Keatyn Unscripted (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 8)

by Jillian Dodd

  “No problem. Bye, Keats.”

  I hang up. “He’s not coming home. And I know just where to stay. Let me call and see if they have any rooms.”

  Cooper and I get to the iconic Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica and check into the Presidential suite. It was all they had available and I would pay just about anything to stay on the beach tonight.

  After we get checked in, I immediately swing open the balcony doors and take in the fresh ocean breeze.

  I get a crazy idea that Cooper will probably never agree to. But I check anyway. I pop on Facebook and pull up Mark’s profile. He always posts the night before where they are surfing in the morning.

  There across my phone are the words: Manhattan Beach is where it’s at.

  “You better get some sleep tonight,” I tell Cooper. “We’re getting up at sunrise and going surfing.”

  Cooper stops drinking the beer he just pulled out of the refrigerator. “No, we are not.”

  “Yeah, we are. We’re going to Manhattan Beach. It’s nowhere near Malibu. Some of B’s old surfer friends are going to be there.”

  “I think it’s a bad idea.”

  I smile at him. “So’s going to sit out on the beach right now, but I’m still going to do it.”

  “I’m coming with you and you’re going to pretend to be with me. Understand? Like we’re a couple.”

  I grab his hand. “Come on then, sexy. We’re going to make out in the moonlight.”

  I drag him down to the beach and plop down in the sand.

  He wraps the blanket he took from the suite around us.

  I close my eyes and take it all in. The smells, the sounds. All of which feel like home.

  Except.

  Not quite.

  “Tell me about your sister,” I say to Cooper.

  He shakes his head. “It’s not a pretty story.”

  “I’m sure it’s not. Please. I need to know.”

  “She broke up with her boyfriend because he was cheating on her and that’s when things changed. He started showing up at her apartment unannounced. Standing outside her car waiting for her after work. Sending her flowers and leaving her notes. Of course, she told him they weren’t getting back together, and that he needed to leave her alone. He did for a few months until she started dating again. Then, one night he was waiting for her when she got home. He told her she was his and that if she ever even looked at another man, he would kill her. Before he threatened her, she considered him more of an annoyance, but after that, she was scared. They tried to get a restraining order at that point, but didn’t have any proof. So, she started noting all the times he was around. Saved his cards and letters. Finally got a restraining order. Two days after he was notified of the order, he went to her apartment, raped her, and killed her.”

  My hand flies up to my mouth. “Oh my god.”

  “The neighbors heard the shot and called the police. There was a standoff and he shot himself.”

  “That’s awful.”

  “My parents still blame themselves. They tried to get her to stay with them, but she wouldn’t listen.”

  “She was trying to live her life,” I say, sort of understanding.

  The next morning . . .

  Cooper and I get up early and drive to Manhattan Beach.

  Last night I asked the hotel to get us wetsuits, swimsuits, towels, and changes of clothes. We didn’t pack anything since we weren’t planning on spending the night.

  “Have you ever surfed before?”

  “On a summer vacation to Hawaii.”

  I carefully look at the surfers who are assembled, double checking that Vincent’s not one of them. Or even to see if there’s someone who looks like they don’t belong.

  I spot Mark and wander over to him.

  “Keatyn!” he says, giving me a full body hug. “What’s up, girl?”

  “Not much. I was back in town and saw this was the place to be. I don’t even have a board.”

  “Aw, hell. I’ve got three in my van. You can borrow one.”

  “Thanks. This is my friend, Cooper.”

  Mark gives Cooper a fist bump, and I say hey to the guys that I used to surf with almost every day.

  “Brooklyn is shredding it up on the tour,” one says.

  “How is he?” another asks.

  “He’s living his dream,” Mark answers for me, coming back with two boards.

  Wherever they take him, I say quietly to myself as the sky brightens.

  I was so worried about how his leaving would affect me that I didn’t once stop to think how good this would be for him. He’s already changed so much. The boy I left has grown into a man.

  I sit down in the sand and call him, knowing he’s already awake. “Hey, guess where I am.”

  “Are you safe? That's all I care about. Tommy and James told me about everything that happened at the airport and how Garrett fired your bodyguard.”

  “Two things I want to tell you before we get into that.”

  “What's that?”

  “I’m proud of you for living your dream, and I'm really sorry I wasn't more supportive.”

  “Keats, you're the one who encouraged me. I'll never forget you telling me to follow my dream that night at the Undertow.”

  “I was so afraid you were never going to kiss me.”

  “I told you I've been researching stalking cases, but I’m not loving what I'm finding out. So I'm going to come up with another way.”

  “Okay.”

  “We're gonna be together again, Keats. On the beach, where we belong. Don't lose sight of that dream, okay?”

  I look out at the waves, the guys surfing, and feel calm.

  I feel like he's right.

  “Are you at the beach?” he asks.

  “How did you know?”

  “I can hear the waves and a seagull.”

  “I’m at Manhattan Beach surfing with Mark and the boys. They say hi.”

