Legacy by M.A. Foster

_____________________________

Dylan

On the flight back from London, while Alex and Eva slept, I was left alone with my thoughts. Katie. I went back to the first time I ever saw her and the pull I’d felt between us. I remember the carefree smile on her face as she danced with her friends, the royal blue color of her dress, and even the feeling in my chest when she lifted her head and pinned me with those bright eyes.

Did she know it was me?

I thought more about the night she walked into the Kappa Omega house. She’d been looking for someone, but who? Then she looked my way, but had she really seen me?

There was another time I thought I might’ve seen her. It was the night of Zach and Jay’s rehearsal dinner at Private Affair, when my dad pointed out Vanessa on the dance floor. Vanessa was dancing with her fiancé, but I swear Katie was there, too. There one minute and gone the next, just like the last two times. I was convinced she didn’t exist.

Maybe Alex was right, and I had been looking at this all wrong. “People come into our lives when we need them the most.” Our paths had crossed too many times for it not to mean something. It’s as if those brief encounters were the universe’s way of saying “She’s the one, just not yet.” I wasn’t ready for her then, but that was over seven years ago. Since then, I’ve had my heart broken in the worst way; am I ready for her now?

I just got back to town this morning. Alex, Eva, and I flew from London to California because Eva had a job the following day. I stayed a few extra days before catching a flight home. Since I wasn’t in town for New Year’s, my mom insisted I come for Sunday dinner. On the way over to my parents’, I call Liam.

“Heard you went to London,” he says instead of a simple “what's up” or a “hello.”

“From?” I drawl.

“Your dad.” He pauses. “Was it supposed to be a secret?”

I exhale a puff of air through my nose. “No. That’s not why I asked.”

“Oh? What’d I miss?” he asks.

“A lot.” I tell him how I finally met Katie.

“Maybe I’m not the only one whose stars have aligned,” he jokes. “It’s those eyes, man. It’s like she’s looking into your soul. The first time I met her she reminded me of Emerson, but Vanessa thinks she looks like Jay.”

The fuck?My lip curls up in disgust. “No she doesn’t. Are you trying to ruin this for me?”

“Shit. Sorry.” He chuckles.

“Ha ha. You know, if you and Vanessa hadn’t run off and eloped, I might’ve met her years ago.”

Liam barks out a laugh. “What can I say? I’m impulsive.” He pauses. “Did you just get back?”

“This morning. We flew to Cali from London. Eva had to work, so I hung back with Alex for a few extra days. What are you doing?”

“I’m actually grilling for the girls. Katie and Gabbi are here for a girls’ night.”

My heart skips a beat. “She’s there?”

“Yep.”

I stifle a groan. I want to see her, and try to come up with half a dozen excuses to blow off dinner with my parents, but I can’t hurt my mother’s feelings.

“What do you know about her?”

I imagine the amused expression on his face. “Very little. I met her when I took Vanessa to Splash for Prom 2.0 and maybe one other time, before tonight. She has a really nice loft over near the port. Vanessa was living with her and taking care of her pet squirrel while she was in London.”

“Her what?”

“Squirrel. He’s cool. His name’s Rocky.” He laughs. “Seriously, though. Katie’s one of Vanessa’s best friends. She’s very laid back and she seems genuinely nice. I don’t know shit about her personal life. Freckles doesn’t dish on her friends.” Freckles is his nickname for Vanessa.

“I just don’t want to get caught up with another complicated female.”

“Then buy a dog, bro. Because there is no such thing as an uncomplicated female.”

* * *

Pulling up to my parents’, I notice my grandparents’ car parked in the driveway. Idle chatter greets me as I step inside and head toward the kitchen. My dad, Cole, Mimi, and Mac are seated at the table, and my mom is at the stove.

My grandfather, Mac, sees me first and grins. “Hey, Dylan. Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year,” I say as I step into my mother’s embrace and kiss her on the cheek. “Where is everyone?”

“Aiden is at Chloe’s,” Dad replies with an eyeroll.

“Did something happen?” I ask.

“Aiden went to the movies with Logan the other night, and Chloe was there.” Dad shakes his head. “That kid is in over his head.”

So much for not being ready to date.

“He’s at that age,” Mimi pipes up. “All his common sense has drifted south to the head swinging between his legs.”

I bark out a laugh, and my mom shakes her head before placing a basket of bread in my hands. “Put this on the table, please.”

I set the rolls down in the middle of the table, then move to sit beside Cole.

“How was London?” Cole asks, bumping his fist against mine.

“Pretty cool.” I look around. “Where’s Harper and Willow?”

“They’ll be here in a few minutes,” Cole tells me. “Willow is in time-out for being a sasshole.” He holds up his hands. “Harper’s words.”

“I wonder where she gets it from,” Mac says flatly, narrowing his eyes at Cole.

