by Jillian Dodd
“Ummm, you kiss good. I like when you kiss me.”
“Well, if you want me to ever kiss you again, I suggest you let me up, tell me if what I’m going to wear looks good or not, and then walk me to dinner.”
“I getta watch you get dressed?”
“Uh, no.”
“Damn. Why not?” He leans up slightly, gets an eyeful of my leopard print bra. “I’ve already seen them.” But he does as he is told, gets up, grabs my hand, and pulls me up off the bed in one easy, effortless motion.
It’s really kinda hot.
But then I realize he also managed to pull my robe off my shoulders in the process, well sort of. I quick pull it back up onto my shoulders. He is way too smooth.
“So you might wanna, uh, brush the back of your hair a little,” he laughs.
I run into my closet and grab my dress, walk back out, holding it in front of me and say, “So, what do you think? Oh wait, let me grab my wedges, so you know, you get the full effect.” I dig down in the bottom of my suitcase and grab my wedges, slide them on my feet. Then I hold the dress in front of me. “Okay. So? You think this will be okay? Be like appropriate for tonight?”
“What I think is that you better put that dress on really fast or we’re not going to make dinner.”
His eyes are gliding up and down my body. I run back in the closet, slip the dress on, then let him zip it up. He kisses my shoulder.
I twirl around, showing off the dress. It’s a dark coral spaghetti strap dress. It has delicate embroidery on it that gives it that sorta 70’s boho look, but it fits me well, glides over my curves. It’s sexy, but in a subtle way.
“I think I’ll have the prettiest girl there on my arm. You look amazing, really, the dress is like the perfect mix of sweet and sexy.” He pulls me into another kiss. “Come on. We better go, before you get me all hot again.”
And I’m trying not to think about how he might torture me with my tongue, but that is exactly what’s on my mind as I walk into the dining hall on Riley’s arm.
I can’t say I mind it. Even though he is obviously looking for sex, you can’t help but like his honesty about it. I would much prefer to know where I stand than play games with some player.
So even though he is the God of all Hotties, Aiden is probably out of the running.
I think Dallas is adorable, but let’s face it, I have only met freshmen boys and Aiden, who is a sophomore. There have been some very cute older boys roaming about, so I don’t want to, like you know, pick someone yet.
And really, I’m not sure if I will pick anyone at all. I mean, maybe for some fun, but definitely not a relationship.
I mean, I love Brooklyn, right? (Oh, Keatyn….)
Riley and I go through the buffet, and then he sits us at the end of a table all by ourselves. Which is kinda weird, it’s like he’s sending a message, she’s here with me, we need to be alone, which is not the kind of dinner I was thinking about. It makes it look like we are on a date. And we’re not.
But then the gorgeous dark haired boy, who hangs with Peyton, walks over with a couple other guys. They all set their trays down next to us. Gorgeous says, “Bro,” and slaps Riley on the back. Both Gorgeous and Riley have their hair slicked back in the same way, and I realize I am looking at an older version of Riley.
Damn.
Riley is going to get even hotter.
Gorgeous throws his arm around my shoulder and says, “Riley is just a cheap imitation of the real thing. I’m Dawson.”
Riley’s face drops a little.
Dawson is super cute, but the way he just slammed his brother in front of the girl he walked in with, well, it’s a dick move, and the zen in me thinks karma is a bitch. So I decide to give him a little payback for his comment.
I remove his arm from my shoulder, like its a piece of trash, turn to face him and say, “Funny, he felt pretty real in my dorm room a few minutes ago.” (I love how she stands ups up for Riley here, even though it is kinda bitchy.)
The other boys at the table are like, “OOHHHH” and “Way to go, Riles!”
And Riley’s face lights back up again.
“You guys are lame,” Dawson tells us. Then he sees Peyton setting down her tray, and says, “I’m gonna go sit with Peyton. Enjoy romper room over here.”
God, he’s a jerk.
