The Game-Kirsten Backhard

by Shawnte Borris

  “Do you have any idea what they have up their sleeves?” asked Liz.

  “Nope, but I bet it’s gonna be a blast,” I said excitedly.

  “We always have so much fun with my brother, and I really like Logan. He’s so free-spirited, and he loves my brother.”

  “They complement each other very well,” I said.

  We walked back to the balcony to let the boys know we were ready.

  The four of us walked about four blocks before I stopped at a hot dog cart.

  “Liz, we gotta try one.”

  “Totally! Who goes to New York and doesn’t eat a hot dog from a vendor?”

  “We would like two jumbo dogs with mustard, please,” I said to the vendor.

  “Really girls?” asked Logan.

  “Hot dogs!” we both cheered.

  The boys smiled and shook their heads.

  “That will be seven fifty, please.”

  Logan’s arms reached in front of mine as he handed the money to the vendor.

  “Thanks, Logan, but you didn’t need to do that.”

  “Yes, I did. We’re treating you guys to New York. Now, hurry along, or we are going to be late.”

  After walking a bit while Liz and I finished our hot dogs, the boys stopped, turned, and went down a dingy unlit alleyway.

  “Are you girls coming?” asked Steve.

  “It doesn’t look very safe,” said Liz.

  “Really? You honestly think that I’d put you two in danger?” Steve yelled back, insulted.

  “You did! Remember the time we went out to the racetrack? You got me to ride with you, and then the tire blew,” I said.

  “It’s not like I knew the tire was going to blow. Come on, you scaredy pants!” Steve shouted.

  Liz and I held hands, and against our better judgment, we went into the ally.

  Just as we passed a garbage can, Steve jumped out and yelled as Logan tickled our backs.

  “Ah! You fuckers! I think I just peed my pants,” hissed Liz.

  Logan and Steve were buckled over, laughing, as they held on to their sides.

  “Oh my god, did you see their faces?” Steve asked.

  “Funniest thing ever,” cried Logan.

  “You guys are assholes,” I seethed, my arms clutching my chest.

  “Not funny, douche bags!” Liz yelled. “I’m pregnant, remember?”

  “I didn’t think you’d get scared like that,” roared Steve.

  “We’re sorry,” offered Logan as he opened a door. “Come on, girls. Let’s go have some fun.”

  Both Liz and I smacked Steve across the back of his head when we passed him, and then we punched Logan in his stomach.

  “Ouch. Babe, you never said they could punch like a guy?” Logan mumbled while rubbing his stomach.

  Liz and I whipped our heads around and seethed at Steve.

  He instantly put up his hands. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. It was a bad joke.” Then, he gave us his one-hundred watt smile. “Forgive me?”

  Liz and I didn’t answer him. We just went up the steps.

  “Oh, come on. It was funny.” Steve chuckled again.

  Logan unlocked and held open another door for everyone to step inside. It was an open loft with lights and camera equipment set up all over the place.

  “Where are we?” asked Liz.

  “You’re in Logan’s studio,” Steve replied proudly.

  “Why are we here?” I asked.

  “Logan and I thought it would be fun to dress you guys up and take some pictures.”

  “What do you mean by dress us up?” Liz asked.

  The door flew open, and about fifteen people walked in, carrying tons of stuff.

  “Hey, guys,” welcomed Logan. “This is Steve’s sister, Liz, and her best friend, Kirsten.”

  Everyone said, “Hi,” all at once.

  Liz and I just smiled and waved.

  “Why don’t you guys get set up? As soon as you all are ready, you can start working on the girls.”

  I turned to Logan. “Why are all these people here?”

  “To help with the photo shoot silly.” Logan teased.

  “What kind of photo shoot?” asked Liz.

  I looked over at some of the wardrobe being brought it. “Ah, I think it’s a photo shoot that will guarantee Brad gets his rocks off.” I laughed.

  “Really?” Liz asked nervously.

  “Oh, come on, Liz. It will be fun,” I begged, batting my eyelashes.

