Chapter 2
Chapter Two
“How’s it going with Zac?” Brielle asks me as we grab milkshakes at the local burger joint. “Is he coming back up to Whispering Haven anytime soon?”
“It’s going fine,” I mumble, not wanting to admit that I’ve only been seeing Zac in hopes of getting Jack’s attention.
But we’ve been dating for two months now, and I’ve only seen Jack once in that time, and he didn’t pay me much attention whatsoever.
“I’m actually going to Manhattan tonight for a party Zac’s parents are having. And I’m staying the weekend.”
“You are so lucky. Your parents are so cool.”
“Yeah, I guess.” I smile as I grab some crispy fries, dip them in ketchup, and sit back in the booth. “They know I’m responsible, plus Ginger and Holly are handfuls, so they are kept busy with them.”
I laugh as Brielle nods. She knows how much energy my nine- and ten-year-old sisters are from all the afternoons we’ve spent playing with them.
“Do you think he’s the one?”
“Who? Zac?” I ask, surprised by her question. “We’ve only seen each other four times since we met that one night, which I’m not mad about, as I think he wants us to hook up.” I make a face at the thought and immediately feel guilty.
There’s nothing wrong with Zac. He really is cute, but he’s such a bro, and I’ve never been one who’s into preppy, cocky guys.
“You don’t want him to be your first?”
“Not at all.” I practically gag. “I want a real man … like …” My voice trails off. I cannot admit I’ve been lusting over my boyfriend’s brother. It would be pathetic and shady. “Well, someone older and wiser.”
“But Zac’s so rich, right?”
“I guess his family is.” I shrug. “I don’t care how much money he has. I do know his parents are paying his tuition to Columbia University and bought him his own apartment in Midtown West that he shares with his two friends. But it’s not like he’s rolling in money or anything.”
“He’s cute though.” Brielle beams as she sips her chocolate milkshake. “Do you think you’ll marry him one day?”
“Brielle”—I cross my arms and stare at her—“do you really think he and I have a relationship that’s going to stand the test of time?” I raise an eyebrow and grab my phone. “Look at our last text messages.” I scroll back on the screen and then hand her the phone to read.
Zac: Hey, babe. Tristan and I are thinking of going to Atlantic City next month. Do you and some of your friends wanna come? I got the hotel and food. Just bring a bikini.
Katherine: Hey, not sure if we can make it. Exams are coming up. :(
Zac: Ah, babe. I want some alone time with you.
Katherine: Soon.
Zac: Do you wear thongs or granny panties?
Katherine: ???
Zac: Was just lying here in bed, trying to picture you …
Katherine: Oh, ha-ha-ha. Sorry, about to meet Brielle and Willow. Chat later.
Zac: Do you think they’d be up for a foursome? They are both so hot as well.
Katherine: Zac! Really?
“He asked you if we’d have a foursome with him?” Brielle bursts out laughing. “Is he crazy?”
“You see what I mean? He’s totally not hubby material.”
“So, why are you still dating him?”
“I guess he’s better than nothing.” I shrug, but I’m not going to admit I still fantasize about his brother. “Man, that sounds horrible, doesn’t it?”
“I mean, it doesn’t sound great.” She giggles and then eats another fry.
“But what can I say? I’m single, and I wish I had a boyfriend.
And Willow’s not exactly batting them away either, unlike her horrible cousin, Charlotte.
Did I tell you I heard she gave the gym teacher a blow job for two hundred fifty dollars? ”
“Not Grumpy Jonas?” My jaw drops. “She did not …”
“She did. Charlotte will do anything for money.” Brielle laughs. “I swear she’d sell her soul for a Gucci handbag.”
“Does she have a soul?”
“Me thinks not.” She shakes her head. “I can’t wait until we can all get out of Whispering Haven. Willow can get away from Charlotte and her aunt. I can get away from my dad—I mean, I love him, but let me have a life. And, well, your family is perfect, so I guess you don’t want to get away.”
“My family is far from perfect.” I let out a long sigh.
I hate complaining about my mom and dad because they get so much right, but they also get so much wrong.
Like the fact that my dad spent the ten thousand my grandparents had given him to save for my college fund on an idea he had to make money and lost it all.
He cried when his idea to provide entertainment for dog birthday parties hadn’t paid out.
He’d bought a bunch of dog toys, treats, and outfits and then spent money on ads.
He thought dog owners would be so excited for his parties that he’d be so busy that he’d never see us for months, but that was far from the truth.
He’d received one call—from someone who thought he was a dog groomer—and that was it.
The treats went stale, the toys were donated to an animal shelter, and the clothes are still sitting in the garage.
