Stranded in Paradise Read online

  “Why would they think you’re weird?”

  “I don’t know. I mean… with who my dad is… It’s weird,” I tell him.

  “I doubt that my family even knows who your dad is,” he says. “Well, besides Olivia, but she doesn’t care.”

  “Good,” I say. “Because I haven’t felt normal in a long time. I miss being Kihanna Foster.”

  “You changed your last name?” he asks.

  “My dad wanted me to. I don’t blame him, and I don’t regret it. But I do miss my life before. Sometimes I feel like I’m a celebrity or something. Everybody treats me different than they used to. Like I’m supposed to be on some kind of pedestal and I hate it. I mean, we have a freaking butler.”

  “Well, you will be glad to know that my family is very normal. We don’t have any butlers, and you will have to wait on yourself when you’re with us,” he says.

  “I hope I remember how to do something for myself. It’s been so long,” I joke.

  “When you met your father for the first time, did you think your life would change so drastically?”

  “Not really,” I answer. “I mean, I knew that it would change. But my whole life I thought my dad was a dead-beat who didn’t want me. When I found out that wasn’t true, I was ecstatic. I love my mom, but I always wanted to know who my dad was. I wanted him to be a part of my life. When I found out that Mark Evers was my dad, I honestly didn’t think a whole lot about it. I knew who he was, but I guess it didn’t click… Until he offered to fly me to California on his private jet. Then I completely freaked out. I remember pulling up to the house the first time in the back of a limo. I wondered why my dad lived in a museum.”

  “His house is kind of huge.”

  “Yeah,” I agree. “I’m thankful for the time I’ve gotten with my dad. I love him. But sometimes I think maybe his life would be better without me. He’d still be happy with Veronica.”

  “You can’t blame that on yourself. You dad is the one who cheated,” Brian says.

  “It’s true that I shouldn’t blame myself, but I do.”

  “What does your heart tell you is right?” he asks.

  “My heart…” I say. “Is beating too fast and too hard. But that is only because you’re in the room.”

  “Yes, but what is it saying? Does your heart blame you for all the bad stuff?”

  “No. My heart says none of it is my fault.” It’s the stupid stalker’s fault. “But, my heart also knows that if I wouldn’t have come here, none of this would’ve happened.”

  “Then where would you be?”

  “Alone.”

  “But now you’re not alone,” he says.

  “It’s Christmas Eve, and I don’t even know where my family is. I haven’t heard from them since I left Hawaii.”

  “But you’re still not alone.”

  “You’re right,” I tell him. “But I’m scared that someday I will be.”

  “After my dad died, I felt the same way,” he says. “Every time my mom went somewhere, I wondered if she would come home. I used to have nightmares that she would die, and that I would be separated from my brother and sisters. It’s normal to feel that way.”

  Brian is right.

  I never would have felt this way with my mom. Even if all this bad crap was happening while I was with her, I would still feel safe. My mom was there for me for seventeen years, and now she’s not. Now I am living over one thousand miles away from the only home I’ve ever known, my mom is dead, and the family that I have here is falling apart. But my family isn’t falling apart because of me. It’s been unstable for a very long time.

  My dad is a liar and a cheater.

  And I’m not going to feel guilty anymore.

  I’ve been living in fear for a very long time, but I’m not going to anymore. I am finally free from my stalker. It’s time that I actually start living my life, and that starts here and now.

  Things might actually be okay.

  “How did you get so smart?” I ask Brian.

  “It comes with old age.”

  “You’re three years older than me.”

  “Three years older, and three years smarter,” he says.

  This is the best part of hanging out with Brian. I can have an actual deep conversation with him. He doesn’t dismiss what I’m saying, and he makes me believe that what I’m feeling is normal. Because it is.

  I have a feeling that this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship… er… relationship? Who knows?

  Saturday, December 25

  6am

  Merry Christmas.

