Chapter 14 #2
“You’ll be fine. They greet everyone coming down the road like that, see?” Gabe says as he nods at Shaw’s car behind us. He’s right—the same people shout at the SUV, then immediately back off. Shaw’s scowl will do that to people. But seeing that still doesn’t calm my nerves.
“I don’t have a script for high school parties,” I whisper to Gabe.
His brows furrow. “Abby, you don’t need a script for parties. That’s the whole point.”
I shake my head. “You don’t understand. If people talk to me I’ll default to asking them questions instead of answering any of theirs.” It’s a tactic I’ve learned from Mom’s staff.
Gabe places his hand on mine, jolting me. “Don’t overthink this. Just be yourself.” I nod. I wish it were that easy.
“And, hey, if it gets bad, we can hang out in Kyle’s library and alphabetize his family’s books,” he says with a smile. I know he’s teasing, but it’s sweet he knows that would calm me.
Kyle’s lake house is a nice two-story wooden home nestled among tall trees with a small pier. It’s the kind of place that says “hit pause” and “take a breath.”
Gabe parks on the side where several cars and trucks are already parked, facing a row of trees. Shaw’s black SUV pulls up behind us.
Shaw and Nessa hop out of their vehicle. He comes up to Gabriel’s window and thumps it. Gabriel rolls it down and we listen to Shaw’s instructions for us to wait in the car as he sweeps the area.
Gabriel gives a thumbs-up in response. If Shaw senses any attitude, he doesn’t let on. Meanwhile, Nessa stands next to my window. Even though my detail is dressed down, their polos and long khaki pants still look formal.
“I bet Kyle is regretting inviting me,” I say quietly.
Gabe laughs. “No. I think he’s feeling the opposite of regret. He’ll be gloating about this the rest of his life.” His voice lowers. “What about you?”
“No regrets. I’m just mentally preparing myself for a function with my peers.”
His laugh is hearty. “A function with your peers? Is that what you call a party,” he teases.
The loud thump on my window doesn’t help with my rattling nerves. Nessa leans in, sunglasses lowered on her nose so we can see her very serious gaze. “All clear.” She opens my door to let me out of the vehicle.
“Rapunzel and Rascal are en route to the front door,” Nessa says into her earpiece.
“Rascal,” I say, laughing at Gabe’s Secret Service call sign. I look at Gabe, who doesn’t seem amused.
Nessa does her best to hide her smirk. “Wasn’t my call.”
I’ve barely set foot out of Gabe’s truck when a boy with damp reddish hair and flamingo swim trunks greets us. “You made it!” he says. I can’t help returning his smile. Kyle definitely has a goofy energy to him.
Gabriel responds with a low-energy “ ’Sup” before turning his attention to me. “Abby, this is the party host, Kyle…Schwab.” I pick up on his pause after he says Kyle’s first name, clearly reminding himself not to say “turd-breath.”
“Abby Cary-Alzona!” Kyle exclaims. “What’s up! I can’t believe the First Daughter is here at my humble abode.” He goes in for a hug, but Nessa’s cough would make anyone think twice.
“Right,” Kyle says nervously. “How ’bout a quick tour.” He motions me inside the house. I appreciate the invite. I’m not ready to face the group of teens hanging at the beach.
Inside, Kyle’s house is inviting and open, with a cozy, rustic vibe. He points out the bathroom and then we go straight to the kitchen, which faces the house’s living and dining room and large floor-to-ceiling windows.
The view of the lake is gorgeous. I notice maybe two or three other homes farther away with their own piers, but really there aren’t many houses out here.
I’ve never seen such a spread of snack-food goodness as the one on the kitchen island. I smell everything from dill to honey BBQ.
Except for a few partygoers lingering on Kyle’s deck, I’m relieved it’s not too busy here.
“You can drop your backpack if you want,” Kyle says, nodding at my bag.
I hug it close. I always bring a couple of books; you never know when you’ll need a fictional friend.
Kyle continues his tour. “And I can hook you up with a couple more-quality snacks or drinks. Something better than what the herd’s picked over,” he adds, eyeing the half-empty bowl of Cheetos like it personally offended him.
I’m about to decline when two girls nearly topple a bottle of ginger ale while barreling toward me.
“Abby! Abby! You’re actually here!” one of them squeals.
Or maybe both of them. It’s hard to tell—they’re practically bounding in unison.
Once they’ve stopped jumping, I realize they’re the girls from the white truck who gawked at us on the road. And they’re twins.
“We loved your dress at the Italian state dinner,” Twin One with the single braid says.
“It was vintage Atelier Versace, right?” Twin Two with the double braid adds. Her sister continues before I can confirm.
“We’re so sorry about the whole pineapple thing.”
