Chapter 59

I woke up the next morning so eager for the party. I would see Keegan for the first time since I caught him at Isadora’s house and I had butterflies. Was he going to receive me the way that I hoped? I also had a nervous feeling about Jagger, but I wanted to be so honest with her about this whole thing.

I ate breakfast quickly and ran back to my room. I ate a piece of marmalade toast with pecans. I had a short silver dress that I was going to wear. I had matching heels and I planned to straighten my hair today. I know Keegan loves it curly, but it felt like it fit with the sleek dress a bit more.

Casey came over to get ready with me. She told me how Cyman has been trying to get her to talk to him. But she wasn’t going to keep doing that to Harper. Harper was kind of an idiot for staying with him after all of that drama at Isadora’s that went down at Thanksgiving. I guess I was being just like her. Jagger was coming today. I hadn’t really talked with her about how I was feeling about Keegan yet. Jeff was pretty easy going about it and he wished us well. I was nervous. I think I kept this hidden just in case Keegan and I didn't work out and I still needed Jagger to lean on. That wasn’t right for me to do at all. I needed to tell her what had happened and how I was feeling.

We made our way downstairs after we finished our hair and makeup and helped my mom and Ms. Kyren set up for the party. My mom had an ice sculpture that ran sparkling cider through it. There was a dance floor with a disco ball and a “ball” that was similar to the one in Times Square. Everything looked so beautiful. From the delicate cakes and snacks wrapped in gold and black, to the elegant table cloths. Mom really outdid herself.

Dad, Alison and Quinn were the first to arrive. People started showing up in small amounts. I kept looking for Keegan. He hadn’t come with his mom and the twins, so I assumed he was driving himself. Just as I thought I would give up hope, I saw him. He walked in the door. His hair was combed back and he was in a black suit. He looked so good. I started to walk towards him, but then I saw Isadora come in right behind him with her friend Kimber. Why did he bring her? She was welcome to be here, but why did he need to bring her?

I decided to grab a drink instead of greeting him. Casey beelined her way to meet me at the table. I scooped punch into my cup and stared in his direction.

”James, you okay?” she asked.

”I am. I just don’t know why he brought her. I am kind of an idiot huh?” I asked rhetorically.

“Not at all James. But don’t look now, we have got company,” Casey said, pointing towards Isadora and Kimber, who were walking in our direction.

”Hey ladies, thanks for the invite. It is super adorbs in here,” Kimber said, gesturing to the room.

”Yeah, Missy does a bang up job doesn’t she?” I said, trying to avoid looking at them.

“It’s so chill of you to invite your exes new girlfriend to your party. I wish I was that mature,” Kimber continued.

“She isn’t his girlfriend, so I guess its not that mature,” I quipped.

“Odd for two people that slept together last week to not be dating. And didn’t you two kiss when Brees left your house, Izzy?” Kimber said, taking a long sip of her cocktail.

Isadora looked uncomfortable, but she didn’t deny it. She fiddled with her purse, in an attempt to not make eye contact with me.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“I mean we did kiss after you left Brees. I’m not going to apologize for that. He stayed the night at MY house and you showed up uninvited. So if you were hurt by anything you saw, that’s on you,” Isadora said.

I could see Keegan staring at us from across the room. He walked over to where we were. I tried to keep my voice down, as I could tell I was getting frustrated.

“Everything alright ladies?” he asked.

“Yeah, we were just chatting about how mature Brees is about you and Izzy being a thing,” Kimber said, eating her cherry from a small drink knife.

He touched my arm. I was holding back tears and I couldn’t keep them in. I needed to get out of there. Isadora and Kimber were smirking. I pulled my arm away from Keegan. Isadora wrapped her arm around his. That was my last straw and I headed for the door. I needed air. I couldn’t breathe. He was my air, my breath. He was my everything.

Keegan chased after me as I ran from the party. Tears were already streaming down my face.

“Just leave me alone Keegan,” I shouted, walking out into the pouring rain.

My hair instantly curled back up into its natural state. He continued to walk after me through puddles and mud.

“Brees, please stop!” he begged.

I kept walking. After what I had just heard, I had nothing to say to him. Why would he act like Isadora and I would never speak. I would find out about their kiss eventually. He should have just manned up and told me. But to hear Kimber say they slept together was brutal. Had they really? I knew he stayed the night, but he was pretty adamant that nothing happened.

“Brees, stop. I’m begging you,” he said as I headed for the garage, “Baby, please!” he yelled, a little more assertively.