Page 35 of Kayla's List

Once we are all on board, I hold Kayla’s hand and start toward the back of the plane away from everyone else. My assistant, Vance, raises an eyebrow in question, but I know he won’t ask about Kayla. He is very professional and he’s been with me since I needed an executive assistant, but I’ve never had a woman around, especially on the company jet or company time.

As we pass Brady, he is actively ignoring Shelby. However, his gaze kept bouncing over to Emani.Interesting. But not my business.

Bethany is sitting with Brady’s assistant, Julia, and I noticed both ladies giving me the evil eye when I pass. I’m not sure what that’s about, but again, I don’t really care. Julia has it easy with Brady. I’m pretty sure they were sleeping together at one point, and she hardly does any work. But as long as their situation doesn’t fuck with my company, which it hasn’t, I don’t care who screws who.Maybe I should, though…

When the captain comes over the loudspeaker for us to prepare for takeoff, Kayla nervously wipes her hands down her blue skinny jeans. I grab her small delicate hand in mine and bring it to my lips to kiss. Kayla smiles at me sweetly, and I kiss her cheek.

“No worries, doll face, I gotcha.” As I watch Kayla relax into me at my words, I know that it’s a promise that I will keep. I’ll always protect her.

16

It’s About Time

KAYLA

Ididn’t realize how one trip could change my life forever. I mean, I guess I really never thought about it. It was my first girls’ trip, first time at a strip club, first kiss under the Eiffel Tower, even though it wasn’t in Paris, and my first time on a private jet, which wasn’t even something I thought would happen.

I guess if I continue opening myself up, anything is possible. I used to believe that only negative things would happen to me if I let my guard down. I was so cautious about not letting anyone close. It took Emani and Shelby ages to crack my hard outer shell. And there are still things I haven’t told them. Even my two closest friends don’t know me as well as

they should.

However, as guarded as I am orwas,I still let Warren in, which was a huge mistake. I

told Warren things about myself that my best friends aren’t aware of, and he used my brokenness against me. So, being cautious and closed off didn’t help, so from now on, I will try to be more optimistic. I go to my phone a rewrite a few things on my list.

#10. Be more optimistic.

#11. Take risks without regret.

#27. Fly on a private jet.

Although I can’t mark off numbers ten and eleven yet,writing them down is a good start. The whole purpose of my list is to remind myself of all of the things that I haven’t done and to have the courage to do them. Every time I cross off another item, I have a sense of accomplishment

that I didn’t realize I needed.

I don’t want to be that scared little girl who tries to be invisible anymore. Nobody wants to be hurt in life, and I used to feel like I was unfairly more hurt than others. Looking back, I know that’s not true.

However, in a child’s mind, it was unfair that both my parents were killed, and I didn’t have any family to take me in. It was unfair that I was small and I was bullied. Everything was unfair.

As an adult, I recognize life is sometimes unfair, no matter how open or closed you are to other people. But how you handle things can make all the difference in your happiness.

However, as I stand in front of Three Forks for the second time in my life, I am doing my best not to ask God, why me? I know that Anderson has planned a spectacular night for us because since we’ve been dating, any time we spend together is spectacular.

We’ve gotten extremely close since we came back from Vegas, and I love getting to know him. He’s been such a gentleman, and he hasn’t pushed me into any uncomfortable situations. But being at the same restaurant, where I found out my boyfriend was cheating on me with another man, is not something I’m willing to do.

I probably should make new memories and all that, but I’m not ready. I can’t stand the flashes of humiliation I feel just seeing the front of this place. I know there’s no way I can sit through dinner and not think about Warren.

“Kay, baby, what’s going on?” Anderson pulls me to the side of the entrance and holds my face in his hands as he looks me in the eyes.

I did my best not to let my emotions get the best of me. I was able to get out of the car and walk all the way to the door without any emotions, but once I saw the same hostess from that night, my steps faltered and so did my confidence.

“I don’t think I can eat here,” I say in a whisper, but our faces are so close that Anderson definitely heard me.

“Okay, let’s go.” Anderson kisses my lips and grabs my hand. He starts walking back to the valet, but I stop him.

“Just like that? You’re not upset?” I asked, confused.

I was ready to give Anderson the explanation he deserved for ruining our date. But it doesn’t seem like he’s at all bothered by my abrupt change of mind. It’s not that I want him upset, but he has every right to be.