Power

by Jillian Dodd

  Her expression and eye roll is an exact match for the one the Gracie made a few minutes ago. “He was my best friend since we were kids. Not someone I met backstage at the teen awards.”

  “Sure you aren’t mad at her because she broke up with Brooklyn’s nephew?”

  Tears threaten her face immediately. “Maybe. I miss Brooklyn so much. I still can’t believe he’s dead.”

  “Me either,” I say, Brooklyn was a three-time pro surf champion who died in a surfing accident just a few years ago, was Keatyn’s first love, and one of my best friends.

  “I thought she and Brady would be together forever.”

  “She’s fourteen, Keatyn. Do you really think she needs to decide on her forever love now?”

  “Yeah, you’re right. At her age, I was pretty boy crazy. She’s so mature about her career, sometimes I forget how young she is.”

  “Do you know what they got in a fight about?”

  “No, she won’t tell anyone. Or at least she won’t tell me.”

  “Maybe because she thinks you won’t be on her side.”

  Keatyn’s arm immediately goes up to her chest, offended. “I’ll always be on her side!”

  “Maybe you should tell her that.”

  She sighs big. “Yeah, I suppose you’re probably right.”

  “What the fuck, Keatyn?” a familiar voice says. “You give my brother a cushy job but you can’t pick up the phone and call your favorite Johnson brother? I want to live on the beach in California and drive a Ferrari too.”

  “Brax!” Keatyn yells, excited to see my youngest brother, who adores her. “I didn’t think you were coming!”

  “Change of plans,” he says, slapping me on the back. “Good to see you, bro. You finally get up the balls to come back here?”

  “Braxton!” Keatyn scolds.

  “What? You know I’m right. You say so every year.”

  Keatyn’s face turns pink. “I don’t say that. Not exactly.” I raise an eyebrow at her. “Fine. Every year I do mention that I wish you would get over it and come with us. It’s not the same without you, Riley. You’re such a big part of why Eastbrooke is so special to me.”

  I can’t help but smile at her. “I’m glad I’m here this year.”

  “You are? Oh, Riley, that makes me so happy.”

  “Okay, jeez, enough with the love fest,” Braxton says. “Let’s get back to me and my cushy job.”

  “How are you doing?” Keatyn asks him. He and his long-time girlfriend just recently called it quits.

  “I’m enjoying the spoils of single life again. Wine, women, and song. Okay, maybe more like beer, women, and meaningless sex.”

  “Thataboy,” I tell him. “Just like a Johnson.”

  “Braxton, if you want a job, you’ll have to convince your brother. He’s in charge.”

  Braxton puts his arm around her. “Come on, Kiki. You know you love me. And we all know who wears the pants at Captive. Riley didn’t even know you hired Dawson.”

  “That was an unusual situation,” Keatyn says with a frown.

  “Which I fully supported,” I say, backing her up, knowing it was hard for her to keep it from me.

  “Speaking of love,” Keatyn says. “Did you get your invitation to the party next weekend, Brax?”

  “I did. I’m still checking to see if I can get out of work on Friday. Is it a big deal? You’re always having fundraisers.”

  “Not fundraisers where Aiden and I get married.”

  “No, shit? It’s about fucking time.”

  “I know. So come, please, if you can.”

  “I will. Who’s winning?”

  “We are,” I say as we head back to the stands.

  The game ends with the Cougars winning by three touchdowns.

  “You’re going to stay with us at the hotel,” Keatyn tells Gracie. “Not stay out all night.”

  “Whatever. I’m going to surprise Baylor now! He’s going to be so happy!” she says rushing off.

  “This ought to be good,” Dallas whispers to me.

  “What should be?” Braxton asks.

  “The quarterback asked Gracie to Homecoming. She told him she didn’t think she could make it and is surprising him.”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “One of the cheerleaders has his number on her face.”

  “Ooh, cat fight. Love those,” Braxton says. “But Gracie’s my girl. If he fucks her over, he’s going to have to answer to me.”

  “Us too,” Dallas agrees.

  We watch as she runs down onto the field, taps him on the shoulder, and says Surprise!

