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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The next few days I keep myself busy so I don’t have time to let my mind wander to thoughts of those men taking Garret. Well, my mind goes there, but I keep pushing the thoughts away and focusing on the wedding.

It’s Tuesday now and Harper and I have spent the day going over all the final details. She’s keeping my dress at her place and even though I tried it on last week and the week before, she made me try it on again today to make sure it still fits perfectly.

Harper’s doing my hair for the wedding and she wants that to be perfect, too, so she’s been practicing on me. This is now the third time.

“This isn’t necessary,” I tell her as she pins my hair in place. She has it pulled back and arranged in a loose knot at the nape of my neck. It’s kind of the same way she did my hair last fall when I went to the fundraiser at Garret’s house. I loved how she did my hair that night so I asked her to do a similar style for the wedding.

“I have to get it right, Jade. I don’t want to have to worry about it on your wedding day.”

“It’s fine like you have it. The wind will blow it all around anyway.”

She takes a bobby pin from between her lips. “Not if I pin it right.” She tucks the pin in place, then stands back. “That’ll work. I have 10 pins in there. Your hair won’t move.”

She hands me a small mirror and takes me over to the big mirror to inspect her work. As usual, she did an awesome job. She has nothing to worry about.

“It looks great, Harper.” I give her back the mirror. “So that’s done. What else do we need to do?”

“You finished your vows, right?” She quickly takes the pins out and my hair falls back down around my shoulders.

“I finished them last week. They’re probably not very good but I tried.” I take the elastic from my wrist and put my hair up in a ponytail. “So what’s Garret planning for the wedding night?”

“What do you mean?” She feigns confusion but I know her way too well.

“He’s got some secret plan and I know he told you what it is.” I look her in the eye. “So what is it?”

“I don’t know, Jade. Really.”

I roll my eyes. “You are such a bad liar. I thought you took acting classes.”

“I did,” she says defensively. “And I am a good actress. But for some reason I have a hard time lying to you.”

“So tell me what he’s planning.”

She smiles. “I said I have a hard time lying. Not a hard time keeping secrets.”

“He didn’t plan some big trip, did he? Because I asked him not to like a thousand times.”

“It’s not a trip. Although I don’t know why you won’t go on a trip with him. That’s what people do, Jade. They go on trips for their honeymoon.”

“Yes, but you know we can’t travel so soon after the reality show thing. We don’t want photographers following us around.”

“Yeah, I guess.” She starts going through her closet, pulling out dresses. We’re in her room and she has to meet her parents for dinner later. “What do you think of this one?” She holds up a short, green sundress.

“It’s too casual. And it seems a little short for dinner with the parents.”

“My sisters and I always wear short dresses and skirts. My parents are used to it.” She sets the dress down and picks up a pink one that’s a little longer. “I think I’ll wear this. Sean loves this on me.”

I plop down on her bed. “You totally changed the subject. Come on. Just tell me what Garret has planned.”

“Nope. I’m not telling you. He wants it to be a surprise.”

“You’re in on this, aren’t you? You’re part of whatever he has planned and you’ve been lying this whole time, acting like you had no idea what he’s up to.”

She thinks for a moment. “I have been lying, haven’t I? Huh. I guess I can lie to you.” She takes a headband from her dresser and puts her hair back. “I’m not telling you so stop asking.” She grabs my hand and pulls me up from the bed. “Let’s go.”

Garret walks through the front door just as Harper and I are coming down the stairs.

“Where have you been?” I go over and hug him.

“I’m not telling you,” he says, smiling.

“I know Harper’s in on your secret plan, but I couldn’t get her to tell me anything.”

“I’m in on it, too,” Sean says. I glance back to see him in the kitchen, popping a handful of peanuts in his mouth.

I turn back to Garret. “So everyone knows but me?”

“Sure looks that way.” He walks past me to the kitchen.

I follow him, then stand there and look at the three of them all wearing smug smiles. “Give me a hint. Please.”

“Jade loves surprises.” Garret pulls me against him and kisses my cheek. “Just look how excited she is for Saturday night.”

“Or we could skip the surprise and you could all just tell me right now.” I smile. “I’d still be excited.”

They just stare at me, then Sean says, “So anyway, everything’s set food-wise for Saturday, but what about alcohol? Harper said you wouldn’t want any but I thought maybe some champagne?”

“Yes, we should definitely have champagne,” I say. “And wine, if people want that with dinner.”

“Are you sure?” Garret asks. “It’s our wedding, Jade. It’s your call. Don’t worry about what other people want.”

I look at Sean. “Wine and champagne. Done. Anything else?”

“Nope. That was it.”

Harper checks her phone. “Shit! My parents are early. They just texted and said they’ll be here any minute.”

A few seconds later the doorbell rings.

“Jade, answer it.” Harper grabs Sean and drags him up the stairs. “Keep them busy while we get ready.”

“I’ll get it.” Garret goes and opens the door. “Hi, Mr. Douglas.”

“Garret,” Kiefer says. “You surprised me. I was expecting to see Harper.”

Kiefer’s wearing a white polo shirt, light-colored pants, and loafers. He always has a California-look going with his wavy blond hair, tan skin, and casual clothes.

“Harper and Sean are getting ready upstairs,” I tell them. “Come on in.”

Kelly coordinates with her husband. She has on a white dress, sandals, and sunglasses, and her tan is almost the exact same shade as Kiefer’s. It’s funny that they live in Malibu because they look like Malibu Barbie and Ken.

