The next morning . . .
Cooper and I get up early and drive to Manhattan Beach.
Last night I asked the hotel to get us wetsuits, swimsuits, towels, and changes of clothes. We didn't pack anything since we weren't planning on spending the night.
"Have you ever surfed before?"
"On a summer vacation to Hawaii."
I carefully look at the surfers who are assembled, double checking that Vincent's not one of them. Or even to see if there's someone who looks like they don't belong.
I spot Mark and wander over to him.
"Keatyn!" he says, giving me a full body hug. "What's up, girl?"
"Not much. I was back in town and saw this was the place to be. I don't even have a board."
"Aw, hell. I've got three in my van. You can borrow one."
"Thanks. This is my friend, Cooper."
Mark gives Cooper a fist bump, and I say hey to the guys that I used to surf with almost every day.
"Brooklyn is shredding it up on the tour," one says.
"How is he?" another asks.
"He's living his dream," Mark answers for me, coming back with two boards.
Wherever they take him, I say quietly to myself as the sky brightens.
I was so worried about how his leaving would affect me that I didn't once stop to think how good this would be for him. He's already changed so much. The boy I left has grown into a man.
I sit down in the sand and call him, knowing he's already awake. "Hey, guess where I am."
"Are you safe? That's all I care about. Tommy and James told me about everything that happened at the airport and how Garrett fired your bodyguard."
"Two things I want to tell you before we get into that."
"What's that?"
"I'm proud of you for living your dream, and I'm really sorry I wasn't more supportive."
"Keats, you're the one who encouraged me. I'll never forget you telling me to follow my dream that night at the Undertow."
"I was so afraid you were never going to kiss me."
"I told you I've been researching stalking cases, but I'm not loving what I'm finding out. So I'm going to come up with another way."
"Okay."
"We're gonna be together again, Keats. On the beach, where we belong. Don't lose sight of that dream, okay?"
I look out at the waves, the guys surfing, and feel calm.
I feel like he's right.
"Are you at the beach?" he asks.
"How did you know?"
"I can hear the waves and a seagull."
"I'm at Manhattan Beach surfing with Mark and the boys. They say hi."
"How many sunrises have we watched together, Keats?"
"A lot."
"My favorite part of the day."
"I'm gonna go catch a few waves before we have to go."
"Show those boys a little chaos."
"I'll try."
Vincent is working out with his trainer, a talented MMA fighter. They are having a fierce sparring match when he hears his phone buzz. The noise breaks his focus, and the trainer uses it to his advantage, sweeping him onto the floor and pinning him. Vincent taps out then checks his phone.
On it is a photo of Lacy wearing a bikini top he's never seen. Her long legs are encased in a wetsuit, and her hair is wet like she's just come out of the ocean.
This the girl you're looking for? She's at Manhattan Beach.
He replies: It is. I'm on my way. Please detain her. There's five hundred extra in it for you.
We've been surfing for a couple hours when Cooper pulls me aside and says, "I'm starting to get nervous about being here."
"Why?"
"He knows you like to surf. He probably went everywhere and offered a reward to anyone who tips him off when you show up. I don't like the way those two guys over there are looking at you."
I smile. "Maybe they just like my bikini."
"They took your picture, made a phone call, and seem to be watching you even closer. I'd like to get out of here."
"If you're right, we won't want them to see our car. You go get the car. Drive up two blocks. I'll meet you."
"Two blocks? No way. What if Vincent shows up or they try to grab you?"
"Surfers are territorial. All I have to do is say the guys are creeping me out, and that they took my picture. They still think of me as B's girl. While they confront them, I'll sneak away."
Cooper grins at me. "That's a good plan."
I walk up to Mark and tell him the guys are creeping me out. He immediately grabs three guys and goes to confront them.
When he does, I take off running.
I hide behind cars, dodge behind a restaurant, and then sprint down a sidewalk.
I see our car ahead, idling at the curb.
I jump in the car, slightly out of breath. "It worked. Go!"
Cooper drives all over, making sure he's not followed. Then we head back to the hotel, where we get a different rental car, just in case. We order room service and eat it on the deck overlooking the water.
"I could get used to this," Cooper says, looking out at the beach and down at his huge breakfast.
He flips through the paper while he eats.
"Oh, wow."
"What?"
"Look at this."
I read a small piece about how Vincent cut short the Miami tryouts and won't be back, much to the outrage of fans who had waited in line for up to three days to audition.
"That really sucks for them," I say, feeling bad.
Cooper cocks his head. "I never paid attention to the name of his film company before. Have you?"
"Uh, no. What is it?"
"A Breath Behind You."
A shudder runs down my spine. "Think that's directed at me?"
"I'd say so, considering it spells out ABBY."
Vincent is just getting on the highway when he gets another text.
Sorry, dude. The girl's gone.
He responds: What? Why?
The guys she was with saw me take a picture of her. Started some shit. When it was over, she was gone. Do I still get the five hundred?
He slams his hands on the steering wheel. No, you idiot. You don't.
But then he realizes something. She's come home.
He turns the car around, calls his man in Malibu, and tells him to get on the beach in front of the house. To walk it all day if he has to. He reminds him to stay in the ocean, so that he doesn't risk getting picked up for trespassing. And he tells him to grab her first, call him second.
He quickly exits the highway, drives under the bridge and heads the opposite direction toward Malibu. He's not taking any chances this time.
When she comes home, he's going to greet her himself . . . but she never shows up. He's just going to have to hope someone will nominate her for the role.
After class, Annie says, "I forgot to tell you. I heard about this really cool thing online. There's this guy that's remaking one of Abby Johnston's old movies and he's doing a nationwide search for an actress to play-"
"She's not interested," Aiden says firmly to Annie. "Even though we all thought she was amazing, she didn't enjoy doing the play and won't be acting again."
"Really?" Annie gives me a bewildered look.
"Yes, really. I didn't like it. I want to be a doctor, I think. Although we're getting back those career surveys next week. Maybe it will tell me what I should do for a job."
"But, you could make a ton of money. All I'd have to do is nominate you online."
"Annie, please don't. I would turn it down. I love Eastbrooke and if I got a movie, I'd have to leave. I'd miss you."
"I'd miss you too. But what about the money?"
I shrug my shoulder. "I don't care. If you nominated me, I wouldn't try out. I wouldn't even talk to the guy."
"That's harsh," she says, still looking at me funny.
Brooklyn texts Keatyn. And he has a plan.
B: Call me if you have a chance. I want to talk to you about some stuff.
I tell Katie that I'm going to the kitchen to scrounge for a snack, but go in the stairwell and call him.
"Hey."
"So I've been researching stalking cases. Want to hear some statistics?"
"Sure."
"I found out that half of all stalkers threaten violence but that only two percent actually kill."
"So I have a 98% chance of surviving this. I like those odds."
"Stalking is a felony but often dismissed due to lack of evidence. Do you remember that pop singer that was stalked? The guy told everyone they were secretly engaged. Sort of reminds me of Vincent saying that he's going to make a movie with Abby, you know?"
"Uh, huh."
"Stalkers also tend to have inflated egos, impersonal sex, no remorse, and superficial charm. But it all comes down to one thing."
"What's that?"