I put my hand on top of his, so he can’t go just yet, and decide to really stick it to him. “I heard Peyton gushing all about her college boyfriend. That must really suck for you.” (Peyton? What? Can you imagine how different the story would have been? But after writing Stalk Me and what Keatyn goes through with Vanessa and RiAnne, it was so awesome to have Peyton go through the same thing. It added an incredible dichotomy to the story, and I loved having Keatyn know that it was going to end badly. Hello, up on the stage at the end of Hate Me? Another interesting tidbit, was that I originally thought Whitney would find out who Keatyn really was and out her—not do what she did to Peyton. It was so much more delicious to have her go after Peyton and have Keatyn out herself in order to protect her friend. It showed so much Keatyn growth in that one moment.)
His eyes get the same hurt look as Riley’s had a few moments ago. And he walks away.
One of the boys that is sitting there says, “Damn, girl, you’re ruthless.”
“He was mean to Riley.”
“Naw. They’re brothers, they always joke like that, slamming each other in front of hot girls. I’m Jake, by the way.” He reaches his hand across the table and shakes mine.
“I’m Keatyn.”
“And I’m Bryce,” says a very cute boy with blonde hair and adorable freckles. He is cute, but way too short for me. “How did you know about Peyton and Dawes anyway?”
“I didn’t really, just a good guess. I saw how he was looking at her at the cave last night and then just now. She’s my student leader. Actually talked me into trying out for the dance team. Which I was not at all planning to do. And she was gushing a bit about this college boy. So I just,” I turn to Riley. “I’m sorry, that wasn’t very nice of me, I’ll apologize to your brother.”
Riley laughs, “Do what you want, but that was AWESOME! You and I are gonna be great friends.”
Then the muscular, black boy speaks. This boy is a hottie, looks like a bit like Drake, but is taller and has sexier muscles. “I’m Tyrese. What up? So last night you were making out with that Dallas dude and now your doing shit in the dorm with Riley? Wanna come up to my room later?” He sexily winks at me.
Riley says sweetly, “We weren’t doing stuff in her dorm room. I walked with her to dinner. She was just saying that to make Dawes mad.”
I turn and look at Riley. Smile with my eyes. Because oh my gosh, the player just totally stood up for my reputation. He’s so sweet.
“So you gonna make the dance team?” Jake asks me.
“I don’t know. Probably not. I mean there were eighteen girls trying out for three spots. I felt like I did pretty good, but dance isn’t really my thing.”
“What is your thing?”
“Uh, well, I’m pretty good at soccer, I’m hoping to make at least JV.”
“I heard you rocked at soccer tryouts,” Tyrese says, then winks again. “And I also witnessed your scoring on Aiden wearing cowboy boots and a dress.” He laughs. “We gave him all sorts of shit about that today at football practice.”
“You shouldn’t have done that. I think I shocked him, he just wasn’t prepared for me to actually kick it.”
“You don’t even know, do you?”
“Know what?”
“Aiden is only a sophomore, but he’s one of the best goalies around. He was our starter last year on Varsity, and we won state. The dude already has scholarship offers about anywhere he wants to go. I also heard him talking about you, girly. I think he’s in love.” (In this version, Aiden is a year older than Keatyn.)
I want to talk more about this subject. Cuz are we talking love or lust? And just how many other girls is he in lo
ve with?
I’m dyinggggg to know what he said, and I’m trying to think of what I can say to subtly get him to TELL ME MORE!
But Riley quickly changes the subject. “So where’s the party tonight, boys?”
Bryce shifts his eyes around, making sure no one is around, and says, “Keatyn, if there’s one thing your new friend can do, it’s party. He can drink Dawes under the table, and that’s saying something.” He turns to Riley and whispers, “Heritage 22C and 32C is the backup plan. Just you two, ‘k?”
Riley nods his head.
The boys take their trays and head out to the mixer.
Riley grins at me. “Told ya. I have this place wired.”