“Yeah, for the record. We agree. Pineapple on pizza is, like, so gross.”
“So gross,” the other agrees.
“Is Oliver going to come visit too?” The girls giggle. “We’d love to meet him. You two are so—”
Gabriel fake coughs loudly. “Okay, Billie and Jaisha. Maybe Abby could use some space?”
I sigh inwardly, relieved to avoid gossip about me and Oliver.
The twins focus their attention on Gabriel, or rather his camera. I’ve gotten so used to seeing him with his black-and-red camera strap I forgot he’s carrying it around. “Hoping to scoop another hot story for the paper with that?” Billie asks.
“Is our photojournalist back in action?” Jaisha adds.
She’s addressing him but looking at me.
Gabriel is visibly agitated. “No. I don’t work for the paper anymore, remember?”
I frown. Gabriel said he was interested in art photography. I’m shocked he used to work at his school’s paper. I look to him for an explanation, but he’s suddenly busy opening bottles at the drinks station.
The girls stare after him. “That’s too bad.”
“Not really,” Gabriel says.
I’d love to know more about this newspaper business, but I also don’t like seeing Gabriel uncomfortable. “It’s nice to meet you,” I say to the twins. “I love your outfits. Very cowgirl core,” I add.
“Oh my gosh, you’re so sweet,” says Billie, the one with the single braid, swishing her fringe skirt.
“You’re not a stuck-up pineapple princess at all,” Jaisha adds. “You’re such a nice person.”
“See you soon,” I tell the twins. They practically squeal as they head back outside.
“Newspaper?” I ask Gabriel.
“Freshman and sophomore year, for a hot second.” I give him a once-over.
I knew he had media vibes to him, so that must be it.
His days with the school paper. “I was the paper’s staff photographer and I took a lot of photos for Kyle and the twins’ stories.
” From his tone, I can tell that’s a sore spot for him.
“What’s your poison, Abby?” Kyle shouts from across the room at me. He sweeps a magnanimous arm across the table full of bottles and cans.
“You want to poison me?” I ask.
Kyle’s face falls. “No. Not literally poison. It’s a figure of speech. I—”
I cackle. “I’m joking. I’m sorry. I’m so used to hanging with this one.” I nod at Gabriel.
Kyle looks from me to Gabriel, then back to me. The strange look on his face turns into a goofy smile. “I get it. I love messing with Gabe too. It’s fun getting him worked up.”
Gabriel rolls his eyes. Kyle hands me an Arnold Palmer—iced tea and lemonade—in a red Solo cup.
I hesitate and whisper to Gabe, “This is just iced tea, right? It’s not like every teen movie where the good girl gets in trouble…
” I feel heat creep up my neck. I sound like such a prude.
“Not that I’m a good girl. I mean, I try to be, but—”
Gabriel holds up a hand and laughs. “Relax! You’re hilarious,” he says more to himself.
“First, good thing this isn’t a movie, and second, I’m not going to let you get into any trouble, Abby.
” His eyes search mine and my heart flutters.
He arches a brow and offers me his hand.
“You wanna go to a real party?” I laugh at his Titanic quote.
A speaker blasts Sia as we exit the lake house onto Kyle’s porch.
A set of stairs leads to the beach below.
And beyond that, a group of Kyle’s friends lounge in colorful beach chairs sunbathing, chatting, and living it up.
I smile as a couple folks in the lake splash water on each other.
I shut my eyes, enjoying a cool breeze, warm sunlight, and the smell of water and freedom.
A flood of energy like an electrical current passes through me. #Summervibes. “This is exactly what I was hoping for,” I say to Gabriel. He lowers his camera. I didn’t even notice him taking photos.
He returns my smile. “I told you I’d help you with your list.”
We stop at a lounge chair, and my eyes widen at the large inflatable pineapple on it. Kyle’s laugh is high pitched as he throws the pool toy aside. “Sorry, someone has a bad sense of humor. But this is the chair I reserved for you.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I insist, but my protest is short-lived as I spot a somber-faced Shaw near Kyle’s house. Arms crossed, mirrored sunglasses, and a stone’s throw away. “This tracks. I’m in direct line of sight of my real babysitters,” I say.
Kyle shrugs. “For the record, we were going to save you a chair anyway.”
“Thanks, but I don’t want any special treatment.” I lower myself onto the chaise and take in the scene. I’m here. I’m at a full-blown summer party sans parents or any authority figures—except Nessa and Shaw, but they’ll do their best to blend in and not meddle.
“Kyle, Gabe,” someone shouts across the way. “Come help us settle this bet.”
Gabriel is visibly agitated. “They need both of us?”
“Duty calls, my friend,” Kyle says, clapping his back. He mimics a bow in my direction. “Make yourself at home.”