Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10) (20 page)

“
Thank you. That means a lot.
”

“
Now, tell me about Bam and Dawson. You asked him to move in, what did he say?
”

“
He said yes. We made love. He told me the girls decided to come here for school. We were going out to celebrate. Then Bam showed up with roses and a huge ruby.
”

“
Does he want to get back together?
”

“
Yes. His father is dying. He
’
s retiring from polo and will be taking over the family empire. His mother called me the other day and told me I should take him back. I told her no. I didn
’
t expect him to show up at my door.
”

“
Did he forget the whole part about him cheating on you? And what about the model?
”

“
She dumped him for someone younger.
”

“
Ha! Serves him right! What did Bam have to say about Dawson being there?
”

“
Yeah, that
’
s where things went downhill. I introduced Dawson to Bam as someone I work with. He looked hurt when I said it. Then he left.
”

“
Ouch. Why did you do that?
”

“
Because I didn
’
t want to have to explain it to Bam. You know how he is. If he thought Dawson was his competition, it would just make him try harder to win me.
”

“
And what do you want?
”

“
That
’
s the million dollar question,
”
she says.
 

“
More like the billion dollar question,
”
I say with a laugh.

“
After Dawson left, Bam asked for a bottle of wine. The wine that he told me never to open.
”

“
The one he wanted in the divorce so badly?
”

“
Yes, I wouldn
’
t give it to him because I figured he
’
d waste it on the bimbo. Anyway, we opened it, drank it, he told me he
’
s changed. That he still loves me. That he will be faithful. Then he got down on his knee and told me he
’
s loved me since he learned how to love. Then he proposed. Had a huge diamond ring to seal the deal.
”

“
Seal the deal? Did you say yes?!
”

“
He
’
s still waiting for my reply to that question.
”

“
Why?
”

“
Because, Keatyn, you don
’
t know what it
’
s like to have someone you love devastate you like that. You don
’
t know what it
’
s like to dream they will change their mind after they left you and come back and tell you what a mistake they made. And there
’
s something that touches your heart when you finally hear those words.
”

“
But you love Dawson.
”

“
Will you please tell me about his wife?
”
 

I shake my head.
“
It
’
s not my place. That’s something he needs to share with you if and when he
’
s ready.
”

“
Fine. Will you at least tell me about the first time she tried to commit suicide?
”

“
You saw how she outed me at winter formal in the movie, right?
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
Well, in the movie, we said that she didn
’
t come back after winter break, but in real life she did. She sat alone at the lunch table, and I should have gone to sit with her, but Brooklyn had been kidnapped, and I had other things to worry about. That night we heard sirens, and I was afraid Vincent had broken in. The school was put on lockdown. But it was because Whitney had tried to kill herself. Peyton found her, was pretty hysterical, and felt responsible. I went to the hospital with her. Whitney
’
s mom was a total bitch. Still is, actually. She was sitting in the waiting room calling everyone she knew and moaning about how what had happened was affecting her! I yelled at her. Found out the man I thought was her father was really her stepfather. Peyton and I contacted her dad, and he came to see her. Her family was messed up. Supposedly, she was going to kill herself another time before but Dawson stopped her.
”

“
How?
”

“
I don
’
t think he even knows this, but he knew she was upset over his brother, and he told her he hoped they could be friends anyway. He gave her a hug, and she cried all over his shoulder. I guess that
’
s when she decided not to do it. And what got her and Dawson started.
”

“
It
’
s going to be hard to compete with a dead wife. Even if she was imperfect in life, she won
’
t be that way in death.
”

“
That
’
s true. But then again, life is messy
—
it
’
s supposed to be that way.
”

“
That
’
s a Brooklyn quote. I
’
m sorry I was so mean to you about him in high school. He was a good man and a good friend
”—
she stops and laughs
—“
Oh gosh. I just did it too.
”

“
Did what too?
”

“
In real life, I thought he could be hypocritical and selfish. But now that he
’
s gone
—”

