by Jillian Dodd
I just realized my worlds don't have clear-cut lines of separation anymore.
Brooklyn = Malibu. Waves. France. Europe. The beach. Sunrise.
Aiden = Connecticut. Eastbrooke. New York. The loft. Sunset.
I hadn't realized it, but Aiden has been invading what should be Brooklyn territory ever since we were in St. Croix. The surf. The sand.
And, now, he's about to invade France.
The place B came to be with me. Dropped everything. Got on a plane. For me. In the hammock is where we confessed our love for each other. It wasn't long after that we shared our first time. Our summer of waves.
Before my birthday party, I hoped my worlds would come together.
Until they were standing there in front of me.
Sander. Cush. Brooklyn.
Each one representing a different choice. A different life.
A different me.
But I didn't need my worlds to come together.
I needed myself to come together.
Aiden kisses my temple. "You have that faraway look in your eye. What are you thinking?"
"That I've changed a lot since the last time I was there."
I stare into the green eyes of the boy who has helped me realize that I don't need separate lives but, rather, should find a boy who fits comfortably into them all.
I run the back of my hand down the scruff on his sweet face. "I love you, Aiden."
Never in my life will I forget the way he looks in this moment. The surprise in his eyes. The emotions crossing his face. His lips forming a smile. His big hands holding my cheeks firmly in place as he looks into my eyes and says, "I love you too, Boots."
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22ND
They're lucky.
6pm
After filming all day, Cooper drives Aiden and me to the airport where we board the Moran Films jet. Everyone else is supposed to be here shortly, in preparation for a seven o'clock departure.
After a few minutes, though, two of my favorite--but unexpected--faces walk through the door.
"Grandma and Grandpa!" I almost yell. "Tommy didn't tell me you were coming!"
I quickly launch myself into Grandpa's arms for a hug.
"Grandma," I say. "How did you talk him into coming?" My grandpa hates to fly because he isn't in control of the plane.
"I told him either he got his ass on the jet, or I was leaving without him. Seeing as he can't cook for himself, he figured coming to France would be better than starving."
Grandpa laughs and walks to the front of the plane, opens the lavatory door, and nods. "Plus, now I can tell Jose and the boys at the ranch that I got to shit on a private jet. They're always singing some rap song about that. I'll be the only one to ever have done it. I keep telling Ma she's gonna have to take a picture of me to prove it."
Grandma makes a hmmppff sound. "I am not photographing you on the toilet." She turns her attention away from Grandpa and smiles at Aiden and Cooper. "And who are these fine-looking young men?"
"This is Cooper," I introduce. "He's sorta my bodyguard."
"When she lets me be," Cooper responds as he takes Grandma's hand in greeting.
Grandma pats his hand. "Well, you must be good at your job. We appreciate you keeping her safe."
He says thank you and then shakes Grandpa's hand, since he's decided to stop exploring the bathroom.
I move toward Aiden and proudly introduce him.
"I'm a big fan of those boots you sent her," Aiden says to Grandpa.
Grandpa puts his big hand on Aiden's shoulder. "Why's that, son?"
"Because they're lucky," he says.
We're interrupted when everyone else joins us. Tommy and Bad Kiki, who barrels over to me, jumps up, and kisses me right on the lips before I can react.
I giggle, scratch behind her ears, and tell her she needs to behave herself.
Matt, Marisa, and little Stormy Moran, Damian and Peyton, Mr. And Mrs. Arrington, Millie and Deron, and Grandma Stevens all join us on the plane.
I'm giving everyone hugs, including Cooper, who is leaving to go spend the holiday with his family, when Tommy asks them to take a seat.
"I have a few surprises. First, we've had a change of destination. We'll be heading to France instead of St. Croix. With everything that's going on in our personal lives, Abby and I decided to throw a party. In France, on the third Thursday in November, they celebrate the uncorking of the Beaujolais Nouveau wine. This wine is young--only aged for six weeks--and is supposed to be drunk by Christmastime. Many towns in France have entire weekend celebrations with fireworks and festivals. We're a little late, but we'll be doing the same. Everyone up for drinking a few barrels of wine and celebrating the holiday together?"