  “How many sunrises have we watched together, Keats?”

  “A lot.”

  “My favorite part of the day.”

  “I’m gonna go catch a few waves before we have to go.”

  “Show those boys a little chaos.”

  “I’ll try.”

  Vincent is working out with his trainer, a talented MMA fighter. They are having a fierce sparring match when he hears his phone buzz. The noise breaks his focus, and the trainer uses it to his advantage, sweeping him onto the floor and pinning him. Vincent taps out then checks his phone.

  On it is a photo of Lacy wearing a bikini top he’s never seen. Her long legs are encased in a wetsuit, and her hair is wet like she’s just come out of the ocean.

  This the girl you’re looking for? She’s at Manhattan Beach.

  He replies: It is. I’m on my way. Please detain her. There’s five hundred extra in it for you.

  We’ve been surfing for a couple hours when Cooper pulls me aside and says, “I'm starting to get nervous about being here.”

  “Why?”

  “He knows you like to surf. He probably went everywhere and offered a reward to anyone who tips him off when you show up. I don’t like the way those two guys over there are looking at you.”

  I smile. “Maybe they just like my bikini.”

  “They took your picture, made a phone call, and seem to be watching you even closer. I'd like to get out of here.”

  “If you’re right, we won’t want them to see our car. You go get the car. Drive up two blocks. I’ll meet you.”

  “Two blocks? No way. What if Vincent shows up or they try to grab you?”

  “Surfers are territorial. All I have to do is say the guys are creeping me out, and that they took my picture. They still think of me as B’s girl. While they confront them, I’ll sneak away.”

  Cooper grins at me. “That’s a good plan.”

  I walk up to Mark and tell him the guys are creeping me out. He immediately grabs three guys and goes to confront them.

  When he doe
s, I take off running.

  I hide behind cars, dodge behind a restaurant, and then sprint down a sidewalk.

  I see our car ahead, idling at the curb.

  I jump in the car, slightly out of breath. “It worked. Go!”

  Cooper drives all over, making sure he’s not followed. Then we head back to the hotel, where we get a different rental car, just in case. We order room service and eat it on the deck overlooking the water.

  “I could get used to this,” Cooper says, looking out at the beach and down at his huge breakfast.

  He flips through the paper while he eats.

  “Oh, wow.”

  “What?”

  “Look at this.”

  I read a small piece about how Vincent cut short the Miami tryouts and won’t be back, much to the outrage of fans who had waited in line for up to three days to audition.

  “That really sucks for them,” I say, feeling bad.

  Cooper cocks his head. “I never paid attention to the name of his film company before. Have you?”

  “Uh, no. What is it?”

  “A Breath Behind You.”

  A shudder runs down my spine. “Think that’s directed at me?”

  “I’d say so, considering it spells out ABBY.”

  Vincent is just getting on the highway when he gets another text.

  Sorry, dude. The girl’s gone.

  He responds: What? Why?

  The guys she was with saw me take a picture of her. Started some shit. When it was over, she was gone. Do I still get the five hundred?

  He slams his hands on the steering wheel. No, you idiot. You don’t.

  But then he realizes something. She’s come home.

  He turns the car around, calls his man in Malibu, and tells him to get on the beach in front of the house. To walk it all day if he has to. He reminds him to stay in the ocean, so that he doesn’t risk getting picked up for trespassing. And he tells him to grab her first, call him second.

  He quickly exits the highway, drives under the bridge and heads the opposite direction toward Malibu. He’s not taking any chances this time.

  When she comes home, he’s going to greet her himself . . . but she never shows up. He’s just going to have to hope someone will nominate her for the role.

  After class, Annie says, “I forgot to tell you. I heard about this really cool thing online. There’s this guy that’s remaking one of Abby Johnston’s old movies and he’s doing a nationwide search for an actress to play—”

  “She’s not interested,” Aiden says firmly to Annie. “Even though we all thought she was amazing, she didn’t enjoy doing the play and won’t be acting again.”

  “Really?” Annie gives me a bewildered look.

  “Yes, really. I didn’t like it. I want to be a doctor, I think. Although we’re getting back those career surveys next week. Maybe it will tell me what I should do for a job.”

  “But, you could make a ton of money. All I’d have to do is nominate you online.”

  “Annie, please don’t. I would turn it down. I love Eastbrooke and if I got a movie, I’d have to leave. I’d miss you.”

  “I’d miss you too. But what about the money?”

  I shrug my shoulder. “I don’t care. If you nominated me, I wouldn’t try out. I wouldn’t even talk to the guy.”

  “That’s harsh,” she says, still looking at me funny.

  Brooklyn texts Keatyn. And he has a plan.

  B: Call me if you have a chance. I want to talk to you about some stuff.

  I tell Katie that I’m going to the kitchen to scrounge for a snack, but go in the stairwell and call him.

  “Hey.”

  “So I’ve been researching stalking cases. Want to hear some statistics?”

  “Sure.”

  “I found out that half of all stalkers threaten violence but that only two percent actually kill.”

