Page 136 of Insta Bride

“Yeah?”

“I’ve got something to say to you, too.”

In my earpiece, Bree tried to hurry us along, reminding me that sponsors had booked advertising and I was not going to be the reason she lost her job.

“You know, some of our best times were when I listened to you.”

“You mean when I convinced you to play ten pin bowling?”

“Of course,” he grinned. “But I was also thinking about that hike. I’d follow that ass anywhere.”

“Whatever happens here tonight, I’m all in.” I took another breath and drew strength that his gaze hadn’t faltered. “I love you and I’m all in.”

“Wow, how about you hold that thought until after you see my surprise.”

“What do you mean, my surprise?” Bree had given me grief about my surprise for Kye. It had forced her to do a complete reschedule, which had only been worth it when I explained who it involved. Then, she couldn’t have been more helpful. “You have a surprise, too?”

JP got the message about time wasting and led us over to the fourth couch to join Benjamin and Kenzie. “I’m sure you and your friends have a lot of catching up to do.”

I didn’t know whether I could actually call them my friends, but Staci, Randi, Darnelia and even Sami welcomed me with genuine smiles. Kye fist-pumped his way along the guys and even Benjamin got up to give him a man hug. The last two standing. I didn’t expect or get the same response from Kenzie.

“So, we asked all of our returning couples if they had any last message for their husband or wife.” JP started the formal proceedings. “How about we start in alphabetical order, Benjamin?”

Benjamin stood in front of Kenzie, pulling her up to until they looked like the perfectly photogenic couple that social media had loved for these last six months.

“Six months ago, we got married. I wasn’t expecting to fall in love. I definitely wasn’t expecting to meet a woman like you. But these last six months we laugh together, party together. We love together. Babe, everywhere we go, people tell me how lucky I am you’re my wife.”

I tried to feel the sincerity coming from Benjamin, but Kenzie wasn’t even looking at him. She was looking over his shoulder to Chloe. How could he not see it?

“Kenzie, we want the same future. There are hospital wards to open and pet charities to save. So I pledge to you again—”

“Stop.” I called, standing. Damn it, I couldn’t stand by and watch Kenzie continue to make a fool out of him. “Benjamin, there are things you don’t know.”

“Back off, bitch. You’ll get your chance,” Kenzie snapped at me, but still her gaze fell to Chloe and her sobbing shoulders.

“Then answer me two questions.” Perhaps, I was doing this for Chloe as much as for Benjamin. “Kenzie, do you love Benjamin?”

“Yes, of course I do.”

I looked back over at Chloe who’d stopped trying to hide the pain and jealousy in her full body sobs.

“Can you tell me that you don’t love someone else.” I refused to out them, only to force Kenzie to admit what seemed obvious.

Benjamin followed Kenzie’s gaze, shaking his head, he seemed to struggle to find the words. “You said it was over. I asked if the two of you were a thing, and you promised me it was over.”

Benjamin pushed Kenzie away, before Kye grabbed him, “Man, I had no idea, sorry.”

“Nah,” Benjamin said, recovering quicker than I’d expected. “I owe your wife a solid. I had my suspicions, hell, my family had their suspicions, but I wanted to believe Kenzie loved me and not just my trust fund. I guess, the joke’s on me.”

Then he came to me. I bit my lip before saying, “I’m so sorry. I should have tried to reach out to you privately.”

“I guess we didn’t make it easy to be friends. Do over?”

“You seem to have taken the news pretty well.”

“Lena, Lena, Lena.” He laughed and pulled me into a hug. I saw the hurt, but also the relief. “They certainly broke the mould when they made you. I didn’t expect it but I’m grateful.”

“At least you both made it to the end, you both collect the fifty thousand dollars.”

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