  “I don’t want my brother seeing me like that.” Liz cringed.

  “Don’t worry about Steve. He will be busy in the back,” replied Logan.

  I grabbed Liz’s arms and pulled her to the back of the room. “This is gonna be so much fun. I can’t wait to see what Brad is gonna say.”

  Liz and I sat in the two director chairs facing two big mirrors with lights all around them.

  “Are you girls ready?” asked an attractive woman with purple hair.

  “Oh, I’m not getting married. This is all for Liz,” I replied, pointing at my best friend.

  “Well, I was told that hair and makeup were for two beautiful ladies.”

  Steve walked around the corner and handed us each two energy drinks. “You girls will need this. It’s harder than it looks.” He smiled.

  “Says the man who looks flawless,” I teased.

  “I guess you’ll finally be able to appreciate what I do for a living,” Steve said.

  “Liz, you look beautiful. Your hair looks like silk, and your makeup is flawless,” I said, leaning in closer to her face.

  Liz turned towards the mirror. “I hardly recognize myself. I thought I was good-looking before, but damn.”

  Liz and I were both smiling when Logan came walking up.

  “Liz, you ready? You’re up first.”

  “I am. I’m so excited.” She turned to Logan and gave him a big hug. “Thank you, Logan…for this and for making my brother so happy.”

  “Loving him is easy,” he responded with a wink.

  When we walked around the corner, we couldn’t believe how the empty loft had changed into a bedroom in two hours. A large king-size bed with beautiful white-and-teal embroidered bedding was made up near large windows.

  “It’s beautiful,” breathed Liz.

  “You just wait until I do my magic with the editing.” Logan clapped his hands. “All right, people. This is going to be a quick photo shoot, so everyone needs to be on their game. The first set of pictures that I want to do is Liz on the bed with the veil wrapped around her body. So, I need wardrobe to bring in the white garter set with the stockings.” Logan turned to Liz. “Liz, after putting them on, I want you to sit on the bed and face the green screen.” He looked at a few people off to the side. “Then, hair people, I want you to place the veil on her head and wrap it around her, so we won’t be able to see her front side.”

  I looked over at Liz, smiled, and gave her a thumbs-up. I went back to my station to finish up whatever needed to be done.

  “Beautiful, absolutely beautiful,” Steve said as he leaned against the mirror.

  “You think? I mean, what’s not to love with gooped-up hair, fake eyelashes, and five-dollar press-on nails?” I laughed.

  “You never needed any of those things. Just you smiling when you walk into a room makes you beautiful, Kirsten.”

  “Thanks, Steve.” I blushed.

  “Liz is almost done, so I’m gonna run out and grab everyone pizza.”

  “Thanks for this. It’s a pretty awesome adventure,” I said, looking into the mirror.

  “Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t posed for Logan. I love the man, but no way in hell would I ever model for him…professionally anyway.” He laughed and wiggled his eyebrows.

  “Excuse me,” interrupted the wardrobe lady.

  “I was just getting out of your way to grab dinner for everyone.” Steve kissed me on the cheek. “Knock them dead, sweetheart.”

  I smiled over at him before he left. All of a
sudden, I felt really nervous.

  “Kirsten, I have this pink bodice for you with French lace panties,” the lady said while opening the black ribbon closure in the back for me. “Put these two on, and then when you are ready, I will tighten the back up for you and help you into the black stockings.”

  “All right,” I replied nervously, taking the items from her hands.

  “Don’t be anxious girl. You’ll do great. Liz knocked it out. Her fiancé is gonna flip when he sees what Logan did.”

  “I’m excited. I just wish I had someone to share these with. I hope it’s not a waste.”

  “Oh, honey, it won’t be. Blow them up and display them in your bedroom.” With that, she walked away, giving me some privacy to change.

  “Oh my god, Kirsten, that was so much fun. Brad is gonna cream his pants when he sees these. I can’t wait!” exclaimed Liz as she walked toward me.

  “I love that outfit! Reminds me of the time—”

  “Are you girls decent?” asked Logan.