To say I am pissed that I have no financial help for college now is an understatement.
“I know.” Brielle nods. “I’m still sorry about the fact that your dad lost your college fund.”
“It wasn’t much, but it would have helped.
” I bite down on my lower lip so I don’t cry.
“My grades aren’t good enough to get any scholarships, and I’m not good at sports.
” I sip my shake. “So, yeah, while my parents aren’t as bad as Willow’s aunt Mildred, they are irresponsible.
” I wring my hands together. “I just hope that, one day, we will be able to get out of Whispering Haven. I’m so ready for a new life. ”
“Me too.” Brielle nods. “But I guess Zac is not the way?”
“Definitely not.” I giggle. “In fact, I think I’m going to dump him tonight. I’m just wasting my time dating him. Plus, he’s desperate for sex, and I don’t want him to be my first.”
“Yeah, it seems like it wouldn’t be very special with him.” She wrinkles her nose. “But let me see the rest of the texts. Maybe they get better.”
“They don’t.” I laugh.
Zac: A man can dream, right? :)
Katherine: Sure, but dreams don’t always come true.
Zac: I already pictured how it would work. :)
Katherine: How what would work?
Zac: One of you on my face, one riding me, and then I’d finger the third one, and then we’d rotate …
Katherine: Zac!
Zac: Hot, right?
Katherine: I have to go. I already told you no.
Zac: It was just a dream. I was just telling you what I thought. I’m horny, hon. We haven’t even gotten to second base. I wanna suck on those big titties of yours. You haven’t even taken off your bra yet.
Katherine: We’ve made out, and you have touched them.
Zac: Over your bra and over your top. I am a man. I have needs.
Katherine: I’m not ready.
Zac: When will you be ready? We’re not in junior high. Fuck, you haven’t even sucked my cock.
Katherine: Zac, I don’t think that we should talk right now …
Zac: You mad, babe? Haven’t heard from you in a few days.
Katherine: I’ve been busy with school.
Zac: You still coming to my parents’ party tomorrow night? Tristan will be there. And my brother, Jack … remember you met him at Tropez Dali?
Katherine: I don’t really remember him, but cool …
Zac: So, you coming?
Katherine: I suppose.
Zac: Dress sexy. It’s an evening party, and I want to show you off. Let those old farts see my hot girlfriend.
Katherine: I will wear something appropriate.
Zac: No panties though.
Katherine: Zac, we need to speak. I just …
Zac: What, babes? I gotta go. Tristan and I are going to that coffee shop you like.
Katherine: Have fun. We’ll talk later.
“Girl, why are you going? Just dump him on the phone. He’s horrible.” Brielle hands me back the phone. “All he goes on about is sex.”
“Exactly. And I bet he’s not even that good.”
“Just dump him and go to the movies with me and Willow instead. We’re going to grab a pizza before as well.”
“Oh, I would, but I want to just see him one last time and see … how it goes.”
I don’t want to admit that I’m going, hoping to see Jack.
Hoping that we will have that connection again and he will give me another chance.
I’m eighteen in two weeks, and I’m hopeful that once he realizes how mature I am, he will let everything else go.
I still can’t forget how magical and fun it was that night when we bantered back and forth.
I wanted a big bad wolf to ravish me, not a pitiful, desperate boy, like his younger brother.
“It’s not going to go well, but I suppose it may be fun,” Brielle says with a small, thoughtful nod. “It’s always cool to see how the other half lives.”
“Right? And his parents have loads of money. And such a nice house.” I frown as I think of my own abode.
“Did I tell you my dad is behind on the house payments again? I’m going to have to get a part-time job to help out.
I wish he would just get a real job instead of coming up with all of his get-rich-quick ideas. ”
“What was the last idea he had again?” Brielle asks curiously. “I thought that one was kinda good.”
“You mean the door-to-door unloading-the-dishwasher service or his freshly baked cheesecake that he made from the Jell-O No-Bake Cheesecake box?”
“The dishwashing one.” Brielle giggles. “People hate unloading the dishwasher. I know I would pay for that service if I had money.”
“Girl, he was charging twenty dollars per visit, and he wasn’t putting the dishes into the cupboards or anything.
Nor would he load the dirty dishes.” I roll my eyes.
“Mrs. Townsend hired him, paid him for a year up front, but then when she found all the dishes on her countertop, she asked for a refund and told everyone in the neighborhood not to hire him.”
“Oh no.”
“Oh, and her dog, Waggle, jumped up and knocked two of the dishes onto the ground and broke them, and Dad had to pay twenty-five dollars to replace them, so he was actually in the negative.”
“Oops. Did anyone buy the cheesecake?”
I just stare at her, and we both burst out laughing.