Mackenzie

I READ CHASE’S TEXT. The idea that Gus was still planning on trying to get down my pants made me livid. I was about to call, and rip him a new asshole, when the idea of revenge sounded much better.

He liked games?

I had one for him.

But first, I needed help to pull it off.

I grabbed my phone and called Kara. I told her about the bet between Chase and Gus.

“You have got to be kidding me!” she replied angrily.

I grunted. “I wish I was.”

She told me how sorry she was that I’d been used like that and asked if I wanted her to come over.

“Yeah. I was hoping you’d do that.”

“Okay. Did you call Gus and tell him to fuck off?”

“Actually, I have something else in mind. I just need your help.”

“Gladly.”

I told her what I was thinking and she chuckled.

“Do it,” she said.

“I’ll need your help.”

“Of course. I’m totally in.”

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KARA CAME OVER AN HOUR later, and we plotted out a plan for the evening. One that would be challenging but doable.

“I wish we could make Chase pay, too,” she said, lying back on my grandmother’s sofa. “He’s getting off too easily.”

Just hearing his name made my heart ache. It was hard to believe I’d fallen for him so hard and so quickly.

“I know. It makes me sick,” I murmured, trying not to think about last night. My only consolation was that we hadn’t gone all the way. If I’d have given him my V-card, I’d have really been devastated.

“Chase had better hope he doesn’t run into me anytime soon. I feel like ripping him a new asshole.”

I chuckled and then asked what happened between her and Sonny.

Kara shrugged. “We kissed a little. I doubt anything else will happen between us, though.”

“Oh, really? Why not.”

“He’s just too full of himself. Not to mention, he’s best friends with Chase. How am I supposed to trust him after what he did to you?”

I wanted to tell her that she shouldn’t hold what Chase did to me against Sonny, but for all we knew, Sonny was a jerk, too. “Good point.”

“So, do you think Gus will show, or have a guilty conscience?” she asked, changing the subject.

“I hope he shows. He definitely deserves what I have in store for him.”

She smiled. “Agree. Are you sure you won’t chicken out?”

I hoped not. “I’ll just keep reminding myself of what he wanted from me and why.”

“Good idea. Just stay focused on the ‘why’ and it will get you through it.”

“Don’t forget to keep your phone around, in case I need you.”

“I will. Don’t worry. You don’t think Chase talked to him yet, did you? Maybe he mentioned telling you about the bet?”

“I should probably check.” I pulled out my phone and texted Chase, asking him.

Chase: No.

Me: Okay. I’d like to confront him myself.

Chase: Understandable.

I saw him typing again.

Chase: I know you hate me right now and I deserve it. But, I want you to know that I’m here for you if you need me.

I was still too angry to accept anything from him.  Including an apology.

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GRANDMA RAE RETURNED home about five-thirty and Kara was already gone. I had just slipped my dress on after finishing my hair and makeup, when she saw me.

“You look so beautiful,” she said, getting teary-eyed. “You remind me so much of your mother when she was your age.”

I smiled sadly. “Thanks.”

Her eyes moved to my bare wrists.

“You took off your bracelets.”

I looked down at the white scar and nodded.

She grabbed my hand and examined it. “It’s healed nicely. The scar is barely noticeable.”

“This might sound crazy, but I hope it never fades completely.”

She gave me a surprised look. “Why?”

“It’s a reminder of what I’ve lost and what I’ve gained,” I explained. “My parents, for one. Knowledge that I’m much stronger than I thought I was, for two.”    

Grandma Rae smiled sadly. “I’m so proud of you, Mackenzie. And for the record, I knew it all along. I’m just glad you’ve come to realize it yourself.”

I nodded. “Me, too.”

Realizing that I could pull through a horrible situation gave me the courage to do what I needed to with Gus. That, and I knew he needed to be taught a lesson before he tried the same bullshit on someone else.

“Are you excited about tonight?” she asked, changing the subject.

I laughed dryly. “I wouldn’t exactly call it excited, but I’m definitely anxious.”

She gave me a questioning look.

I pretended I didn’t notice. I knew if I told her what was happening, she’d try and talk me out of it.

“Well, I hope you have a fun time. I spoke to Gus’s mother earlier. She didn’t even know he was planning on going to the dance until today. It sounds like he waited until the last minute to get a new suit. Boys.” She laughed and shook her head. “They just never plan ahead.”

Oh, but I knew that Gus had planned ahead. The conniving prick. Fortunately, he never planned to get caught, either.

She continued. “I just hope you two have a wonderful evening. Even if you are just going as friends.”

“It’s certainly going to be a night to remember,” I muttered.

She looked puzzled. “Is there something I should be concerned about?”

I assured her that everything was fine and it was just my nerves making me a little weird.

“That’s to be expected. Wait until you get married someday. Why, when your grandfather and I had our wedding...”

I listened to her talk about her wedding day, a story I’d heard a few times but enjoyed anyway. Especially now that my parents were gone. One never knew when the person reminiscing would be gone. As she was wrapping it up, I received a text from Gus.

Gus: OMW

Me:  Ok. Can’t wait.

He responded with a smiley face and I was tempted to send him a turd emoji.

“What’s so funny?” Grandma asked, as I put my phone away.

“Nothing. Gus is on his way.”

“You two are going to have so much fun. I just can’t wait to hear about it.”

