Page 88 of The Trouble with Runaway Brides

She turns in my arms and stares into my blue eyes. “I don’t care about any of that. You should know that I trust you. I’m kind of happy you’re making some decisions with this.” She places her hand over my heart. “Instead of just this.” Then she taps my temple.

I place my lips on hers, and our kiss quickly turns hot. I slide my hand onto her thigh, separating her legs. She stops me with a hand on mine and tears her lips away.

“We’re in public,” she whispers. “At your new establishment.”

I laugh. “We could use Nico’s office.”

“I think we can hold ourselves together until we get to your place, although I have no idea where we’re going to have sex because I want to burn the whole thing down.”

I grin. “Man, I love you being jealous.”

“I’m not jealous. I just hate them all.”

“You’re crazy.” I shake my head.

Then, as if the universe has a sick sense of humor, Will walks into Nico’s.

After Kenzie didn’t marry Will, it came out in the press that he’d have to wait until he was married to receive a portion of the trust his grandfather had set aside for him. Kenzie apparently knew nothing about it but wasn’t surprised.

There’s a woman on his arm, so I suppose he’s started on his search for a replacement for Kenzie already. The woman’s dressed the opposite of how Kenzie’s dressed. Sophisticated taupe pantsuit with nude heels. Her makeup is natural but heavy on the red lipstick. She saunters in on his arm as though she owns the place.

Will catches Kenzie’s eye, and they stare at one another for a second. Nico comes out and hands Will a large brown envelope.

“That would be the payment he was behind on,” I whisper.

Will turns around and walks out. That’s it.

Kenzie catches me looking at her and squeezes my hand. “I love you.”

“I know.”

I don’t know why, but that small interaction feels as if it was closure somehow. Now we can move on to our own future.

Twenty-Eight

Lance

Sometimes I wake up and I can’t believe how happy I am. It’s like I was living in black and white before Kenzie came back into my life and I didn’t even know it, but now everything is in vibrant color. It’s been two months—we spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve together. Her parents are moving to Lake Starlight permanently, opting to buy the house they rented. And Blake and Geoff are looking to relocate in the spring when their lease is up.

As for us, we split our time between New York and Lake Starlight. I realize now more than ever that home is a person, not a place because wherever I go with Kenzie, it feels like home. Whether it’s the big city or the quiet streets of Lake Starlight. I quit my job the day after buying a portion of Nico’s restaurant. It’s not what made me happy. Grandfather said I was just like my dad and blamed Lake Starlight for brainwashing us on the simple life. All in all, he took it better than I expected though.

After an early call—since New York is ahead four hours—I’m meeting everyone at Lard Have Mercy. I park along the curb and walk in, spotting Easton and Kenzie bent over, heads together, staring at something, her phone, I think. They’re on the same side of the booth and Brinley is nowhere to be found. Whatever Kenzie writes down must be funny because the two of them laugh, looking at one another, their faces only inches apart. Sourness hits my stomach, the familiar ring of jealousy when it comes to Easton and Kenzie. Why can’t I shake it?

“Boo!” Brinley startles me.

I fall into the door and the glass rattles, causing everyone to look at me.

“Why are you so skittish and what are you staring at?” she asks.

We look at the booth and see Easton quickly go to the other side. Kenzie waves as she collects the papers they were writing on and shoves them in her bag.

“That,” I say. “Easton texted her at ten o’clock the other night.”

Brinley gives me the evil eye. “Are you opening her messages? Does she know you do that?”

“I didn’t read it. It popped up on the lock screen.”

She shakes her head. “Stop it. It’s fine. They’re friends.” She grabs the sleeve of my jacket. “Let’s go.”

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