“
You forget that. B was what he was
—
highly driven. And in the drive to succeed, he didn’t want a relationship or kids. He acted like all that mattered in life were the waves and chillness, but he enjoyed his money. I loved and adored him as a friend, but I’m very glad
—”

“
That you met Aiden.
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
You hit the jackpot with that one.
”

“
Vanessa, you just kicked your jackpot out of your house.
”
 

“
Bam? I don
’
t want a man who
’
s an asshole. Just because he has money he thinks . . .
”

“
I wasn
’
t referring to Bam.
”

She stops and looks at me.
“
Dawson? You think Dawson is my jackpot?
”

“
What matters is what you think. Actually, that
’
s not right. What matters is how you
feel
. How he makes you feel. Aiden and I seem perfect because we have this amazing connection. We appreciate each other and thank God for every day we have together. But it started with a spark. An instant deep-in-my-soul feeling. A feeling that I was exactly where I belonged when he held my hand.
”

“
I felt like that once.
”

“
You did?
”
 

“
Yeah,
”
she says softly.
“
Can I ask you another question?
”

“
Of course.
”

“
When Dawson came for your eighteenth birthday party, was he dating Whitney?
”
 

“
No.
”

“
To your knowledge, has he ever cheated on anyone?
”

“
No. He
’
s not like that. The Johnson boys are wild, but even Camden, the wildest brother of them all, isn
’
t a cheater. Their parents are happily married and they value family and friendships. They understand what a good relationship should be.
”

“
At your party, Dawson and I went back in Tommy
’
s office to drink scotch. He was a gentleman, touched my back as he led me through the doorway. I felt like a school girl. We talked, and he kissed me. Best kiss of my life. Hands down. I always wondered.
”

“
This conversation makes me think of B. Maybe fate is giving you a second chance. Maybe you and Dawson were supposed to get together then, but you chose different paths.
”

“
And you think fate brought our paths back together?
”

“
Yes.
”

“
I
’
ve kissed a lot of boys, but that kiss was memorable.
”

“
Vanessa, one of the things I
’
ve always admired about you is your confidence and knowing what you desire and going for it.
”

“
Having Bam cheat on me and losing the baby, made me lose my confidence.
”

“
You didn
’
t lose it. It
’
s still in you. What you went through has just made you more compassionate. And compassion is
not
a weakness. When I came back from Europe and was confused about Brooklyn, you gave it to me straight. You told me he just wasn
’
t into me. I
’
m going to return the favor. Vanessa, Dawson is into you. Don
’
t let Bam or anything that may have happened in the past get in the way of what matters.
”

“
What matters? I
’
m not sure I even know anymore.
”

“
It
’
s all that
ever
matters. Love. Why are you even hesitating? You love him. You asked him to move in with you. You adore his daughters.
”

“
Yeah, you
’
re right.
”

“
And while you
’
re at it, tell Bam to pound some sand up his ass, for me, when you send him back to his yacht.
”

She kisses my cheeks, laughing, as she leaves.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16th

Captive Films - Santa Monica

DAWSON

I
’
m in a bad mood. I haven
’
t spoken to Vanessa since yesterday morning. I know I was a dick to her, but whatever. She wants to be with Moneybags, I hope she
’
s happy.
 

Actually, that
’
s not true. I hope she
’
s miserable with him.
 

“
You have a really bitchy and demanding woman calling for you,
”
Tyler says over the speaker in my office.
“
I
’
ve already told her you were busy twice, but I think she
’
s going to keep calling until you talk to her.
”

“
Who is it?
”

“
She says she
’
s your mother-in-law. Do you have a moment to find out what
’
s so important?
”

“
Sure, put her through.
”
I take a deep breath, pick up the handset, and greet her.
“
Mrs. Clarke, how are you?
”

“
Not very well, actually. I just heard that you
’
re thinking of moving my grandchildren to that wretched place.
”

“
You mean Los Angeles?
”

“
Yes, the Land of Make Believe. I won
’
t allow it.
”