are you going to do anything special?”
“Well, I’m competing in the Gods of Olympus competition. I’ll be shirtless all day.” He flexes a bicep at us. “She’ll be impressed.”
I laugh at his confidence. “Yes, she will be impressed. But since her lips have already been all over your chest, I think you might need something more.”
Riley lowers his head slightly. “She kinda has a thing for Hello Kitty, so I got her something to give to her when I ask.”
“Really? Oh my gosh! I love Hello Kitty too! What’d you get?”
“Don’t laugh,” he says, as he pulls a Swarovski crystal box out of his drawer and opens it up.
Inside is an adorable hot pink domed ring with large random crystals on it and a Hello Kitty face.
“Oh. My. Gosh! Why haven’t I seen this before?! I love it. I want it. She’ll love it! She’s going to go crazy with loving it.”
Riley smiles probably the biggest smile I’ve ever seen from him. “You really think she’ll like it?”
“Yeah, Riley, I do. You did really good.”
“So what about you, baby? You into my brother or Aiden today?”
“Both,” Dallas replies for me.
“How’s that working out?”
I eye Dallas.
He gives me a big eye roll back. “I’m sorry about the panties.”
“What panties? What did I miss?” Riley asks.
Dallas reiterates what happened last night in the café.
“Busted,” Riley says with a laugh.
“Nothing happened with Aiden at the Cave. I mean, we kissed.” I roll my eyes. “Still no tongue. Dawson didn’t believe me at first, but we talked and we’re good. Although he also told me that he can’t wait to go to college.”
“Everyone can’t wait to go to college,” Riley says.
“He meant without me.”
“So you’re going to like Aiden?”
I sigh. “I’m pretty sure he hooked up with Chelsea last night. I heard her tell him that she wasn’t taking no for an answer.”
“That doesn’t mean he did,” Riley says. “Most everyone knows I like Ariela, but there are still plenty of girls that tell me we’re going to hook up.”
“Do you want to?”
“No. I forward them to Dallas.”
“And I hook up with them,” Dallas says. “It’s brilliant. And . . . I happen to know that Aiden didn’t hook up with Chelsea last night.”
“How could you know that?”
Dallas smiles broadly. “Because I did.”
I can’t help it. My heart soars. “Do you know why? Did Aiden turn her down?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care. We had fun. She has the most perfect body. As a matter of fact, we’re hanging out today.”
“So, Dallas, you’re supposed to be practically psychic, what’s gonna happen?”
“It doesn’t really matter,” Riley says, wrapping his arm around me. “As long as we stay close. The three of us.”
I think having good friends in your life is an important piece of loving yourself.
It should be illegal.
11am
“Look at you in your bright gold Nikes,” I say to Aiden when I walk out of my dorm to meet him.
“Thanks. I had them sent from home. They’re sort of a collector’s edition. And look at you. Gold shorts, gold gladiator sandals.”
I hold up the gold bracelet with love notes written across it.
“And love on your arm,” he says as he lays his hand across my chest. “Hopefully, eventually, the love will be here and not on your arm.”
Write love on your heart.
Yes. I’m swooning. And I really want to tell him it sorta already is written on my heart.
It’s like a song you’ve always known the words to. A lullaby you’ll never forget.