  Last night, Brian and I stayed up way too late talking, but it was wonderful. Magical even. I didn’t want to stop talking to him.

  I learned a lot about him. Like his favorite color is blue, he shamelessly listens to Ke$ha when he’s in a bad mood, and he’s watched all six seasons of Gossip Girl with his thirteen year old sister, Melissa. She had mono, so he stayed with her for three weeks during the summer while his mom worked. That pretty much melted my heart, and I wondered if Gabe would do that. I know that Ty wouldn’t.

  I hate that I am comparing Brian to my ex-boyfriends. I don’t know what is normal when it comes to relationships, but I’m pretty sure that if there were a handbook the first rule would be not to compare guys. But I am comparing them. The more that I do, the more I realize that Gabe and Ty both had some major issues. Not that it’s their fault. Ty saw his own mom get murdered, and Gabe killed somebody. And both of them were raised in this extravagant lifestyle. I’ve only been here five months and already it’s changed me. They can’t help the way they are.

  Maybe I like Brian because he reminds me what it’s like to be normal. And I feel like I can tell him anything. Like someday, I want to tell him about everything that happened with my stalker. Not now, because I’m not ready to talk to anybody about it yet. Soon though, I will tell him.

  When I wake up on Saturday morning, I am stretched out on Brian’s couch with my head in his lap. When did that happen? I don’t even remember falling asleep.

  “Merry Christmas,” he tells me, when he sees that I’m awake.

  “Merry Christmas,” I say back. “Sorry that I fell asleep on you.”

  “It’s okay. My mom is expecting us by nine,” he says.

  I look at the time on my phone and see that it’s just after seven. “Okay. I should probably go home and get a shower.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll get ready and then come pick you up.”

  After saying goodbye to Brian, I make the short drive home and start getting ready. My mind is still reeling from the night I just had. It was perfect. But at the same time, it makes my feelings complicated. If I really loved Gabe, could I move on so quickly? Or is this just my way of getting over him?

  I know the answer to the last question. Brian is definitely not my rebound. And while I’m not sure what I’m feeling for him yet, I do know that I’ve had a crush on him since the first time I saw him. Okay, maybe it was strictly lust then, but the more I talk to him the more I like him.

  Then I feel freaking guilty for liking him. What am I supposed to tell Gabe about him?

  Nothing.

  I’m not dating Gabriel anymore. I’m doing this to keep him safe. He doesn’t need to know about my dating life, and he’s certainly free to date whomever he wants. I don’t care. Sort of.

  8am

  I promise.

  I wipe my sweaty palms on my dress and open the front door.

  I actually forgot that all the staff is gone today, including Reynaldo, so I actually have to open the door myself. It’s so normal, yet it feels weird to be doing it myself.

  The second I see Brian standing on the other side of the door, I immediately feel overdressed. He’s wearing a pair of jeans, tennis shoes, and a hoodie. I am wearing what Veronica bought me to wear for Christmas — a red lace dress and a matching pair of red pumps.

  Brian looks at me, not saying a word.

  “Should I change?” I ask him.<
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  “You look really good,” he says, not answering my question. The way he’s staring at me, I’m wondering if he even heard me ask the question. I suddenly don’t want to change as long as he keeps looking at me like that. Though maybe the dress is a little too short to wear when I meet his family. I hadn’t even thought about that. What if they’re conservative?

  “Will I be the only one dressed up?” I ask.

  “Probably, but you look way too cute to change,” he answers. “Plus, I’m guessing this dress was bought specifically for Christmas Day. If you don’t wear it, it will probably be thrown out.”

  “Veronica donates all of my old clothes,” I say, like it really makes a difference. I suddenly feel self-conscious. This dress costs more than most people make in a month. I didn’t even think about it when I put it on. “I feel kind of guilty wearing it now.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t. You look incredible. And I’m pretty sure that all of my family is going to adore you.”

  “I’m a little nervous,” I admit.

  “Don’t be.”

  We walk out the front door toward Brian’s car.