  “So I have a 98% chance of surviving this. I like those odds.”

  “Stalking is a felony but often dismissed due to lack of evidence. Do you remember that pop singer that was stalked? The guy told everyone they were secretly engaged. Sort of reminds me of Vincent saying that he’s going to make a movie with Abby, you know?”

  “Uh, huh.”

  “Stalkers also tend to have inflated egos, impersonal sex, no remorse, and superficial charm. But it all comes down to one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Control and domination.”

  “Garrett already told me all that stuff.”

  “Well, I was thinking of something. Possibly a different approach to fighting him.”

  “What’s that?”

  “What if we made him feel out of control?”

  “I suggested that I do a slutty video or something like Mom’s new movie. I wonder what will happen when it releases. Hopefully it won’t send him over the edge.”

  “What if the control had nothing to do with you?”

  “How would we do that?”

  “My dad’s company is fighting off a hostile takeover.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “That’s what I think we should do to Vincent. We do a hostile takeover of his production company. Giving us the rights to the film. If that film is as important to him as I think it is, he would fight the takeover like crazy. It might not make him forget you, but it might give him something else to do besides a nationwide search for you. It would keep you safer, longer. Then if we get the rights . . .”

  “We could make the film ourselves.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Do you know how much his film company is worth?”

  “No, but I know someone who can find out for us.”

  “He inherited a lot of money when his grandmother died.”

  “You inherited a lot of money from your dad, didn’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And I have a big trust fund too. And if we didn’t have enough, we’d raise the capital somehow.”

  I start to get tears in my eyes, then accidentally let out a little sob.

  “Keats, don’t cry.”

  “Thanks, B. Everyone has been great in trying to protect me. But I feel like I have no control. I want to fight back.”

  “We’ll fight together. I want you back on the beach with me.”

  “It’s late here. I need to get some sleep. Let me know what you find out.”

  “It will probably be a few weeks. They have to get through their deal first. Night, Keats.”

  The next day, Keatyn deletes all of her social media accounts when this happens.

  “Speaking of not knowing anyone,” Whitney says, looking me directly in the eye. “It turns out that I’m Facebook friends with a guy from your old school. Such a small world. Funny thing is, though, he doesn’t know you.”

  “How would you know where I used to go to school?”

  “I’m sure you mentioned it.”

  I shake my head. “No, I’m pretty sure I haven’t.”

  “Well, I must have seen it somewhere.”

  Yeah, like maybe when she broke into the dean’s office.

  “Okay?”

  “I just think it’s a bit odd that he didn’t know you.”

  I need to sound unconcerned, so I use my Alpha girl bitch voice to reply. “What’d the guy look like?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, was he hot? Why would I bother being friends with a guy who wasn’t hot?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t really pay attention. Is that the only reason you hang out with Dawson?”

  I laugh and try to change the subject. “Actually, I wanted his brother.”

  Peyton tries unsuccessfully to stifle a chuckle as Whitney’s eyes get huge. “You wanted Camden? But you . . .”

  “Why would I want Camden? I meant Riley,” I say innocently, but knowing full well that I struck a nerve.

  Whitney sneers at Peyton, but Peyton just shrugs a shoulder.

  While they stare each other down, I text Coo
per because I’m freaking out.

  Me: Meet me in your office in ten?

  Whitney grabs my phone. “Who are you texting? We’re having a discussion here.” She looks at my phone, sees my text, and can’t disguise the mad crinkle between her eyebrows. “You’re texting him?”

  “I just did, yes. I asked him earlier if we could meet to talk about a summer soccer camp.”

  “Bullshit,” she counters. “He’s sitting right there. You could’ve walked over and asked him. You’re hiding something. Don’t think Peyton and I don’t know that.”

  “I just didn’t want to bother him,” I state as my phone lights up in Whitney’s hand.

  She squints her eyes at me. “It seems to me like you and Mr. Steele are together quite a bit.”

  “You’ve had meetings with him too.”

  She huffs.

  I don’t bother to reply. I stand up and say, “I better get going.”

  I walk over to where Cooper is sitting, lean down, and say quietly, “Let’s go.”

  He gathers his stuff up.

  When we get outside, I grab his elbow and pull him around the side of the building.

  “What are you doing?”

  “We’re hiding. And we’re not going to your office. We need to go somewhere else. Somewhere private. I have a big problem.”

  He glances at his watch. “Let’s go to the Teachers’ Lounge. It’s late enough that no one will be in there.”

  When we get locked into the room, he says, “What’s the big problem?”

  “I need to delete all my old social media. Now that I think about it, I don’t even understand why Garrett didn’t do that in the first place.”

  “He was looking for clues and proof anywhere he could. Why do you want to delete it now?”

  “Whitney told me that she’s friends with someone from my old school.”

  “Your old school?”

  “The school that’s in my transcripts. The one I didn’t actually go to.”

  He puts his fist up to his chin. “Oh. That could be a problem. How does she even know that? Why did you tell people?”