Alpha Billionaire Series

KAYLA

I looked at Nick's texts. He sent more than one. I was nothing but a coward.

How could I face him after that fiasco? He saw me naked

I wanted to die. He had been so sweet, and his kisses had been pure magic, but then he saw me naked.

How could I ever face him again?

I never wanted him to see me that way.

I couldn't get out of Los Angeles fast enough.

somehow, Uncle Dave asking me if I had fun and not actually paying attention that I had been crying made it all the worse.

I was on an airplane home the very next morning.

it had been almost a week, and I still felt humiliated. I sat on my bed; I was still hiding from the world. At least Nick stopped trying to call me. What was I supposed to say to him? How could I talk to him after he saw me naked? How could I look him in the eye knowing he had to be thinking about that night?

“Kayla, honey, are you going to come out of your room today?”

“No Mom, I still don't feel good”

“I don't understand why you didn't just stay and let your uncle take care of you if you weren't feeling good,” Mom said. She brought me a tray with a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a glass of ginger-ale.

it's what she always gave me when I wasn't feeling good. It didn’t matter if I was sick or having cramps, Mom made soup. She placed her hand on my forehead. “I don't think you're running a fever”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I shrugged. I didn’t know how to tell her I wasn't sick. I was mortified. I was embarrassed. I had run away because Los Angeles felt like drowning in a world of bright lights and passive-aggressive comments about my weight.

“Hey, hey,” Amber came into my room. “Hey Mrs. G. I'm here to entertain the invalid.”

She jumped next to me on my bed, crossing her feet at the ankles, and just barely keeping her shoes off my blankets.

Much to my mom's annoyance, Amber had decided years ago that my home was her home, and she just walked in whenever she came over. Mom never asked her not to do it. She just let it bother her.

“I'll leave you girls to your gossip.” Mom closed the door behind her.

Amber stared laser beams at the door. Waiting until she knew my mother wasn't waiting outside, listening in. I wouldn't put it past Mom to do that.

After what seemed like forever Amber started talking. “Okay, what gives? How bad was LA? You came home early. And before you try to tell me it was because you were sick, we both know that's complete bullshit”

I blinked over at her and burst into tears. I buried my face against her shoulder and sobbed. She wrapped her arms around me and made cooing soft sounds. It was hard to hear exactly what she was saying over my own noises. I don't know how long I cried on Amber's shoulder before I pushed away and wiped at my tears. I grabbed a tissue and blew my nose.

“It was that bad, huh?”

I tried to swallow down my pain and frustration. I ended up having a coughing fit.

“It was worse. So much worse. I got to go to the beach, and my cousins called me Moby Dick. The great white whale because I have no tan, and well” I gestured at my body.

“They were so passive-aggressive it actually took me a few days to realize they were being mean. I was the epitome of a dorky tourist. Oh, Amber” I wiped at my tears as if that would make them stop. They hadn't stopped for days.

“It's okay, Kayla. You're home now. I love you. And there is nothing passive about my aggression.”

Amber always made me laugh. Even when I was wallowing in self-pity.

“They really took advantage of my naivety. To them, everything about Los Angeles is boring and normal. They really don't get how exciting someplace like that is to someone who has never been out of the same freaking county, let alone state. LA is amazing. I needed better tourist guides who weren't jerks."

“That bad? Wasn't your uncle around?”

“Uncle Dave was there but he didn't care. He didn't care that Jessie would go out in dresses so short her b**t was hanging out. I came back from a party on my own and he asked if I had fun. He didn’t ask why I was back without my cousins. He didn't ask if everything was okay, but just if I had fun”

“You got to go to a party in LA?"

“Amber, not the point.”

“I get it. Uncle Dave checked out. Maybe that's because his kids and you are all adults, and he is letting them be in charge of themselves."

I covered my face with my hands. She was right. I was so used to being told what to do and how to live, the second I was treated like an adult I reacted as if I was being neglected.

“Okay, so your cousins suck. Why are you home early? You should still be in LA. And don't you dare say anything about helping your mom get ready for Thanksgiving. You know she already has a turkey in the freezer in your garage. Knowing your mom, she bought three because they were on sale.”