  “Is it bad that I am jealous of your car?” he asks me.

  “No, it is a pretty awesome car. I didn’t pick it out though, my dad did. I probably would have got something less… conspicuous.” I turn to him. “Do you want to drive it?”

  He looks at me, and I can tell he’s shocked by my offer. “Are you sure you want me to?”

  “You seemed like a safe driver last night. Plus, if you wreck it, I’m pretty sure my dad would buy me a new one. It’s not like he doesn’t have three extra cars sitting in the garage right now.” I shake my head. “Wow, I really sound spoiled. Sorry.”

  “You should really stop apologizing for the fact that your dad has money,” he says. “And being spoiled isn’t always a bad thing.”

  But sometimes it really is.

  I give Brian my keys, and he smiles. I get in the passenger side as he gets in the driver’s side. “This is kind of a huge step-up from my car.”

  I actually like his car a lot. He drives a red Jeep. It’s used, but it’s been well taken care of. “Like I said, I didn’t pick this car.”

  “What would you have picked out for yourself?” he asks as we take off.

  “I don’t know. Maybe a small SUV, or a small car that gets good gas mileage,” I say. “And I didn’t need a brand new car. I’m seventeen. Besides, I’m pretty sure this car costs more than my mom’s house did in St. Louis.”

  “Did you have a car before this?”

  “Nope,” I answer. “My mom let me drive her SUV anytime I wanted to go somewhere. She was a teacher, so I always had a ride to school. I never needed my own car.”

  “You’re a really good person,” he tells me. “Most people would change in your situation, but you’ve stayed grounded.”

  “I don’t know about that. I feel like I have changed. And sometimes I don’t like who I am.”

  “Don’t worry, if you get too arrogant I’ll be sure to put you in your place.”

  I laugh at his comment. “Good. I probably need you to do that.”

  “So before you meet my family, I feel like I need to warn you that they’re kind of weird,” he says.

  “You and Olivia seem pretty normal. Besides, you’ve met my family. I’m pretty sure weird doesn’t begin to describe what we are.”

  Brian laughs. “Speaking of your family, I was wondering something.”

  Oh, God. This is probably going to be bad. “What?”

  “Does your stepbrother have a crush on you?”

  His question makes me laugh really hard. “Toby is… well, he’s weird. He sometimes does stuff or says stuff to get a rise out of people. He definitely does not have a crush on me. I thought maybe he did when I first moved here, but definitely not.”

  “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he checks you out like a lot,” he says.

  “Toby is a man whore, but he’s like a brother to me now.”

  “I was just curious.”

  “When I first moved here, I was so creeped out by him,” I say. “He kept hitting on me. But we pretty quickly fell into the whole brother-sister thing, especially after everything that happened on Thanksgiving.”

  “Nicholas was an awesome guy,” Brian says.

  “He was,” I agree with him. “He had the greatest stories from his time in Russia. I spent more time with him than I did my dad when I moved here. He and my mom died the same weekend.”

  “I don’t know how you dealt so well with it,” he says. “You always seem so calm.”

  I shrug and decide to change the subject. “So, what do you think of my car?”

  “I’m still jealous,” he says. “Maybe even more now that I’ve driven it. I’ve always wanted to get a sports car, but I can’t afford insurance on one.”

  “I don’t think I even want to know what my dad pays for insurance.”

  He laughs. “Probably a lot.”

  A few second later, we pull into the driveway of his mom’s house. It’s a small two-story house. It’s white with red shutters and a red door. The house is not extravagant, but it looks like a home. Though I wonder where everybody fits, because Brian has a lot of brothers and sisters.

  “You look nervous,” Brian says as he shuts off the car.

  I nod.

  “Don’t be.”

  “Easy for you to say,” I joke.

  “I’m a little nervous too,” he says.

  “Why are you nervous? I’m the one who is meeting like a zillion family members today.”

  “I’ve never brought a girl to meet my family,” he admits.