  “He definitely looks surprised.”

  “Oh, he’s giving her a hug,” Keatyn says.

  “That’s a good sign, isn’t it?” I ask.

  “Depends,” Braxton says. “Check out the cheerleader at three o’clock. She’s heading his way and she’s got the march.”

  “What’s the march?” Keatyn asks him.

  “You know. The mad, pissed off girl march.”

  I laugh. “You’re right. She does.”

  We continue to watch as the cheerleader grabs the quarterback’s arm.

  “She just said What the fuck, Chad?” Braxton says. “I can read lips.”

  “She definitely said what the fuck, but his name is Baylor. Baylor Hawthorne,” Dallas says.

  “As in Hawthorne House Hawthorne?” I ask.

  “Yeah. His grandfather is on the Eastbrooke trust committee with me. He’s only a sophomore. Good kid. Great athlete.”

  “Oh, boy. The cheerleader slapped him across the face and marched away!” Braxton says. “She looks sad. I should go comfort her. Excuse me.”

  I grab the back of his shirt. “Don’t you dare, Brax. She’s not exactly legal.”

  “Looks legal enough.”

  “Where are you staying tonight, Braxton?” Keatyn asks him.

  “It’s Homecoming. I’m partying all night,” he replies. “Aren’t you?”

  “Actually, I’m kinda tired,” Keatyn says. “It’s been a really long week.”

  “It’s been a long week for all of us,” Dallas agrees.

  “Pussies. How bout you, bro? You ready to scope out some of the alum? If I can’t go young, maybe I’ll look for a cougar. I’ve never done one before.”

  I shake my head. It’s official. I’m getting old.

  I don’t even want to attempt to keep up with my younger brother.

  Or maybe Vegas just cured me from partying for a while.

  Gracie appears to have a serious conversation with the quarterback then leads him in our direction.

  “Baylor, this is my sister, Keatyn Douglas,” she says. “And her friends from Eastbrooke, Riley Johnson and Dallas McMahon.”

  “Don’t forget me,” Braxton says, popping up behind her.

  “Brax!” Gracie screams. “My favorite Johnson brother! I’m taking you up on your offer to hang out in the Hamptons this summer.”

  “That’d be cool,” Baylor says. “My grandparents have a place there. We could hang out.”

  If Gracie is thrilled by his invitation, you’d never know it. She just gives him a quick smile.

  “I saw the movies,” Baylor says. “Pretty cool to meet you all. So, does Stockton’s really exist? Because we’ve all been down in the basement of the chapel and there is a Mary Jane Stockton crypt, but the leaf doesn’t open, so there’s no place for a key. No one can figure out how to get in.”

  “We may have changed some details to protect the innocent,” I say.

  “Or maybe we completely made it up,” Dallas goes.

  Keatyn adds with a smile, “Or, maybe it’s a little of both.”

  “Damn, we could use a place to party besides The Cave.”

  “You go to The Cave?” Keatyn asks him. “Usually that’s only for upperclassmen.”

  Baylor shrugs in a way that reminds me of Aiden when he was at Eastbrooke. When you’re a star athlete, good-looking, and rich, exceptions are ma
de.

  “We had plenty of fun there,” Keatyn says. “And even though we thought we were the only ones who knew about it, we found out later it’s really not a secret.”

  “Baylor is taking me there tonight,” Gracie says. “I can’t wait.”

  “Um, Baylor, I’m curious,” Keatyn says. “Why did that girl just slap your face?”

  He lets out a breath and shrugs. “That’s Krissy. She asked me to Homecoming, but I told her I already had a date. Today at our lunch table, I was telling my friend I was bummed that Gracie couldn’t come. I’m sure glad she did though,” he says, smiling at Gracie and wrapping his arm around her waist.

  “So she just assumed you’d go together or did you tell her that you would?” Keatyn asks, trying to clarify the situation.

  “I told her if I didn’t have a date we could go.”

  “Typical girl,” Braxton says. “Always reading too much into it.”

  “Oh, really,” Gracie says, putting her hands on her hips, looking like a force to be reckoned with.