Matt gives Tommy a one-armed hug as the flight attendant hands out champagne.
Matt holds his glass up.
We all follow suit as he toasts, "A little adventure is good for the soul."
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23RD
Might freaking explode.
Sometime in the morning.
We arrive at Nice in the morning, head to the house, and are greeted with screams from the girls.
Sadly, they are more excited to meet Aiden and see Bad Kiki than they are to see me. I get a quick hug before they all barrel outside with the dog.
Mom gives me a hug. One that's longer than usual.
"I missed you so much," I tell her.
She strokes the back of my hair. "I missed you more." Then she whispers, "That has to be the hottie god."
We reluctantly stop hugging so I can introduce her.
"Mom, I'd like you to meet Aiden, his sister, Peyton, and his parents, Aubrey and Lane Arrington."
Mom doesn't waste any time getting to know them. She pulls them all into hugs like she's known them forever. I study Mom more closely. She's glowing and doesn't look as skinny as before.
The move here has been good for her.
After introductions and hugs, everyone is shown to their guest rooms, instructed to nap, freshen up, and then meet for lunch on the patio at one.
Aiden and I talked almost the whole flight, about everything and nothing, so I'm very ready for a nap. We snuggle up and quickly fall asleep.
When I wake up, Aiden isn't in bed, so I take a long shower, dry my hair, and am putting on a dress when there's a soft knock on my door.
I open it to find Kym, who quickly shoves her way into my room, then puts her back on the door and shuts it.
"Whew, I didn't know if I'd make it."
"Make what?" I ask, eyeing the hanging garment bag she's carrying.
"I wanted you to see your dress for later today. I'm dying to show someone something. So humor me."
"I can't wait to see it," I tell her.
"They're almost set up for the party. With my subtle guidance, your mom decided on an over-the-top garden fairy fantasy look for the decor. You have no idea the favors I had to call in to get this wedding outfitted on such short notice. I've been sending her overnight deliveries every day. I'm surprised she hasn't suspected something."
"What did you tell her the deliveries were?"
"Dresses. That since her movie came out, every designer assumes she's going to win an Oscar and wants her to wear their design."
"Did she ask to look at them?"
"Of course she did, but I told her not to open them because I had more coming and that we'd make a day of trying them all on for Tommy after Christmas."
"She likes getting Tommy's opinion."
"Exactly. Now, please say a prayer that your mom doesn't freak over this."
"She'll be thrilled."
"I think she will be too. I'm so excited I'm about to burst," she says, unzipping the bag holding my dress.
It's an adorable Sherri Hill dress with a high-low ruffled bottom in a soft peachy-pink.
"I'll be right back," she says. "I have to show you what I got to go with it. And you should see the girls' dresses. Pale green silk, organza tulle skirts in subtle pastels, purp
le silk sashes. And they'll be wearing wings and carrying floral fairy wands."
I go back to getting ready, putting on some eye shadow, when I hear the door open again.
I was expecting Kym but it's Aiden who walks into the bathroom, grabs me around the waist, and kisses my neck.
"Sleeping Beauty finally wake up?"
"Didn't you take a nap?"
"Not for long. I couldn't sleep. But that's okay. There is a whole lot going on here. I know I've never been to a Hollywood party, but I was walking with Tommy and your Grandpa and looking at the set up. It looks more like a wedding to me."
"Does it look pretty?"
"It's gorgeous. Flowers. A tent. Tables. A stage and dance floor set up in the barn. Just seems really extravagant for such a small group."
"What did Tommy think of it?"
Aiden turns me around to face him. "Tommy thought it wasn't enough and ordered more flowers."
"He's excited everyone's here. It's gonna be a good party."
"Are there more people coming?"
"Uh, no. Just us."
He kisses me, using his tongue in a way that makes me forget who I am.
