Betrayal - Chapter 29
Saturday
“Puta mierda,” Kennedy said as she joined me by my side.
I’d only ever heard her say that once before. And she’d told me that the meaning was nothing worth repeating. Puta mierda indeed.
Isabella was dressed exactly like me. Or, Sandy, rather.
And no, not exactly. Her costume was so much more…
everything. Her high heels were taller. Her top was cut lower.
More of her midriff was showing. Her hair even had more volume, which I shouldn’t have been upset about, but I really freaking was.
It was probably a wig. But it didn’t matter how she’d done that with her hair.
She was the perfect Sandy. I was pretty sure every guy’s head had turned to look at her when she’d walked in.
I felt myself shrinking, trying to blend into the fog on the floor.
“Do you want me to spill my drink down the front of her?” Kennedy asked as she took a sip from her goblet.
“No.” I turned away from the door. “God, how did she figure out that I was dressing up as Sandy?”
“I guess the odds of it being a coincidence are pretty slim.”
“There’s no coincidence when it comes to Isabella.”
“I swear I didn’t say anything,” Kennedy said.
“I know. I wasn’t implying that you did. I just…” I sighed. “This really sucks.”
“At least you know what she had up her sleeve for tonight. Don’t let her bother you. She’s just trying to get under your skin.”
Well, she’d succeeded.
“You need a distraction,” said Kennedy. “And I have the perfect one. Guess what Felix just told me?”
“What?”
“That it’s actually official. He’s done with his drug business. He sold his list of clients to Danny Zuko.”
I must have looked confused because she pointed to the door.
I turned to see Cupcake who was dressed up as Danny Zuko from Grease. He was wearing the classic white t-shirt and leather jacket. He even had an unlit cigarette dangling out of the corner of his mouth. They did a couples costume? Why didn’t I think of that?
But it was better that Matt wasn’t dressed like Danny Zuko.
Because he’d be a hotter Danny Zuko than Cupcake.
And it would be clear to everyone that the hotter Danny should be with the hotter Sandy.
Was that Isabella’s plan? To somehow woo him away with a couples costume square off?
If so, she was going to be disappointed.
Because I had no clue who Matt was dressing up as.
Crap. What if he was dressing up like Danny Zuko to surprise me?
“Oh no. She’s coming this way. Come on,” Kennedy said and pulled me toward the pumpkin patch.
But it was no use. Isabella’s demon eyes had lasered in on me and there was no hiding. Even though we tried to hide behind the big pumpkins and the giant cauldron.
“Are you running from me, Sissy?” Isabella asked.
I tried not to groan as I turned around. “What? No.” I stepped away from the fog tumbling down from the cauldron.
“Good evening, Kennedy,” Isabella said. “You better watch your drink tonight. Who knows what someone might try to slip into it.”
Kennedy laughed, even though it sounded forced. “Go to hell, Wizzy.”
Isabella glowered at her. “You can call me Sandy for the night. What do you think of my outfit?” She did a stupid little twirl.
“Oh no.” She put her hand to her cheek in mock surprise.
“Sissy, are you dressed up like Sandy too?” She leaned forward and squinted at me like it was hard to tell.
“How utterly embarrassing for you. Don’t tell me Matt’s dressed like Danny?
That would be…such a travesty for you. Especially if he and I win best costume together. ”
So that was her game? She wanted to win best costume with my fiancé? Kennedy was right. Isabella could go to hell.
“And if you think this is bad,” Isabella said, “then just you wait. Because I will definitely be wearing white to your wedding. Not that you’ll ever make it to the altar.”
I swallowed hard. She didn’t necessarily say that I’d be dead. But she was staring at me like I’d be dead. “Dad won’t let you do anything to me. And he won’t let you wear white at my wedding.”
“You call him Dad now, huh? How quaint. I don’t know, Sissy. I’m the one living at home. While you’re out on the street.”
I’d hardly call living with the Caldwells being out on the street. I jumped when I heard a little bark.
“Sir Wilfred, bad dog,” Isabella hissed when her evil little dog pranced over to me.
Who brought a dog to a party? He was going to get trampled. I went to pick him up but Isabella beat me to it. She pulled Sir Wilfred to her chest.
“Bad dog,” she said again. “How many times do I have to tell you to not mingle with trash? Stupid mutt.”