Cole shrugs and leans with his forearms on the table, his leg bouncing. He’s anxious. He hates when Willow has to be disciplined or punished.

My gaze darts around the table, taking in the amused expressions, and we all burst out laughing.

“Be thankful you have Harper,” Dad says. “You don’t want a bratty kid. Imagine when she’s a teenager. Think about all those bratty girls you went to school with.”

Cole rolls his eyes, and I laugh. “Dad’s got a point.”

Snatching a roll from the basket, Cole picks off a small piece and shoves it into his mouth. “Tell me more about London before I lose my mind.”

“Alex and I did a little sightseeing while we were waiting for Eva to finish up her photoshoot. We stayed at the Onyx for the relaunch of Bliss.” I pull out my phone and open the saved photos I’d pulled from the website, passing it to my dad.

“Wow.”

My mom peeks over his shoulder. “That’s gorgeous. It looks like a ballroom.”

“Let me see.” Cole leans into my dad’s space. “It’s crazy how that came from someone’s imagination.” He gestures between my mom and Mimi.

“Let me see.” Mimi holds out her hand, and Dad passes her the phone. “Oh, wow.”

“I know. She did an amazing job.” I grab a roll.

“She?” Cole grins.

“Her name is Katie. And get this. She’s best friends with Vanessa.”

“Levi’s sister?” Cole asks.

“No. That’s Gabbi. She was there, too.”

“Small world,” my dad says.

“You have no idea.” I shake my head, deciding now isn’t the time to tell them just how small. “I want to hire her for the redesign of Mac’s, but I’d really like you both to be at the meeting,” I say to my parents.

Mimi picks up the basket of rolls and offers one to Mac. “What company does she work for?”

“Van Doren Designs.”

“I’ve met the owners,” Mom says, moving back to the stove. “Tom is a nice guy, but Marvin is a bit of an ass.”

“Have you come up with a name yet?” Mimi asks.

“I have.” I grin, my eyes dart to my brother. “Cole reminded me of something you said, and it kind of stuck with me. ‘No matter how far we fall, we always land on our feet. We’re destined for success. It’s our legacy.’ I’m renaming Mac’s to Legacy.”

Mom gasps. “I love it.”

“Fitting.” Cole nods.

“I like it,” Dad adds. “It’s… fitting. Cole’s right.”

My gaze flicks between Mac and Mimi. A mixture of emotion dances in their eyes.

“It’s perfect,” Mimi says.

The back door slides open, and Willow’s cheery voice fills the room. “Co, I done.”

I bring my fist to my mouth to hide my grin as she climbs into Cole’s lap.

“Did you get in trouble?” I ask, forcing myself to keep a straight face.

Willow nods. “I got timed-out for being a ass.”

“Sass,” Harper quickly chides.

I can’t help it. I throw my head back and laugh my ass off.

* * *

“Dylan,” Cole calls out as the front door slams behind him.

Turning around, I wait for him beside my truck.

“What’s up?”

“You tell me.” His eyes flick over my face. “You’re different—or I should say you’re the Dylan before all the Jade stuff.”

Leaning my backside against the truck, I cross my arms over my chest. “Remember the girl I told you about that day at the cemetery?”

His brows pinch as if he’s trying to recall our conversation. “The one you went after at the party?”

“Yeah. Her name is Katie.” I pause. “She was in London.”

“Wait.” He tilts his head. “The club designer, Katie, is the same girl?”

I nod. “Crazy, right?”

“That’s….” He runs a hand through his hair. “Wow, Dylan.” He drops his hand and grins knowingly. “You banged her, didn’t you?”

“Shut up.” I laugh, punching him in the arm. “This isn’t high school.”

“Yo,” Aiden hollers as he pedals up the driveway on his bike.

“Did you make up with Chloe?” Cole asks.

“She says she’s not mad,” Aiden replies with an eye roll.

“I thought you said you weren’t ready for a girlfriend,” I remind him.

Aiden shrugs. “Logan asked me to the movies. What was I supposed to say?”

Cole crosses his arms over his chest. “Why would Chloe be mad?”

“Because she asked me if I wanted to go with her, and I said no—”

“But then you went with Logan,” I cut in, shaking my head. “That’s one hell of a way to lose your best friend.”

“Logan asked me after I already told Chloe I didn’t want to go.” He huffs. “Chloe was a lot easier to deal with when Smith was here.”

My gaze darts to Cole. “Have you talked to Carter at all?”

Cole blows out a breath. “No. I tried getting in touch with him to tell him about Olivia, but he won’t take my calls or respond to my texts. I know this is all Dane.”

Not only did Carter leave his friends behind, but he also left behind his pregnant girlfriend, Olivia.

“He’ll be back,” I assure Cole.

“Well, I hope he brings Smith with him, because I need my wingman.” Aiden shakes his head as he steers his bike toward the garage. “Girls are a pain in the ass.”