“Yeah, you did,” I grin back. “And thanks for what you said. I mean, that was really cool of you.”
“And that surprises you?”
“Yeah actually, it kinda did. I sorta thought you would be the kinda guy that would be bragging about it.”
“Well normally, I am that kinda guy, but I guess with you I’m not. I feel this strange need to protect you.”
I bat my eyes at him. “I like that.”
“Ready to go to this lame ass mixer thing?”
I’ve Died and Gone to Hottie Heaven
7pm
We walk across next door to where the mixer is being held. We get to the auditorium and see a note on the door that reads, Mixer?? How Lame!!!! Surprise Freshman!! Come to the carnival at the soccer fields.
“Did you know about this?” I ask Mr. Know It All.
“Actually, yeah, I did. But it’s like a surprise for the Freshman class every year, and I wanted you to be surprised.” Theres no one in the hall, so I grab him and pull him to my lips.
I’ve been wanting to kiss him since he stood up for me.
“Damn. You seriously kiss good.”
“So do you. Come on, let’s go have some fun.”
He grabs my hand and drags me as fast as my wedges will allow down to the soccer fields, which have been turned into a full out carnival. There’s all sorts of food booths and games, a ferris wheel, and even a dunking tank where you get to dunk the teachers.
Can I say, I love it here.
A Ferris wheel. Not as big as my favorite one on Venice beach, but still.
“Hey, there’s Dallas and Carson.”
We head over to them. Dallas has a huge blob of pink cotton candy on a stick.
“Cotton candy is my favorite!” I shrill, sounding unexpectedly girly.
Dallas pulls some cotton candy off the stick and puts it up to my mouth. So I open it, and he shoves the fluff all in at once.
I’m laughing with pink fluff hanging out of my mouth. I bite off a piece and put the other half in my hand. Riley grabs my hand and puts it up to his mouth.
“I’m not sharing.” I tease.
Riley puts my fingers into his mouth and sucks the candy off them. (I can so picture this . . . and want it for myself. I have a mad crush on Riley.)
It sorta takes my breath away.
Standing there, in front of everyone. Doing something so simple as feeding him cotton candy, but at the same time, it feels so overtly sexual, it makes me blush. Especially the way he is gazing me, as he is sucking the melted candy off my fingers.
I actually have to turn and look away.
And who chooses this exact moment to be in my line of vision? Who is standing there watching Riley suck cotton off each one of my fingers?
The God of all Hotties himself.
I give him a save me look.
And I’m not sure why. I don't really want to be saved from Riley. He is totally turning me on. But I think even though I am not at all interested in the god, I, for some reason, don’t want him to think I’m here with Riley, or that I like what Riley is doing to me. Even though I do.
Really freaking do.
Aiden says, “Hey, Boots, come here. My sister was just looking for you.”
Dallas says, “Boobs?”
“No. He calls me Boots cuz of the boots the other day.”
“Oh, I gotcha.”
Aiden is not very patient when he says, “Come on.”
I look at Riley, with a I guess I have to go with him look, and take off with Aiden.
“What does your sister want?”
Aiden smiles. “Nothing. I lied. It was either that or kick the crap out of that Riley dude for sucking on your fingers.”
I scoff at him. “Why would you do that? He was just stealing my cotton candy.”
“Looked like a little more than that to me. And I heard you were making out with Dallas last night after I left.”
“We were high,” I tell him. “It was just a little friendly kissing.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Why not?”
“I just don’t.”
“Uh, okay. So now what?”
“You look amazing. I like your hair like that.”
“Uh, thanks,” I mutter out.
I swear, I’m a very literate and well spoken young lady. I can talk to anyone. Heads of state, blockbuster movie stars, rock stars, but this boy, he has me like tongue tied. And then I stare at his mouth, and think I’d like to know more about his tongue. (We all do! And, oh, how long did we have to wait for that damn tongue—like four books?)
Okay. That’s it.
I need a time out.
Like my little sisters get.
Go sit in a corner by myself.