  Braxton rubs the top of her head. “Chill out, Gracie.”

  “Well, it was nice to meet you all,” Baylor says. “You ready to go have some fun, Gracie?”

  “Of course,” she says, linking her arm in his.

  “Where were you planning to stay, Gracie?” Keatyn asks again.

  “Hadn’t gotten that far,” she replies. “Figured I’d just crash somewhere.”

  “Why don’t I make sure she gets back to the hotel,” Braxton offers. “You at the usual place?”

  “Yeah, except we have a suite this time,” I reply.

  “Penthouse?” Braxton asks. “Change of plans, kids. Party at the Penthouse.”

  Both Baylor and Gracie look excited until Keatyn says, “No party at the penthouse. Just sleep.”

  “Do you have room for all of us?” Gracie asks.

  “We have room for you, Gracie,” I stress.

  “Not your bro?” Braxton asks. “I’m crushed.”

  “You can have the couch. And if you’re so inclined, you and Baylor can share.”

  “Uh, sorry, man,” Braxton says to Baylor. “Alright, old people. See you in the a.m.”

  We hang out for a bit after the game to chat with old friends, many of whom are genuinely happy to see me.

  Finally, Dallas says to me, “I promised Aiden I’d make sure Keatyn got enough rest. If you want to stay, I can take her now and you can come back whenever you’re ready. You put her through a lot this week and she looks exhausted.”

  I study her. She’s smiling and speaking animatedly, but there are dark circles under her eyes and she keeps covering her mouth, trying to stifle her yawns. I feel bad for all I put them both through this week. “Yeah, she does. I’ll go get her.”

  I interrupt her conversation. “Dallas is being a party pooper and wants to head to the hotel. You okay with that?”

  She gives me a wide, happy smile. “Yes. I am.”

  Once we’re in the car, she says, “Don’t you think it’s a strange twist of fate that the boy who I was supposed to babysit at The Cave when he came for Prospective Student Weekend is now watching my baby sister? Are you sure we shouldn’t stay? Looking back, I did a really bad job of watching Braxton.”

  “Did he make it back to Dawson’s dorm room that night?” I ask her.

  “Yes.”

  “Then you did fine.”

  “He was shit-faced and puked all over a girl!”

  “She puked on him back. It was even.”

  “I don’t want Gracie drinking. She’s too young.”

  “Ah, don’t worry about it, Keatyn,” Dallas says with a grin. “They’ll probably sneak back to his dorm room to make out.”

  “Oh, that’s even worse. Let’s have the driver turn around. Dallas, are you really that tired?”

  “No, but you are,” he says.

  “You guys tricked me?”

  “Aiden said we’d probably have to,” Dallas says. “And he was right.”

  “Just text Braxton,” I suggest. “You know, if Braxton can handle Gracie, I might just give him a job. I could use someone to babysit some of our movie sets.”

  “Speaking of movie sets, did you know that Knox sees Jennifer as a very short term thing?”

  “Really? That surprises me.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me,” Dallas says. “Knox liked that she crushed on him. He has a huge ego.”

  “It might even be bigger than yours,” Keatyn says, teasing me.

  “No way he’s bigger than me,” I tease back.

  Keatyn’s phone buzzes and she looks down at it.

  “Shit. Your brother texted me back. He said All’s good. Isn’t that Johnson code for it’s out of control but no one got arrested? Yet.”

  “Pretty much,” Dallas laughs.

  Keatyn falls asleep on the couch while Dallas and I are flipping through TV channels.

  “What do you think I should do about Ariela?” I ask him for the first time.

  “What do you want to do?”

  “I really don’t know.”

  “How was being back?”

  “Hard. At first, anyway.”

  “How so?” Dallas is like a shrink. He asks a whole lot of questions and never offers an opinion unless you force him to. And, to be honest, I probably don’t want his opinion right now.

  I slump down in my chair.

  “We have a big balcony,” he says, pulling a joint out of his pocket.

  I set my scotch down. “Heck, yeah, we do. Shh. Be quiet. We don’t want Keatyn to wake up.”

