Chapter 7

Dinner Plans

(COLETTE)

 

So, I laid on my bed and called my cousin. I know I said I would wait for Kylie but she would need me to cheer her up.

“Hello?” Kylie sounded pretty torn up already.

“Hey girl! It’s your favorite cousin.”

“No it’s not.” She was always trying to be funny like that.

“Well, then it’s your favorite female cousin on your mother’s side.”

“Well, I only have one of those, so I guess it’s you, Colette.”

“Whatcha doing?”

“Walking to my car.” She seemed a little agitated.

“Oh my God. Did you get out early? I got out early too. Well, I didn’t go to class. I had to be with my mom. It’s a mental health day, ya know? I needed it. I mean my dad got arrested this morning. We should do something. Are you…” Barney’s was having a cashmere sale. We could go. Awesome idea, me!

“Colette, I didn’t get out early. I do have to come downtown though. I’ll probably be in the city all afternoon.” I could hear the winding whizzing into the cell phone. “God, it’s freezing out.”

“Yep, summer is really over.”

“Summer has been over, Colie. Thanksgiving is next week”

“Don’t say that, I just bought like three pairs of boots at Neiman’s and they are so not December boots. They are very October-slash-November.”

“I don’t know the difference between December and November boots.”

“Awww look at you…all self-righteous and pretending like you’re not a slave to fashion. So sweet.”

“What do you want, Colette?” She sounded pretty irritated.

“I don’t know. You called me.”

“No, you called me. So what’s up?”

“Nothing, I’m at my apartment. And I want to know–what’s the plan?”

“You mean my uncle’s apartment.” She always needed to remind me and Blaise that our dad owns everything. Not us. Like when I try to give away free drinks at the Moose. She’s always like, “Colie, don’t give away that bottle of Patron. It’s expensive.” How am I supposed to know how much tequila costs? I don’t work there.

“Do you want to go out tonight after your classes or what? You could crash in the city with me. I’m totally worried about my dad.” I thought it was good idea.

“Yeah, I think I do need to go out for drink. I’m stressed.”

“Wow, I was sure you would say ‘no.’ You hardly ever go out on weeknights anymore. I figured you’d be all business after what happened today. Some serious shit, Ky. They got it all over the news too. They’re sayin’…” I desperately wanted to know what she thought about everything. But Kylie never really told me the whole story. I think my dad told her not to bother me with all that shit.

“Don’t listen to what they’re saying. Your dad will know what to do. Besides I called Vin earlier and I just got off the phone with him again. Your brother and Vin will take care of it for now.” She paused and took a breath, “Really, it’s just waiting. You don’t have to do anything.”

“Yeah, but what are you going do to. You know they keep talking about Mark’s brother. Like my dad had him killed or something. Your Mark! Why would my dad do that?” I mean really. I thought—why would my dad have Kylie’s ex-boyfriend’s brother killed? Kylie didn’t respond though. She hated Mark Esposito after he cheated on her and tried to take over the club they opened together. I could hear her steps get heavier once I mentioned his name, like she started walking faster.

Kylie started again, “By the way, Saturday night we have to stay at the Moose all night. I got those Playmates coming in for this meet and greet.”

“I hate staying till closing.”

“Yeah, cause it means you might have to do some work,” Kylie laughed a little. She was joking, but not really. Kylie really did want me to work sometimes. I’m better with numbers though. I’m an accounting major.

I had to get her back, “I’m going to pretend like you didn’t say that. Just like you’re going to pretend like I’m not wearing your new Jimmy Choo boots.”

“What? You have them on?”

“What yourself. You left them at the apartment. You should take better care of such nice boots. Besides, I thought you hated them because The Dip, I mean Diablo, bought them for you.”

“Colette, I don’t know many girls who hate Jimmy Choo boots. He’s is not my favorite person in the world but he sure has a good sense of style.”

“He also knows lots of trendy restaurants.” This would be a good time to mention that I kind of made plans with Mr. Diablo for Kylie.  “He’s taking us to Lot 61 tonight. Do you know how long people are on waiting lists for that place?”

“No, we are not going out to dinner with Diablo and his boys tonight. I shouldn’t be out with him. With the people in his circle. It’ll look bad.”

“Well, I can’t just change it.”

“I just want to hang out with you. I just want to go to dinner with you and be able to say whatever I want.”

“You can do that with them.” She really couldn’t, but I already made the plans. And it was Lot 61—I couldn’t pass up Lot 61. My dad had just been arrested. Also, we needed to make sure we were in good with The Dip. So I tried to persuade her,  “He is a nice guy. I love his friend Gabriel. He is so sweet and he told me that The Dip talks a lot about you.  Gabriel says he’s really into you. I mean, I could’ve guessed that with all the gifts and stuff he’s bought you over the past few months. I know you think he’s only into you because of my dad, but I don’t know, I think that…”

“I just need a rest from all this soon. I just…”

“You’ll go then! Yay! I’m psyched now. It’s going to be so much fun. I bet Gabriel is going to look hot tonight. Don’t you think he’s hot?” The Dip had some major hotties as friends. It was like a prerequisite for working for him. Hotness required.

“Yeah, he’s good looking. Hey, what happened to last week when you came to visit me up at campus? You were so in love with the Ted, the T.A. from my class.”

“Ted and I had a moment.”

“Really? So what happened?”

“The moment passed.” That was good one. Kylie even laughed out loud.

“Listen, you can’t wear my boots tonight,” she warned. Like I was stupid enough to wear someone else’s gift while out to dinner with the giver—especially when the giver was Thade Diablo Beauvior.

“Yeah, I was just breaking them in for ya. You should wear them though.”

“I will. They’re pretty nice boots, huh?”

“Comfortable too.”

“I’m driving now. Gotta go.”

“Call me later—after you finish your school stuff.”