  “We are,” I said.

  “Liz, could you come out here for a moment after you get a robe on?” asked Steve.

  Liz looked at me, and I just shrugged my shoulders.

  I mouthed, I don’t know, before following her to the other room.

  Displayed in the middle of the makeshift bedroom was the most beautiful wedding dress that I had ever seen. It was an ivory satin princess ball gown. It had a gathered waist and sequin bust with pickups throughout the skirt. It screamed Liz.

  Liz just stood there, looking at it, with her mouth hanging open. I gave her a little nudge. She gazed over to Steve and Logan, and I could see the tears starting to come. Hell, I even had my own tears in my eyes.

  “It’s the most beautiful dress that I’ve ever seen.” Liz walked over and lightly touched the dress. “It feels so soft.”

  Looking over to the boys, I whispered, “You didn’t?”

  “Didn’t what?” replied Steve with a wicked smile.

  “Don’t fuck with her. You know that dress says Liz all over it.”

  “I know it does.” Steve laughed while crossing his arms over his chest. “Why do you think it’s here?”

  I couldn’t say anything. I ran over to the both of them and brought them into a hug.

  “I don’t understand,” Liz said.

  “Well, baby sister, Logan did a dress shoot for an up-and-coming designer. One of the models was wearing this dress, and as soon as I saw it, I knew it was the dress for you. So, I went ahead and texted Mom a picture. Her and Dad sent over the money and bought you the dress.”

  Liz was speechless for a moment. “This…this dress is mine?”

  “All yours.”

  Liz studied her brother and started crying. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Then, say nothing and go try it on.” Steve smirked.

  “And leave your lingerie on. It’s a gift from my grandmother.” Logan grinned.

  Liz just stood there, so I did what any good friend would do. I hit her upside the head with a pillow.

  “Bitch. What was that for?” Liz seethed.

  “Well, seeing as you are taking forever to say thank you, I thought I’d just help you along.” I chuckled.

  Liz hopped on the bed and grabbed a pillow, but before she could get a good swing in, I was on the bed with her, already nailing her with the pillow again. We were both laughing, crying, and calling each other bitches before we both fell back onto the bed, still giggling our asses off.

  When I finished lacing up the back of the wedding dress, I turned Liz around.

  “This dress was absolutely made for you. You don’t even need to do alterations, even with a small baby bump,” I said, admiring her in the dress.

  Liz looked in the mirror and slid her hands up and down her waist. “I love it. I absolutely love it.”

  When we both walked out, Steve just stared at his baby sister.

  Logan walked up behind him and placed his arms around his shoulders. “She is breathtaking.”

  “Yeah,” was all Steve could say.

  “All right, everyone, break is over.” Logan stated. “Kirsten, go get some touch-ups on your face and hair.”

  I did as he had told me, and a few people came to perfect my face and hair. I couldn’t believe how hard this was. Seriously, who would have thought that models had a tough job? I sure in the hell didn’t, but I do now.

  The bedroom had been taken down and replaced with a living room scene. I really liked the odd-shaped black couch sitting in the center of the room.

  Logan told me to get up on the couch and stretch out. “Kirsten, you need to loosen up,” Logan instructed.

  I let out a breath. “Ugh.”

  “All right, let’s put on some music and play with the beat, okay?”

  Liz had a smug smile on her face. “Oh, I got just the song for her.” She ran and put her iPhone on the stereo dock. Katy Perry’s “Peacock” came pumping out of the speakers. I couldn’t help it. I tilted my head back and just busted out laughing.

  “That’s it, bitch. Strut your peacock!” shouted Liz.

  Just as we were finishing up, Liz gave me a poster that she’d made. In bold, black letters, it said, It’s not me. It’s you.

  “Really?” I asked.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Why not?”

  As I posed a few times with this stupid sign, Liz took pictures with her iPhone.

  While I was changing into my last number, Liz showed me the pictures she had taken.

  “My smile is huge,” I said.

  “But look at your lips. They are perfect. Any guy would kill to have those lips wrapped around his cock.”

