Stalk Me (26 page)

“And maybe if you would have danced with me, your hands would have been the only ones on me."

"I don't like that music, and I don't like that kind of dancing,"

“Is it because you can't dance? I'd teach you. I mean it's not hard."

"I can dance fine. I just don't think it's fun. I like listening to
Twisted Dreams
, but that techno shit gives me a headache."

"You sound like an old man. Even Tommy likes to dance."

“See? See that tone you just used? That's your bitch coming out."

“No, B, that’s my
pissed
coming out! You upset me last night. You wouldn't dance with me. You got pissed I wanted to dance. What happened to all your
let's experience life
stuff? You didn't even try to experience it or have fun. You sat on the sidelines. I don't want to sit on the sidelines of life. I want to be in the game. I thought that's what you wanted too. And I'm not being a bitch. I was nice to you. Nice to everyone I met last night. I made some new friends. The guy I was dancing with when you left was really cool. I met his friends later, introduced them to the band, and they took us all out for breakfast at this great little family-owned diner where we had the most amazing breakfast. Homemade scones that melt in your mouth. You would have loved it. Damian thought they were really cool." 

“Were they all guys?"

“Not that it matters, but no."

Brooklyn lets out a big sigh. He’s frustrated. Probably because he knows he’s wrong. 

“You want to keep fighting about this?" he finally asks.

“Not really.”

He runs his hand through his long shaggy hair. “I think I'm just ready to go home. I live on the beach; it's what I love. All this big city stuff drives me nuts. I feel like I can't breathe."

"I like both. I had a great time on the beach, but cities can be fun too."

"I can see that,” he says quietly. "I'm sorry, okay. You're right. I was being a dick."

I smile and feel so much happier. I was really worried this might break us up. Not that we're actually going out, but whatever we are, we've been together. 

“It’s okay. We've been together pretty much day and night for a couple months. And we’re traveling. That can be stressful sometimes."

Brooklyn says flatly, “Not when you carry good luggage." 

Sunday, August 14th

Explode with desire.

7:30am

I get woken up by Brooklyn, who is pushing on my shoulder. 

“Ummm,” I say, tossing the covers up over my head. “I need a minute.”

And oh, my gosh, do I. 

I close my eyes and will myself to go back to the dream I was having. 

I was dancing in the club with the English boy. I could see Brooklyn still sitting at his table, looking bored and irritated, when I felt a pair of familiar hands on my hips and turned around to face Cush. Cush gave me his naughty grin and started dancing with me. He never even said a word. We just danced. I had danced with the English boy most of the rest of the night and he was adorable, but he didn’t make me hot. Like, I never felt attracted to him. I just assumed it was because I’m in love with Brooklyn. I mean, I shouldn’t be attracted to anyone else ever again. 

But in my dream, Cush’s hands felt so good on my body. First his hands were on my back. Then they trailed down my arms. Then he pulled my ass in close to him and put his leg between mine. I was grinding on his leg and was as close to his body as I could possibly get. My hands were low on his back, practically begging him to get closer. But it wasn’t enough. I couldn’t get him close enough, and all I could think about was getting him into bed. 

When he put his mouth on my neck and slowly sucked on my skin, I felt like I might explode with desire. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything or anyone more. His tongue slowly slid up my neck, and I could feel his warm breath on my ear. “I can’t wait,” he whispered into my ear. 

Then the club faded away, and we were outside in an alley. He pushed me up against a brick wall, reached under my skirt, and ripped a hole in my pantyhose. Then he pushed my panties aside and was inside me before I could even take a breath. I never once worried about anyone seeing us in the alley and, as turned on as I was, I’m pretty sure I didn’t care. 

My insides are still throbbing. 

I relive the dream in my head over and over. The way I was grinding on his leg. The way he dragged me into the alley. The sound it made when he ripped my hose. The ravenous way he was kissing me. 

“Keatyn, you’ve got to get up. We have a flight to catch and you’re not even packed,” Brooklyn says loudly. 

I open my eyes and look at the clock. 

I am beyond horny.

“We have plenty of time, B.” I give him what I hope is my sexiest smile. I also sort of pull my tank top down so that one of my boobs is exposed. “Come here.”