Sir Wilfred whimpered in her arms.
I pressed my lips together. Sir Wilfred was growing on me.
Every time Isabella was mean to him, I loved him a little more.
And I hated that she treated him just like she treated me.
It looked like he was shivering in her arms. Probably because her hands were so freaking cold.
Or maybe he was just scared of her like I was.
“Isabella, there’s a gate in the backyard. Why don’t you let Sir Wilfred play out there during the party?” I would have offered to let him stay in my room. But then all my clothes would somehow get cut up. I reached out and petted his cute little furry head.
“Sir Wilfred is not a peasant,” she snapped and pulled him away from me. “God, now he’s dirty.” She dropped Sir Wilfred back onto the ground like he was diseased from my touch.
This had to be animal cruelty. “Isabella, I don’t think Dad would…”
“Let me just stop you right there. Daddy doesn’t care what you think. At all. He loves me most. And he’ll always believe me over you.”
I couldn’t pull a prank on her. But I could stand up to her.
She may have been a better Sandy. But that didn’t mean she was better than me.
And it certainly didn’t mean our dad loved her more.
He couldn’t possibly. And it was about time I pushed her off her high horse.
But I didn’t have time to think about what to say.
Because suddenly Old Time Rock and Roll started blaring through the speakers right behind us.
And Matt literally slid into the ballroom in his socks. He was wearing a dress shirt without any pants.
He didn’t dress up as Danny Zuko!
“Oh my God, he’s doing the Risky Business dance!” Kennedy said.
Matt spun around and pretended to sing into a candlestick. Then he ran over to one of the huge fake pumpkins and jumped up on it.
Everyone was cheering and clapping. I saw a flash out of the corner of my eye. Kennedy was snapping pictures of the whole thing.
I stepped around Isabella to get a better view.
Matt jumped off the pumpkin, landing on his knees. The fog on the ground dispersed around him as he pretended to play an air guitar.
And when he got up, he locked eyes with me. He tossed the candlestick to the side of the room before sliding across the floor, grabbing me around the waist, and dipping me low.
Everyone was whistling and applauding like crazy.
And I was laughing so hard that it hurt. I kept laughing as he lifted me back up and pulled me into his chest.
“You look beautiful, baby,” he whispered in my ear.
“You’re not wearing any pants,” I said through my laughter.
He stepped back, keeping our fingers intertwined. “Huh. How ‘bout that?”
“You’re amazing.” I smiled up at him. Matt had all the confidence in the world. And I was pretty sure if anyone else had dressed up in the same outfit as him, he wouldn’t have cared. “That was quite the entrance. I thought you were lying about needing one.”
He laughed. “I know how much you like when I make a fool of myself.”
“You never make a fool of yourself. Everyone in this room loves you. But I love you most.”
He smiled down at me. “ I love you most.”
I stood on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head and captured my lips with his. A few people whistled again. Matt was definitely winning best male costume. And I didn’t care if I won too. I’d already won, because I had him.
“Come on,” Matt said. “Let’s dance.” He grabbed my hand and Kennedy’s hand and pulled us onto the dance floor.
He didn’t acknowledge Isabella’s Sandy costume. I wasn’t sure if he just didn’t notice because he was too busy dancing with me and Kennedy. Or because he really cared about Isabella so little. Either way, it was a win for me.
Matt broke out a weird robot dance move and then pointed to Kennedy. She moved her arms robotically too and then pointed at me. I took a few straight-legged steps and bent over, doing the best robot I could.
And the three of us couldn’t stop laughing.
Matt was a great dancer. Me? Not so much.
But I’d never had so much fun. Tonight couldn’t be more different than homecoming.
That disaster of a night, I’d been torn between Matt, Miller, Felix, and even James if I was being honest. But tonight?
I only had eyes for Matt. I didn’t just have a boyfriend now.
I had a fiancé. I was going to marry the boy pretending to rain water on my head in the middle of the dance floor.
And I’d never smiled so much in my life.
A slow song switched on and he pulled me in close.
“Brooklyn, you’re the most beautiful girl in the room.”
I was tempted to look to see where Isabella went.
It was as if he could tell because he put his hand on the side of my face. “Always.”
I smiled up at him. And I realized I almost forgot to tell him the good news. “Justin agreed to help us with our wedding.”
Matt smiled. “That’s great. I know you really wanted his help.”
