Maybe she could do a better job by thinking things through first, like dressing appropriately for the party and presenting herself as the adult she felt like on the inside. Then everyone would see it. Right?
It sucked that everyone still treated her like a child. Well, at least a teen with no sense, despite her stellar grades and thetwenty years she’d kept herself alive and well, thank you very much.
Maybe she’d made some mistakes along the way. Thinking Jamie was her friend at middle school summer camp, only to find out that Jamie had hidden a bottle of vodka in Brooke’s bag and she got caught during inspection the first day and sent home. Luckily, her mom believed her that she hadn’t stolen it from the bar at home. It was a cheap brand they didn’t keep in the house. Then there was the time she’d played spin the bottle at Brent’s house freshman year with a bunch of friends. She really wanted her first kiss to be with Cody, but Joe came in second, and then the bottle landed on Chris. She’d been disappointed but game to kiss him just to get it over with. But Brent, the asshole trickster, who she’d turned down in front of several of his friends for the spring dance, told her to close her eyes. She did and puckered up to kiss Chris but got a face full of dog tongue instead. Brent got his revenge. Everyone laughed at her. The next day at school, everyone snickered behind her back about her French-kissing Brent’s mini poodle. Yeah, high school was not fun with that hanging over her head.
Kristi frowned as she continued to scan the crowd. “If you see him, please send him to me. Tell him my father would like to have a word with him? It’s important.”
The demand wrapped in the request rubbed Brooke the wrong way. “We’re supposed to give a speech while everyone is eating. The lines are forming now. I’m sure he’ll find me soon.”
“That can wait. This can’t. It’s an opportunity Cody won’t want to pass up. Not if he’s smart.”
Cody was the smartest guy she knew.
“What’s it about?”
“The future. One I think Cody wants, which is why I worked so hard to set this up.”
Brooke cocked her head, concerned and suspicious. “What did you set up?”
Kristi huffed. “My father is waiting. Will you just help me find him?”
Mrs. Ellis and Susanne both raised a brow, though Kristi didn’t see their curious gazes.
Brooke couldn’t let the snappish tone go. “You know, a straight answer would get better results.”
“Cody wants to make a name for himself. I can make that happen.” Smugness was not becoming on Kristi.
The muscles in Brooke’s shoulders tensed. “He doesn’t need anyone to make him look good. He’s smart, driven, and good at everything he does.”
Kristi smirked. “Oh, I know he is.”
Brooke didn’t like the innuendo. She avoided Mrs. Ellis and her mother’s stares. “Whatever.” She tried to walk away, but Kristi snagged her arm and halted her.
“Don’t mess this up for him.”
She turned and looked Kristi right in the eyes. “I want what’s best for him.”
Kristi grinned again. “Good. Then send him over to me.” She smiled smugly and walked away.
Brooke wanted to tear Kristi’s pretty blonde hair out.
Mrs. Ellis gave Brooke the same sympathetic look as her mom. “Don’t let her get to you. Women like her end up with no friends, wondering why no one likes them.”
“I guess. Excuse me. I have to find Cody.” She decided if whatever Kristi was talking about would really help him, then she’d do the right thing.
She found him in the garden, sitting in an Adirondack chair next to his buddy Brad Whitlock, the district attorney’s son. They’d grown up together and went to college together.
Brad saw her coming and grinned. “Hello, beautiful.” He took her hand and tugged, putting her off-balance so that she landed in his lap. He hugged her close. “Where have you been all my life.”
“Right under your nose. But the B word you use for me is usually brat.” She elbowed him in the gut, making him laugh as she smiled back at him. Brad was like a brother to her.
Which was weird to think of him as when she’d never seen Cody that way.
And the object of all her desires frowned at his friend.
Brad ignored it. “I think gorgeous suits you better now.”
Cody pounded his fist into Brad’s shoulder with anger in his eyes as he reached out and took Brooke’s hand, pulling her up and out of Brad’s lap and into his. “Hands off, asshole.”