He plops down on the bed next to me, which is exactly what I hoped for. I wrap my arms around his neck and immediately attack his neck with kisses.

“What are you doing?” he says.

“Just saying morning,” I whisper, in between sucking my way down his neck. 

I reach for his pants, but he pushes my hand away. “Don’t. We don’t have time for that.”

“There’s always time for that,” I say, as I attempt to unzip them.

“Keatyn, stop screwing around. Get up and get packed.” He quickly gets off the bed. 

We had sex almost every afternoon at the beach. Lately, it’s dwindled to about once a week. And it’s been over a week.

Since the last thing I want to do is start another fight, I get up as he requested. But then I strip off my clothes, grab one of my suitcases, and lay it across the bed. 

Naked packing. Surely that will get to him. 

I walk back and forth from the closet to my bed throwing clothes into my bag. 

Brooklyn is watching me, but he looks irritated by my nakedness, not the least bit happy or turned on. 

By the time I’m done packing, I’m pissed. I throw my three suitcases in front of the door and turn my back on him. 

“You know, you used to be fun,” I say. Then I go in the bathroom, curl every strand of my hair, and put on all my makeup. 

Fuck it.

Tuesday, August 16th

So this summer was amazing…

7pm

Brooklyn was snarly the first half of the trip home, so I just stuck my nose in a book and read. Then I crashed. When I woke up, he pulled me into his arms and started talking like nothing had happened. Like we hadn’t fought. 

He never apologized for being a jerk. Well, actually, I guess he did, but then he followed it up with the slam about my luggage, which pretty much negated the apology. But then he kissed me sweetly and told me he loved me, and I pushed it all out of my mind. 

He asked me to go to dinner tonight, so I threw on a pair of cute white shorts, a little tank top, and some short boots. When I opened the front door, I was shocked to see him dressed up in a pair of chestnut dress slacks and a soft khaki polo. 

“You look really nice,” I tell him. And he does. His light brown hair has been trimmed, taming his curls. His face is tan and handsome, and his eyes look super blue. “Why are you all dressed up? I thought we were just grabbing some dinner.”

“We’re celebrating. You better go change.” He gives me a devious little smirk. Like he knows a secret.

“What are we celebrating?”

“Since when have you ever turned down the chance to get dressed up?”

I laugh. “Probably never.”

He grabs my hand and leads me back to my bedroom and into my closet. “You sit. I’m going to pick something out.”

I don’t sit. I stand close to him. Look into his eyes. Knock on his head. “He looks like my Brooklyn, but I don’t think it’s really him. It’s like aliens swapped his brain for someone else’s.”

He pulls me in for a kiss. Then he walks me backward toward my chair and makes me sit. 

“I thought you’d like this.”

“Oh, I do. That doesn’t mean I’m not shocked.”

He looks around my closet. “You have a hell of a lot of clothes.” 

“Um, maybe?”

“Point me toward the dresses.”

 I point to a long rack behind him. “The casual ones are there. The formal ones are behind the tall cabinet doors.” 

He starts flipping through the rack of casual dresses. “A lot of these still have the tags on them.”

“Yeah, well, I bought some summer stuff, but then I wasn’t home all summer. Pick something with a tag, please. I feel like wearing something new.”

He pulls out a really short black Chantilly lace dress. One that I’m shocked he would want me to wear. I bought it for the club. “Put this on.”

“Um, okay. It’s kinda tight. Short.”

He grins. “Yes, that’s why I like it.” 

“You’re acting weird. I’m scared.”

I strip off my clothes, switch bras, and pull the dress over my curves. “Told you. It’s tight.”

He stands back, sizing me up. Then he grabs my hips and runs his hands across my ass. 

“It’s been a while,” I say. I’m kinda embarrassed to say that we haven’t had sex in almost two weeks. We were too busy fighting.

“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. I was a dick. I was just stressed with some other stuff that was going on with my dad.” He waves his hand dismissively. “I’ll tell you all about it at dinner.”

I grab a pair of copper-colored high-heeled sandals and then stop in front of my jewelry drawers, where I grab a big black ring and a rose quartz bracelet to class it up a little. 

We walk out my front door, and I’m shocked to see his dad’s Bentley sitting in the driveway.