After a very thorough kissing, he pulls out my bottom lip out with his teeth. "You're lying."
"You heard what Tommy said about the wine. Parties like this went on all over France in November. They're just more extravagant here. Haven't you ever seen Versailles?"
He moves his lips slowly down my neck.
"I have, but there's also a gazebo fully decorated in grapevines, thousands of pastel flowers, and little butterflies. If I didn't know better, I'd think I was going to a wedding."
"Fine. There maybe is something going on. But it's something that no one is supposed to know about. You absolutely should not say the word wedding in front of anyone. Especially any of the people who are setting up."
His lips move lower, his tongue grazing my cleavage.
He stops kissing me and pops his head up. "They're getting married, aren't they? That's why we didn't go to St. Croix. And didn't you promise never to lie to me again?"
"I'm pretty sure I never promised that. Besides, they aren't even engaged. Mom just likes to plan fun parties."
"Did she plan her own wedding and not know it?"
He doesn't let me answer, giving me a rough, hot kiss instead.
When he stops kissing me, he gives me a grin. It's like his grin contains truth serum.
It flows through the air and collects in my bloodstream.
I hate him.
Okay, well, not really. I just wish I had some powers of my own.
Maybe I do. Maybe I can distract him.
I give him a good long kiss, then kiss down his neck. Suck on it a little.
"If you're trying to distract me, it's not going to work."
Well, shit.
"Do you remember that day in French when I was writing out Will you marry me?"
"Yeah, you were doodling words in French and English."
"Maybe I was brainstorming."
It takes a second for that to sink in.
"Are you telling me that Tommy is going to propose today? And this is really an engagement party?"
"Uh, not exactly."
I can see the wheels turning in his brain. Finally, he says, "She thinks she's planning a party, but really she's planning her own wedding and he's going to propose and they will get married all in the same day?"
"You are one smart cookie."
"Why are they doing it so fast? All in one day?"
"For a few reasons, one being that we're all together."
Aiden's beautiful mouth forms a little frown.
I don't want to think about Vincent at all today, so I add, "And because they're Abby Johnston and Tommy Stevens. If anyone had even an inkling of an idea that this is more than a party, then, trust me, somehow the paparazzi would have helicopters flying above it, trying to get photos. It's a party. That's it. Do you understand?"
He smiles. "Yeah, I think I do. Really, it's kind of romantic."
"Tommy is amazing to Mom. And, yeah, this party should be very romantic."
"When's it going to happen?"
"Tommy asked everyone to meet for lunch on the patio for a reason."
"Would you want to do something like that?"
"Would I want to get engaged and married on the same day? Would I want someone else to plan it. Hell, no. Definitely not. I've been dreaming of my wedding since I was old enough to hold a Barbie bride in my hands. Of course, back then, I wanted to marry Ken."
Aiden laughs. "Will your mom be disappointed?"
"I don't think so. She had the big wedding when she married my dad. She and Tommy have four kids. This is the perfect thing to do."
"You're right, as usual."
"Oh, gosh. You've been talking to Grandpa."
"What makes you say that?"
"He says that to Grandma when he's letting her have her way."
Aiden laughs. "He told me it's the phrase that keeps a woman happy."
I laugh too. "He cracks me up."
"He's funny. Very straightforward. Asked me a lot of questions."
"Like what?"
"How you've been doing with all this."
"What did you tell him?"
"That you're amazing."
"So, you lied to my grandpa?"
He tickles me, but the tickling turns to kissing, which turns to him pushing me up onto the vanity, the room quickly heating up. It doesn't take much, a gentle touch and my body does the rest.
Sometimes I feel like if we don't do it, I might freaking explode.
"All right, I've got the flower girl dresses to show you," Kym says, walking into the bathroom and totally ruining what I had hoped might happen next. "Oh, sorry," she says, then she looks at Aiden and goes, "Um . . . Shit."
"It's okay," I say, as Aiden backs up, letting me slide off the counter. "He figured it out."