Amber was right, Mom was well prepared for our two days of cooking before the big potluck feast at the Auxiliary Guild. We always did the big community dinner. It was a pitifully small meal for a major feasting holiday if it was just the two of us.

My plane ticket home had been for the weekend before Thanksgiving. If I hadn't left early, Id still be in LA. I could have been in LA having lunch with Nick, shopping with Jessie, and eating burritos. I fell in love with burritos.

“Where is the closest burrito place around here? I think I miss the burritos more than anything else”

Amber shrugged, and then started laughing. “Figures you would miss food."

I glared at her.

“Oh, shut up. You know what I mean. Taco Bell? They have burritos.”

I shook my head. Taco Bell out by the bypass had been my definition of Mexican food for so long. Now that I had authentic, well more authentic than what a fast-food restaurant could do, I didn't think I could ever go back.

“There's that El Mariachi place on the other side of the old K-Mart. Have you ever been there?"

I shook my head. Mom was not adventurous when it came to food. And I took after her a little too much. “No, have you?" Amber jumped out of bed and held her hands out to me. “No, but I think it's time we go”

she pulled on my arms until I slid out of bed.

“Get dressed, I'll drive.” She had to drive. I still didn't have a license.

Ten minutes later we were walking out the front door.

“Ym taking Kayla for a ride, Mrs. G. Get her some fresh air”

Mom crossed out of the kitchen where I think she had been sitting and reading a magazine. “Are you sure you want to go out?”

I nodded.

“Okay. If you're sure. Kayla, you got a big envelope in the mail? Mom held up a catalog-size manilla envelope.

I really didn't have the energy to even wonder what it was. “ll look at it when I get home."

“It will be right here when you get home.” Mom set it on the sideboard we kept in our entry.

“I want you to drive safely, Amber. Do you need some gas money?”

“No ma'am. I'm good."

Mom kept her purse by the door, she had already turned and pulled a few bills from her wallet. She held the money out to Amber. “Stop and get a pop. It will help settle Kayla’s tummy. And there's enough for you to get one too.”

“Thank you” Amber said as she accepted the money.

As we walked out the front door, she slipped me the money. It would be enough to cover lunch at the restaurant.

Mariachi music played over the radio. Festively painted parrots hung from the ceiling. Giant Suns adorned the walls, made from twisted metal. The chairs had carved flowers and were painted in bold colors,

We followed the waiter to a table. A giant image under a thick layer of resin of an Aztec hunk, in a full feathered headdress holding a swooning maiden, took over the entire table.

The waiter slid a basket of corn chips and a bowl of salsa onto the table.

“We didn't order...” Amber started.

I kicked her under the table. We both ordered Cokes and began studying the menu. “It’s a thing they do at Mexican restaurants. At least they did in LA. It must be a thing. I can't believe you've never been here”

“Excuse me, you've never been here,” she reminded me.

“Yeah, but live with my mom. You don't”

She scoffed. “My parents think fine dining is frozen dinners. At least your mom cooks."

We both sighed, neither of us had the best home lives.

“Il want a burrito,” I told the waiter when he returned to take our orders.

Amber ordered an enchilada. “They used to have those at Taco Bell, so I have an idea what 'm getting into. Now, I've been good and not pestering you too much, but you have got to tell me about that party you said you went to"

I nodded. “Gabe apparently has some connections, and he got us into a real Hollywood Halloween party. I met Marci Wolf” “What!” Amber yelled, and then looked around the restaurant in embarrassment.

She leaned over the table. “You met Marci Wolf?"

I nodded. “She was horrible. It was miserable, everyone sneered at me. But I did meet this really nice man. He's an actor, you've probably heard of him, Nick Sadler”

Amber choked on her drink, and then knocked it over.

I scrambled with napkins in a feeble attempt at cleaning up the spill. A waiter came to our assistance immediately. Neither of us said anything as we handled the minor emergency. When the waiter left, Amber whispered, “Nick Sadler, the Nick Sadler?” I nodded. “I guess he was in something called—"

“Yeah, Kayla, Lions of Medea. It's the only hottest show on cable. He's going to be the new Captain Wonder”