Page 49 of The Trouble with Runaway Brides

Lance shakes hands with Geoff.

“You’re much hotter in person than in that magazine,” Geoff says.

I shake my head.

“Thanks.” Lance laughs. “Let’s get going.” He leads us out the sliding doors.

“Why did you say that?” Blake says.

“I live in New York City, not under a rock. Every person has read that article more than once. I wasn’t going to act stupid.”

I look at Blake and shrug because Geoff has a point. The only person who never acknowledges that article with Lance is Will because I think Will wishes he had been the subject of it, but we were already engaged.

I refrained from telling Will that he has the looks to make the list, but what he doesn’t have that most of those candidates had was the philanthropy work, the charity galas, or the regular donations of time and money. The Asburys only seem to like to acquire money for one cause—their own family. I sure hope I can help change that once I’m a part of the family.

Sixteen

Lance

The four of us pile into my truck. Blake and Geoff seem nice enough and will definitely help ease the tension between Kenzie and me.

“So you both grew up here?” Geoff asks from the back seat.

“Yeah,” Kenzie and I answer at the same time.

“And you guys were the big ‘it’ couple?”

I glance at Kenzie in the passenger seat.

“We were a couple, yeah,” she answers.

“Small-town love. I’m a sucker for those stories,” Geoff carries on.

“We met on New Year’s Eve in Times Square.” Blake laughs.

I catch Geoff taking Blake’s hand in the back seat. “Best night of my life, but just imagine if we’d met in high school when you were just coming out of that awkward preteen stage. All of the firsts. Oh, the butterflies.”

“You didn’t get butterflies with me?” Blake’s tone suggests he’s offended.

My mind travels back to the night of Great-Grandma Dori’s birthday party and the nerves I had when I asked Kenzie to dance. The way she felt in my arms that night. How everything just fit somehow. If anything, we had some great years.

“Of course I did.” Geoff shakes his head. “You clearly don’t get it.”

“Well, in high school, I was in the closet, so there wouldn’t even have been an us. I never got to experience any of that innocent love stuff.”

I glance at Kenzie and realize I’d taken that time in our life for granted—the football games, the late-night pizza hangouts, talking until early morning hours. The innocence of it all. It’s a magical time in a person’s life and I can see that maybe I let my bitterness over how it ended color my opinion of our whole relationship.

She’s not paying attention to me, taking in the scenery out the window.

Kenzie has no idea how hard this is for me. No one does. Maybe I should go into theater because I think I’ve put on a pretty great act. Although my dad and mom were giving me weird looks at breakfast. My mom actually being cordial to Kenzie was odd since she was outspoken about how much she disliked Kenzie being here.

We arrive in Sunrise Bay and Geoff gushes when he takes in the small town.

“That’s it, we’re moving here,” he says to Blake. “Let’s be their token gay couple.” He laughs.

“I’m not sure I’m meant for small-town life,” Blake says.

I park in the lot downtown and all of us get out. Geoff puts his arm around Kenzie’s shoulders, and they walk up the pathway between buildings and cross the street toward the flower shop. Blake and I follow behind.

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