I literally couldn’t do this without Justin. I had no idea what needed to be done. And Justin knew everything. “I’m going dress shopping in a few days.”
“Can I come?”
I laughed. “No you can’t come dress shopping with me. It’s bad luck.”
“I think the two of us have had enough bad luck. Just smooth sailing from here.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. Hey look.” He nodded his head toward his left.
I followed his gaze. Kennedy and Felix were slow dancing together. Finally! “They’d make a cute couple, wouldn’t they?” I asked.
“ And it would mean Felix would stop flirting with you.”
“He’s already stopped. We’re just friends. I only have eyes for a certain someone who isn’t wearing any pants in public.”
Matt laughed. “Speaking of pants…are you hungry? I’m starving.”
What kind of segue was that? He’d had me laughing so much all night that my cheeks actually hurt. “I’m starving.” I had completely forgotten about eating tonight. “Let’s go track down a zombie.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him over toward one of the waiters.
Matt had no sooner lifted up one of the hors d’oeuvres when Kennedy came over and grabbed it out of his hand.
“Thanks, I’m so hungry,” she said and stuffed the whole thing in her face.
“What is it with you and always stealing my food?” Matt said. “There’s trays of them going around everywhere. Get your own, woman.”
“But it’s so much easier to take yours,” Kennedy said.
They both laughed.
I remembered when Kennedy had insisted that Felix, me, and her were the three amigas.
That hadn’t exactly worked out. But Matt, me, and her?
Yeah, we kind of were. I was glad that they got along so well.
Because I wasn’t sure what I would do without either of them.
Together they had somehow pieced my broken heart back together.
Someone tapped on the microphone and we looked up at the cauldron stage.
Mrs. Caldwell was standing up there in her towel with even more fake blood dripping down her shoulders than before. “We hope everyone’s having a great night!”
Adults and kids alike cheered.
“The votes are in, and it’s time to announce the winners of our costume contest!” She lifted up two gold envelopes.
I looked up at Matt. “I didn’t see anywhere to vote.”
“Because we were dancing. There was a voting box over by the pumpkins.”
Shit. What if Isabella had won by just a few votes?
“And the first winner is…”
My heart felt like it was beating in my throat.
Mrs. Caldwell tore open the envelope. “…Robert Hunter as Rocky!”
I could hear Rob laughing from somewhere.
“Seriously?” Matt said. “He’s just half naked.”
I laughed as I looked at Matt’s pants-less legs. “You’re one to talk.”
He smiled down at me.
“But seriously…you definitely should have won. You even put on a performance.”
“Right?” Matt spun in a circle.
I shook my head at him. I did believe he should have won.
But I was secretly glad he hadn’t. Because the odds of Isabella winning over me were very high.
And James had told me Isabella had rigged the homecoming voting.
I wouldn’t have put it past her to do again.
But now if Wizzy won, she’d have to dance with Rob.
Which would be hilarious because they hated each other.
I held my breath as Mrs. Caldwell opened the second envelope.
“And the second winner is Kennedy Alcaraz as Princess Jasmine!”
“Oh my God, really?” Kennedy said as she grabbed my arm.
I laughed. Kennedy looked amazing. And she deserved to win. But I kind of thought that maybe it was Mrs. Caldwell that had rigged the voting this time. To get Rob and Kennedy together. Mrs. Caldwell was diabolically wonderful. Or maybe Kennedy and Rob had actually won and it was fate.
I looked up at Matt. I was becoming quite the believer in fate.
“Let’s get Kennedy and Robert up here for a dance!” Mrs. Caldwell said into the microphone.
“I can’t believe this is happening!” Kennedy said. She released my arm from her grip and made a beeline to the stage.
I looked around, hoping to see Isabella’s reaction to losing.
But I didn’t see her in the crowd. My Sandy lookalike was gone.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully she’d left when she’d realized that no one wanted her here.
And hopefully it would be the last event at the Caldwell mansion she was ever invited to.
“Do you want to get out of here?” Matt whispered in my ear as Kennedy and Rob started dancing.
I looked up at him. “We live here.”
“I just want to steal you for a few minutes. Or maybe more like thirty minutes. We’ll see what happens.” He pulled me toward the ballroom doors before I even had a chance to respond. But I knew what was on his mind. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t on my mind too.