GUS ARRIVED ABOUT thirty-five minutes later. When he saw me, he whistled.

I smiled.

“You look gorgeous,” he said, handing me a small box. “This is for you.”

A white corsage.

“Thank you,” I replied, taking it out of the box. “Uh, am I supposed to wear it on a certain wrist?”

“Your left one. Here, let me help you.”

I held out my arm and watched as he tied the corsage around my wrist. 

“Gus, you look so handsome. Doesn’t he, Mackenzie?” Grandma commented.

I forced a smile to my face. He did look nice in his suit and had obviously taken special care on his spiky blond hair. He also wore cologne and had recently shaved. Had I not known what he was really like, I might have thought him quite handsome. But, right then and there... everything about him was ugly.

“He’s looks great. Handsome,” I added.

He grinned. “Thanks.”

Grandma Rae took a couple of pictures and then we walked outside.

“I was going to get a limo, but they were all booked,” he said, opening the passenger door of a black Tahoe. “I hope this will do. It’s my father’s.”

“It’s great,” I replied.

He waited for me to get in, shut the door, and then hurried around the vehicle. I could see a small smile on his face and wondered if he was already anticipating his moves for the evening.

“So, where are we going to eat?” I asked when he slid into the truck.

He named a restaurant I’d never heard of.

“It’s an Italian place. It’s usually hard to get reservations but I managed to get us in,” he added.

“Sounds great.”

“It’s pretty spendy, but... you’re worth it.”

“That’s so sweet of you,” I replied.

“I want this night to be special.”

“Oh, something tells me it will be.”

Gus smiled.

When we arrived at the restaurant we were seated in a booth near the back.

“This is great,” I said, looking around. The restaurant was definitely five-star.

“I eat here with my parents sometimes.”

“Oh, nice.”

Gus told me to order whatever I wanted, starting with the appetizers.  

“Is that okay?” I replied, when I requested the lobster and prime-rib combo. This was after ordering caviar for the appetizer, which I told him I’d been dying to try. 

“Of course. I love a woman with an appetite,” he replied. “And get whatever you want. Money is no object.”

“You’re so sweet.”

He smiled and winked.

After ordering a huge course, with all the extras, the waiter left and we talked about random things. It was definitely awkward, but I wasn’t about to make it easy for him.

Then the appetizer arrived. He showed me how to put the caviar on a cracker and then handed it to me. I took a bite and wasn’t a fan. Which made everything easier.

“Oh, gross,” I said loudly. “How can people eat that shit?”

Embarrassed of my outburst in such a fancy restaurant, his cheeks turned red. “It’s fine. You don’t have to eat any more of it.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yeah. I mean, I’ve never ordered it at a restaurant before. It’s pretty expensive.”

“Then, you go ahead and have at it.” I dropped what was left of the cracker onto my appetizer plate. 

Gus was too focused on eating that he didn’t see me unwrap the small packet of pepper from my purse. I put a little on my finger, inhaled it, and sneezed all over the caviar.

“Oh, my God. I’m so sorry,” I replied, holding back a grin. The horror on his face was almost comical.

“It’s fine,” he said, pushing the plate away. “It happens to all of us.”

“I would have covered my mouth, but it kind of just came out of nowhere.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “Really.”

Next came the salads.

I’d made sure to do an upgrade on that as well.

“Would you like another Island Fruit Mixer?” the server asked. It was a fruity non-alcoholic drink that cost twenty dollars. It was served in a glass you could take home and came with a miniature umbrella.  Not worth it but very yummy.

I looked at Gus.

“Yeah, of course,” he said. “Order another one.”

“Thanks. Yeah, I’ll take another Island Fruit Mixer.”

When the main course came, I took a couple of bites of prime rib and then went to work on the lobster. When Gus wasn’t looking, I made sure to “accidentally” knock it off of my plate and onto the carpeting below.

“Oh, my God,” I gasped. “I can’t believe I just did that!”

“Accidents happen,” he said with a strained smile.

Gus got up and leaned down to pick up the lobster. Noticing his wallet sticking partly out of his back pocket as bent down, I couldn’t believe my luck. I leaned down and pulled gently on the edge with one hand while squeezing his shoulder with the other, to distract him.

“I am so sorry. I’ll make it up to you later,” I purred near his ear while taking hold of the wallet.

Focused on my promise, he stood up, smiled, and placed the lobster on an empty bread plate. “Sounds interesting.”

I grinned back. “It will be.”

The waiter came and asked if he could replace the lobster.

“No, that’s okay. I’m full anyway.”

Gus stared at my full plate of food with a not-so-happy expression.

“Is that okay?” I said to him. “I think the salad filled me up.”

He forced a smile to his face. “It’s fine.”

“We’ll get you a to-go box,” the server said.

“That won’t be necessary,” Gus said. “It’ll go bad in the car. I’ll try and eat some of her food.”

“Okay.” The waiter turned to leave.

“Wait, do you have cheesecake?” I asked him.

The man turned around and smiled. “Yes, of course. We have three different kinds.”

I looked at Gus. “I would do anything for a piece of cheesecake. I haven’t had it for so long. Could I order some?”

“Sure. I thought you were full, though?”

I smiled. “One can never be too full for cheesecake.”

He looked up at the server. “Could we see the dessert menu?”

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