  I smacked her on her leg. “Shut up.”

  This time walking out in a new outfit I felt more confident.

  “All right, Kirsten. This time, I want you to straddle the back of the couch and push out your ass,” Logan instructed.

  I did as he had told me.

  “Yes, just like that,” Logan said.

  I couldn’t help but giggle. I thought about how this would look really strange if someone were to just walk in.

  “Now, I want you to sit on the arm of the couch and hold on with your hands. Then, push out your chest, tilt your head back, and pretend to moan.”

  Again, I followed his instructions, and that was when Steve came around the corner, holding a pizza box.

  “Ah-hum,” Steve choked out.

  Logan and I turned our heads toward him.

  “Pizza’s here,” Steve announced, effectively putting an end to the photo shoot.

  Two days later, the four us were sitting on the roof of Logan’s apartment. The view, overlooking Central Park and facing the Hudson River, was perfect to watch the fireworks.

  “I can’t believe how much fun that photo shoot was,” Liz gushed.

  “Well, I’m glad that you girls had fun.” Logan smiled.

  “This whole weekend has been great. Big brother, you outdid yourself,” Liz said to Steve.

  “What can I say, little sister? I wanted to give you one last hurrah.” Steve smiled.

  Steve stood and picked up his sister. He enveloped her in a tight hug. “I can’t believe it. My baby sister is gonna be a mom.” A tear slipped away from Steve’s eye. “Just don’t be like Kirsten’s mom,” he joked.

  “Hey!” I snorted.

  We all busted out laughing.

  Leaving New York, I’d decided it was best for me to head straight to Chicago. On the way there, I couldn’t help but think about what Liz had told me on the roof on the night of the fireworks.

  “Drew’s dad is retiring from publishing, and this oddball company is trying to buy him out quickly.”

  “What do you mean by quickly?” I asked.

  “It’s strange. They just gave him a one-time deal, a take-it-or-leave-it offer. His dad doesn’t even have time to get his company appraised or anything.”

  “When is this deal supposed to go through?”


  “According to Brad, next Wednesday.”

  “What’s the name of the company?”

  “Swept Publishing.”

  As soon as Liz had said that name, I had gotten a really creepy feeling. I’d tried to Google the company, but I’d had no luck. It was like they didn’t even exist.

  When I arrived in my cute new apartment, the first thing I did was call my assistant, Jennifer, at my office in Toronto. Her phone just rang and rang. That’s odd. It’s four o’clock her time, so she should still be there. I hung up and called my office in case she was in there.

  When someone picked up my office phone, I heard muffled sounds coming from the other end.

  “Uh, hello?” I asked.

  I could hear a woman talking in a very soft tone, like someone was holding the receiver of the phone. Then, I heard a man’s voice laughing.

  “Hello?” I was starting to get aggravated. Who in the hell is in my office when I’m not there?

  “Hey, Kirsten. What’s up?”

  “Derek?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What are you doing in my office?”

  “I, uh…uh—”

  “Derek!”

  “Huh? What?”

  “Derek, what the fuck are you doing in my office?”

  “I was, um—”

  “Derek Backhard! Are you fucking my secretary in my office?” I screamed.

  “Well…no…not exactly.”

  “You have got to be fucking shitting me. She’s giving you a blow job, isn’t she?”

  “Um—”

  “Fucking Christ! Derek, I cannot afford for you to fuck my staff. I don’t need her fucking quitting.”

  “She won’t. I promise.”

  I was so mad at my brother that I just hung up the phone. “Asshole.”

  I went to my laptop and emailed my sexatary. I shivered, knowing what she was doing to him at this exact moment. I’m so kicking my brother in the junk next time I see him.

  Afternoon, Ms. Corrigan,

  When you find the opportunity this afternoon, I would appreciate it if you could look into a company for me. I need you to find as much information as you can on Swept Publishing and pull in any favors that are owed to me. This is time-sensitive. As soon as you see or find any information, please forward it to me ASAP. Make copies of everything you find and place the file on my desk.