I feel like I just stepped into the Twilight Zone. 

He opens the door for me, I slide in, and we drive up the coast. 

He takes me to a very nice restaurant on the water—one of my absolute favorites, and the kind of expensive place that he usually avoids. 

Ohmigawd! Could this be it? Is he finally going to ask me to be his girlfriend!? 

I’m so excited that I barely eat my blackened salmon, asparagus, and baby new potatoes. 

I imagine what he’s going to say to me. Imagine him giving me a ring or a lock of his hair or something personal and dreamy. 

After dessert, he starts to look nervous. 

Oh my gosh! Here we go!!

“So this summer was amazing, Keats. It was such an incredible experience.”

I grab his hand across the table and squeeze it. “I know. It was for me too. I’ll never forget it.”

“So, I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while now . . . ”

OMG! I want to scream with joy!

“So, I’m finally going to do it. I’m going on the pro tour.”

Wait. What? He’s not asking me out?

“You’re going where?”

He gets a huge happy grin on his face. “A couple weeks ago, I told my dad how much I enjoyed our time at all the different surf spots. What an amazing experience it was. All the cool people we met. I’ve committed to doing the tour for a year. If, at the end of the year, I’m ranked top ten or so, then I’ll think about continuing. If not, I’ll come back home and figure out my next move. Dad says I’ll only be young once, so I should take the opportunity. That it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“You’ll be gone for a year?” I ask incredulously. Because he’s not asking me to go out with him. He’s leaving me. 

He goes on and one about the waves he surfed and how they varied, but I’m not really listening. 

All I keep thinking is
He’s leaving me for a year
. 

“You’re the reason I’m doing all this, you know?”

I shake my head and squint my eyes. I really have no clue what the hell he’s talking about it. 

“You’re the one that talked me into taking the summer off and touring some of the world’s great surf spots. You’re the one who told me I should follow my dreams wherever they take me. ”

“I said that?” 

When the hell did I say it? 

And had I been drinking? Was I high?

He rubs his finger across the top of my hand. “Of course you said it. Because you’re amazing. And Dad took the ball and ran with it. He’s already got sponsors lined up for me. So, I’m actually going to do it. Live my dream. Can you believe it?”

“No, not really,” I say flatly.

“You don’t seem very excited.” 

I try to brighten my face. I don’t think I succeed. “I’m thrilled for you, B. Really. When do you leave?”

“It’s kinda still up in the air. We’ll talk about it after your birthday. I have some fun stuff planned for your birthday.”

This excites me. “You do? Really?” He’s not really the planning type.

“Yep. Thursday, you’re mine. You said your family thing is Friday night, right?”

“Yeah, dinner will be fun. And Saturday night, we’ll have a blast. We’ll be dancing. Partying. I can’t wait!”

“Um, would you be mad if I didn’t go Saturday?”

I can barely breathe. Is he serious? “You don’t want to come to my party?”

“I’d think that after London you’d know the answer to that. Besides, we’ll have done tons of celebrating by then.”

“Uh, okay.” I don’t even know what to say to that. “You’ll come to the after-party at my house, though, right? I invited all the surfers. I thought it would be so cool for my school friends to meet your friends.” He looks at me like I’m certifiably insane. “You don’t think they’ll get along?”

“Oh they’ll get along. Like oil and water.”

“I guess I’m more optimistic than you are.”

He pays our tab, and we walk out to the car. 

I start to get tears in my eyes and choke out the words I’ve been wondering. “Are you breaking up with me?”

He laughs. “I didn’t realize we were going out.”

My face drops and the tears start falling. I turn away from him. 

He grabs my shoulders and turns me back around.

“I haven’t thought through all the details yet.”

“That’s worse. I wasn’t even a consideration.”

“Keats, sometimes in life you have to do what’s right for you and hope that your friends will support you. This is right for me. And don’t cry. It all came about very suddenly. And you start school soon. You’ll be so busy with all the things you want to do, you’ll barely have time to miss me. We’ll figure something out. We’ll be fine, Keats.” He hangs his head and says quietly. “I thought you’d be so excited for me. I got all dressed up and even splurged on your favorite expensive restaurant.”