"He what?! How?! Do you think your mom knows?"
"He guessed. Tommy added more flowers?"
"That's how you figured it out?" she asks Aiden, looking a little scary. I hope he tells her the truth.
"I just thought there were a lot of flowers for a party, you know?" he says.
"Then he was asking me questions. And he had seen something I wrote when I was thinking up proposal ideas for Tommy."
Her eyes get big again. "Do you know how he's going to ask?"
"Um, yeah. Don't you?"
"No. Asshole wouldn't tell me."
"Everything will be set up by one, right? Before lunch."
"Yes."
"So relax and enjoy a quiet afternoon before things get crazy."
"Things are already crazy. The butterflies on the gazebo look like they belong at a child's birthday party. Hair and makeup will be here at two, but Tommy says he can't say exactly what time the proposal will be, so they will be twiddling their thumbs, wondering what's going on. The barrels of wine that Tommy ordered haven't arrived. And the band's singer has laryngitis."
"I'll go look at the butterflies. There is plenty of wine in the cellar. And, hello, Damian is here."
"That's true." She takes a deep breath.
"Can we see the girls' dresses?" Aiden asks, the question seemingly having a calming effect on Kym.
"Oh, yes. And, here, you will love this." She hands me a box.
I take the lid off to find a pair of boots. They are distressed brown leather with pale pink flowers embroidered up the sides.
"With the way the front of the dress is short, I thought the boots would be perfect. And I know how you love your boots."
I give her a hug. "I do!"
"Me too," Aiden says with big grin. "Me too."
Anything is possible.
Noon.
Aiden and I walk down to the gazebo to check out the butterfly crisis. The girls are out in the yard, playing, so they follow us down to the pond.
"Where you going, Aye-den?" Gracie asks.
"For a walk
. Where are you going, Gracie?"
"With you!" she screams, running ahead of us.
Avery and Ivery grab ahold of my hands, and Emery takes one of Aiden's.
He glances at me and gives me a wink.
I close my eyes and tuck away the memory. The perfect crisp weather that feels more like fall than winter. The bright sun shining on my head. My sisters being silly. Aiden sliding his free arm around my shoulder.
Perfect blissful happiness.
"Watch!" Gracie demands as she drops to the ground and does an off-balance somersault.
"We can do cartwheels and backbends!" Avery tells me.
All the girl rush ahead of us to show off their gymnastic skills.
"You do a cartwheel, too, Kiki!" Ivery says.
I smile, run across the field, do a cartwheel, and then a round off. The girls screech and clap like I just did an Olympic-medal-worthy routine.
"Aye-den, you too!"
"I can't do a cartwheel," he says. "But I can do this."
He does a perfect handstand, shows off by doing a couple of handstand pushups, then walks on his hands, before falling over in the grass.
"Get him!" I yell, picking Gracie up and running to where Aiden is lying. We both leap on him and start tickling him, the triplets quickly joining in.
Aiden laughs and almost screams, which makes us tickle him more.
He playfully tosses the girls off him.
They take off, skipping, doing cartwheels, and laughing.
He rolls on top of me, pushes the hair off my face, and looks deeply into my eyes.
We stare at each other for a few moments, his soul speaking to mine in a language I finally understand.
"I love you, Keatyn Elizabeth Douglas," he says.
"I love you too, Aiden I-dont-know-your-middle-name Arrington."
"It's Asher," he says as our lips touch in a very G-rated kiss.
Just like the very first time he kissed me on the Ferris wheel.
It's a slow, perfect, time-stood-still, fireworks-in-my-eyes kind of kiss.
No open mouths, no tongues; just a kiss.
A little teeny kiss.
That means so much more.
Everything with Aiden has always been so much more.
Avery yells, "Look! They're kissing!"
The girls giggle as he slips his hand into mine and pulls me to my feet.
I have the same reaction I did back then.
My hand belongs in his.
Forever.
It's a scary thought. Forever.
But being here with my family, sharing them with Aiden, makes it seem not as scary.