“Hi, Jade.” Kelly hugs me. “How’s the bride?”

“I’m good.”

Although I’d be better if I knew what her husband was up to. I can’t think about that. I told Garret I wouldn’t, but now that Kiefer’s here, I’m thinking about it again.

“And how’s the groom?” Kelly asks Garret.

“I’m doing great.” Garret puts his arm around me.

“Are you getting nervous, Jade?” Kelly asks.

“No, not at all.”

She smiles. “Good. You have no reason to be. I know you two will be very happy.”

“You made an excellent choice with Garret,” Kiefer tells me.

“I think I got the better end of the deal,” Garret says.

Kiefer smiles at him. “That’s true of most men, isn’t it?”

“Do you want something to drink?” I ask them.

“No, we’ll be leaving soon.” Kiefer takes a seat on the couch. “Then again, if Harper just started getting ready, it could be an hour before we leave.”

Kelly sits next to him. “That’s what you get for having girls.”

Kiefer laughs. “Keep that in mind, Garret. If you end up having a house full of girls, get prepared to be waiting around a lot.”

Garret just nods. Once again, the kid topic comes up. People just assume if you get married, you’re having kids. It’s like it’s not even an option.

“So, Jade,” Kelly says. “Were you planning on going shopping with Harper and me tomorrow?”

“No, I’m staying here because Lilly’s coming over. My gran—” I stop, realizing I almost spilled a huge secret.

“Grace Sinclair is bringing her over,” Garret says, saving me. “Grace is coming to the wedding. My dad and Lilly went to visit her at her home in Santa Barbara last weekend. Then they all drove up here today. Grace is helping my dad take care of Lilly. My family’s been friends with the Sinclair family forever.”

“And your father was a big supporter of Royce Sinclair’s political campaign,” Kiefer says. “Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah, he was.” Garret’s playing it cool. He’s so good at that. I’m terrible at it. My palms are sweaty just being on this topic. “Grace has been really lonely since she lost Royce and then her husband, so my dad has been checking in on her the past couple months. Making sure she’s okay.”

“That’s so thoughtful of Pearce,” Kelly says. “Well, it’ll be nice seeing Grace again. We haven’t seen her for years.”

“It was at the Hamilton’s Christmas party,” Kiefer says. “Three years ago.”

Kelly looks at him. “No, it was the Pearson’s Christmas party. Two years ago.”

“Yes, you’re right. I don’t know why I thought it was the Hamilton’s party.”

Hamilton as in Ava Hamilton? So Harper’s family knows them, too? What the hell? Do all of these rich people know each other? Harper never mentioned that her parents were friends with Ava’s parents. Maybe she doesn’t know. Or maybe it’s a different Hamilton. It’s a common name. Still, I have to know.

“You don’t mean Ava’s parents, do you?” I ask.

“Yes. Ava’s parents.” Kiefer’s eyes dart to Garret and he lets out a nervous laugh. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned her given all the trouble she’s caused you.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Garret says.

Kiefer knows all about the reality show and Garret’s fake bad-boy behavior. Pearce had Kiefer make the videos we used to convince people Garret wasn’t presidential material. But Kiefer doesn’t know that. At least I don’t think he does. I assumed Pearce gave Kiefer the same story we gave Harper, saying that the photographers were getting out of control and the fake videos were just to make Garret less popular with his fans. But maybe Kiefer knows the real story. If he’s involved with the organization, he probably does.

“I didn’t know you were friends with them,” I say to Kiefer.

“We’re not. But Kelly and Ava’s mother worked together on a fundraising committee years ago.”

“That’s how we met,” Kelly says. “But we were never really friends. And truthfully, I think they only invited us to their party because of Kiefer’s connections in Hollywood. As you know Ava aspires to be an actress and her mother wanted Kiefer to connect Ava with the right people.” She checks her watch, then stands up. “Maybe I should go check on Harper. Or is Sean up there with her?”

“Yeah, they’re both getting ready,” I tell her.

“Oh. Okay.” She sits back down. “So it’s nice you’ll have some time with Lilly tomorrow. She’s such a sweet little girl. I remember when my girls were that age and—”

“Hi, Mom.” Harper comes down the stairs with Sean right behind her. “Hi, Dad. You guys are early.”

“Traffic was lighter than normal.” Kiefer stands up and gives Harper a hug.

Kelly does the same. “You look beautiful, honey. Love the dress.”

“Thanks. So Sean was thinking we could try out this new restaurant about 20 minutes from here.”

Sean smiles and extends his hand to Kiefer. “Good to see you again, Mr. Douglas.”

Kiefer just nods, quickly shaking his hand. He’s not at all friendly to Sean. I don’t understand it. Last year when I told Harper about Garret’s parents not letting me date him, she acted like that was crazy. She said only East Coast rich people do that, and that her parents didn’t care who she dated. But obviously they do care because they don’t want her dating Sean. That’s even more clear now than it was a few weeks ago when we were at her house. Even Kelly doesn’t seem to like Sean now. She just stands there with an awkward smile, not saying anything to him.

“We should get going,” Harper says. She’s trying to act like everything’s fine, but she senses the tension in the room. We all do.

I feel really bad for Harper. I know she loves Sean, but I also know she wants her parents’ approval. And for some reason, they don’t approve of Sean.