  “What?” I ask, because certainly I heard him wrong. “But we hardly know each other. What if you decide you hate me in a few weeks?”

  He just laughs and opens the door. “You’ll be fine. I promise.”

  For some reason, his promise doesn’t help my nerves.

  9am

  Meet the family.

  Inside of Brian’s house is absolute chaos. There are children running around, screaming. They’re chasing each other with plastic lightsabers, and I’m not going to lie — I pretty much want to grab one and join in. Some older kids are rolling their eyes at the children, and another girl is texting somebody.

  Sitting in front of the fireplace, I see a woman holding a baby. There is a little boy pulling on her pants leg trying to get her attention, but she’s currently talking to somebody else. He’s growing impatient with her.

  But then, everybody’s eyes look up at Brian and me. The room goes silent for a second, and even the kids stop running around to look up. A little girl walks up to Brian and gives him a big hug. She whispers something in his ear, and he laughs.

  “This is Kihanna,” he tells her, and then he whispers something back to her. She giggles, and then does a curtsey in front of me.

  “I’m Jenny,” she says. “I’ve never met a real princess before. I want to be a princess when I grow up.”

  I do a curtsey back. “You will make a wonderful princess someday.”

  Jenny smiles at me and then runs to the woman on the couch holding the baby. I hear her say something to her like “she’s a real princess,” which makes me smile.

  One by one, I am introduced to his family, starting with his mom and stepdad. They’re both in the kitchen.

  The kitchen is nice. It’s big, and it’s attached to an even bigger dining room. They have a gray tile floor, white appliances, and a small island with pots and pans hanging above it. The table is set, and there is a smaller table beside it set for the kids.

  “Mom, this is Kihanna,” he tells her.

  She looks up at him, and then at me. “You didn’t tell me that she was so beautiful.”

  I feel my face grow warm at her comment.

  She walks over and gives Brian a hug, and then to my surprise, gives me a hug too. “I’m Susan,” she tells me. “And this is my husband Vince.”

  Su
san is a lot shorter than me. I’d be surprised if she was even five feet tall. She has dark brown, curly hair, and big brown eyes. Brian resembles her a little bit. Vince is so tall next to Susan. He towers over me by at least five inches. He has dark gray hair with a receding hair line, and light blue eyes.

  “So this is the Kihanna?” he asks.

  Brian nods.

  “You’ve heard about me?” I ask.

  “Brian hasn’t shut up about you since the first time he met you,” Vince says. He opens his mouth to say something else, and Susan elbows him in the gut.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you,” she says, then shoots a sharp look at her husband.

  “We are going to go before either of you say anything else that will embarrass me,” he tells them.

  I bite my lip to keep from laughing as we walk out of the kitchen and into the living room.

  “Oh, you thought that was funny, huh?”

  “Yes. Yes, I did.”

  “Well, then you’re going to love meeting the rest of my family, because it is only going to get worse,” he says.

  The next person that Brian introduces me to is his older brother, Brandon. He looks a lot like Brian in the strikingly gorgeous kind of way, except he has bright blue eyes. I can’t help but wonder what their dad looked like.

  “So do you go to college with Brian?” Brandon asks me.

  “No,” I say, blushing slightly. “I actually go to school with Olivia.”

  “Oh, so you’re a genius too,” he says.

  “Not exactly. I… um…”

  “Her dad is Mark Evers,” Brian tells him.

  Brandon just looks at him. “Who is that?”

  The girl sitting next to him who is holding the baby speaks up. “The billionaire?”

  “That would be him,” I say.

  “I’m Miranda.” She points at Brian’s older brother. “Brandon’s wife. And this is our youngest, Tiffany. She is three months old today. Jenny, the little girl you met earlier is mine too. She’s four.” She points to a little boy playing with some cars. “That’s Gary, he’s two.” Then she points at another little boy, who playing with Jenny. “And that is Nick. He’s five.”