Seriously.
What? 36 hours ago, I had sex with Brooklyn and an amazing night. I felt so amazingly in love with him. Less than a day later, I made out with Dallas, and then today, I made out with Riley. And now, I am standing here thinking all I want to do is kiss the hottie god.
What’s wrong with me?
I think I’m on boy overload.
Are there not any girls here?
I need to find some.
I’m not attracted to girls.
“So did the four leaf clover bring you luck?” he asks me.
“I don’t know yet. I think we find out sometime tonight who made it. And you know, the odds aren’t good, and I like tried out on a whim. I’m sure I didn’t make it.”
“My sister said you did very well. You also did very well at soccer tryouts, kicked ass, really. You’ll definitely make Varsity.”
“You think?”
“Yeah, I do. Hey,” he gets an adorable little boy grin, “wanna go ride the ferris wheel?”
“I’d love to.”
And then he takes my hand to lead me over to it.
And once again.
Same reaction.
Just his touching my hand makes me feel slightly dizzy.
No way I can kiss this boy, I would probably pass out.
And that would probably not be a good thing.
I’m thinking so hard, I barely realize we are now sitting on the Ferris wheel together. He is sitting close to me, and he casually puts his arm around my shoulder.
I can’t help it.
My body leans in to him. And I rest my head on his shoulder.
I feel like I’ve died and gone to hottie heaven.
Please, God, or Hottie Gods, whoever, don’t let this ride end.
Pretty soon we are stuck at the very top of the Ferris wheel, looking at the pretty lights and he says, “Boots.”
I raise my head up, and that’s when he kisses me.
A slow, perfect, time stood still, fireworks in front of my eyes, kind of kiss.
And it was just a little kiss. No open mouths, no tongues, just a kiss.
A little teeny kiss.
Holy shit.
I’m in love him.
Can you fall in love instantly? (Yes, you can, Keatyn. You totally just did. Although, technically, it probably happened on the soccer field.)
Mom says she fell instantly in love with Tommy. They met on a set when they did a movie together, and she says the second he shook her hand, she knew. And four months later, she was pregnant with the triplets.
/> The kiss has stopped, but I am stupidly still sitting there with my eyes closed.
I realize this and open them.
“That was amazing,” he tells me.
I can’t form a sentence, so I nod breathlessly.
He kisses me again.
And I don’t change my mind with the second kiss.
But, I can not.
CAN NOT fall in love with a guy that is gonna play me. A guy that thinks he’s in love with every girl he dates, but breaks up with them quickly because he just knows she’s not the one.
After a kiss like that. He should know I’m the one.
He should be down on his knees begging me to marry him and have his hottie babies. (One of my favorite lines. Wouldn’t it be easy if boys would just admit their undying devotion right away? Except that would turn us off. LOL)
There shouldn’t be anything to think about.
But I’m sure it was a one sided thing. Although he said it was amazing.
Shit. He stopped kissing me again, and now he’s saying something to me.
“It’s our turn to get off next.”
When did the ferris wheel even move?
I seriously did not feel it move.
We step off the ferris wheel, and I feel the extreme urge to run away from him as fast as I possibly can. The predator, Dawson, or even Tyrese, the winker, seem safe compared to Aiden.
He must really be the God of all Hotties.
Seriously.
Because I’m pretty sure he just used some special powers on me. The make her lose track of all time power, the kiss her and fill her mind with cotton candy power.
“Uh, um, I gotta get back to my, um, friends,” I stutter out.
The make her lose the ability to form a complete sentence power.
“Oh, no you don’t. My sister really is looking for you. I was supposed to find you and bring you back to the stage.”
He smiles.
It’s a blinding white teeth smile.
A push me over the edge of the love cliff smile.
And before I can say a word in protest, he’s got my hand and is dragging me through the carnival.
Note to self.
Do not stare directly at his smile. It holds special powers.
Also. Do not kiss him. His mouth definitely is the source of his power.