  “I’m still awake,” she says. “Just resting my eyes. It seems wrong that I’m not going out to smoke with you. Especially here.”

  “We don’t have to,” I say, not wanting her to feel left out.

  “Close the door, call me, and put me on speaker. That way I’ll feel like I’m out there.”

  Dallas and I go out on the deck, light up, and do as we’re told.

  “Remember the morning when you called me and asked me how to get un-high fast?” Dallas says to Keatyn into the phone.

  “Ohmigawd,” Keatyn replies. “That was the morning I accidentally ate one of Jake’s brownies before school. What about senior year when you tried to turn a hollowed out log into a party bong?”

  “Aw, that’s just a Southern boy trick.”

  “Nothing I’d ever seen, that’s for sure.” I add, laughing. “Remember after Prom, Ariela—”

  “Uh, yeah,” Dallas says. “Back to Ariela. How did being back here feel?”

  “I could see her face everywhere. It made me really sad until about the middle of the game.”

  “What happened at the game?”

  “You two. Coming back became more about all the fun times. Remember our Sunday morning powwows? Always just the three of us.”

  “We need to do that more often, I think,” Dallas says. “Captive was always about the three of us. It’s gotten so big. I know it makes the stockholders happy, made us all wealthy, but . . .”

  “What are you thinking?”

  “What if we sold off pieces of the business? We had a really lucrative offer come in today from a major player.”

  “We’ve had offers before. We always turn them down,” I say.

  “Not like this one. And they want to absorb us completely. I did a little digging and found out what they really need is our revenue stream. What if we carved out a few projects and employees we want to keep, negotiate to keep the name, and go back to being a boutique studio?”

  I take another hit and pass him back the joint. “We always seem to make our life decisions this way, don’t we? Smoking and talking.”

  “How would you feel about it, Riley?” Keatyn asks gently.

  And I know what’s she’s thinking. She just offered me the chairman job. Something I’ve worked hard for. “Could I still be Chairman of Captive?” I ask playfully.

  “Of course,” Dallas says. “We’d still have our same roles, just hav
e a whole lot less on our plates. More time to golf. And a much fatter bank.”

  “I’d want to take Daddy’s Angel and my undeveloped scripts with me,” Keatyn says. “And I have an idea.”

  She tells us about Knox’s script and how they want to buy a neighboring farm to build a set.

  “If we haven’t signed anything with him yet, we won’t need to address it in the deal. I think that sounds like a really cool project,” Dallas says. “But back to Ariela. We keep getting off track.”

  “When we go back home, I’m going to call her,” I say, surprising myself.

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Dallas says. “What are you going to talk to her about?”

  “Well, why her husband was kissing her, for starters. Then about being here. And probably about what’s next. How do we move forward? How do we move past it?”

  “Shit!” Keatyn says. “I just got a text from your brother. I knew we shouldn’t have left!”

  “What happened?” Dallas asks calmly as he takes another hit.

  “I don’t know. I think maybe he’s drunk.”

  “He probably is!” I laugh. “What did he say?”

  “He just said cat fight and MEOW. You don’t think Gracie got in a fight, do you? Should we go back?”

  A few minutes later, there’s a knock on our hotel room door.

  Dallas quickly puts out the joint, while I wave my hands to dissipate the smoke.

  “It’s Braxton,” he says, looking through the window. We go inside to see what’s going on.

  Braxton is coming through the door with Gracie and Baylor in tow. Gracie’s holding a towel to her cheek.

  “What happened!?” Keatyn shrills.

  Braxton sniffs the air. “I see you’ve all been having fun while I was babysitting the kids.”

  “You weren’t babysitting me,” Gracie says, then she looks directly at Keatyn. “Was he?”

  “Do you really think if I thought you needed babysitting I’d leave you with Braxton?”

  “Hey!” he says.

  Keatyn just grins at him.

  “I’m really sorry, baby,” Baylor says to Gracie, causing me to immediately hate him. Because baby?

  Dallas must not like it either because he grabs the little piss ant Hawthorne boy by the neck.