Since I arrived here, I’ve stared at Kelly. Today is worse. She looks stunning in her bridesmaid dress, a deep navy blue that contrasts beautifully with her golden skin. And her breasts have grown significantly in the past four months. They’re fuller and more rounded than I remember. I turn away, shaking off that thought.
“You look gorgeous, too,” Piper tells her bridesmaids. “Don’t they, Dad?”
I swallow as I look again.
Kelly’s makeup is impeccable, but as always, she doesn’t need it. Her eyes are bright, her cheekbones high, and she has a delicate turn up of her nose. She’s a natural beauty through and through.
I look away, because I’m sure not only Kelly will notice that I'm staring at her face, but Piper will too.
“You all look beautiful. But I’m sure your wedding planner will be on the phone, telling you to get your ass into that car verysoon. Unless my little girl has changed her mind about getting married.”
Piper laughs. “No way. I’m marrying the love of my life.”
My heart aches, knowing I’m losing her once again. But I don’t let it show. “Let’s go then.”
Minutes later, I watch as Kelly gets into another car with Sophie and some groomsmen. She’s sitting on the backseat, her hands folded in her lap, staring out of the window.
I turn to Piper. “Is Kelly okay? She seems a little quiet.”
Piper looks at me with a small smile. “She didn’t know if she could come to the wedding because the flight was too expensive, and she’s saving up for something.”
My heart sinks as I wonder what thatsomethingcould be. Is it a new apartment in California? A car? Something that keeps her on the west coast permanently. Or is it…something else?
“You must have an idea what it is,” I tell Piper. “She tells you everything.”
“Normally, I’d agree with you, but…” Piper looks at me, her eyes filled with an uncertainty I don’t normally see. “I don’t know what it is. She refuses to tell me,” she says, with a shrug of her shoulders. “But I promise you, I am trying to find out. I just hope she hasn’t done something stupid like...” She trails off for a moment.
I nod, trying to hide my concern from Piper. But as we drive to the church, my mind keeps going back to Kelly and what she might be going through. “Stupid like what?”
Piper shrugs. “I know Kelly is smart, but I don’t know, maybe…” she sighs. “Maybe she got with a boy.” My heart drops into my stomach as I think of her with someone else. “I just hope that she isn’t pregnant.”
“Pregnant? What makes you say that?”
“I don’t know. I’m jumping to conclusions.” Piper fiddles with her bouquet. “But she didn’t have any champagne. And sheclaims she’s stopped drinking, but…” Piper glances at me. “She loves sparkling wine, and she seems a little unhappy to me.”
“So you think she slept with someone, got pregnant, and he dumped her?” I ask.
I swallow.
Was that someone…me? Or someone else?
My mind wanders to the night we spent together. I can’t believe I let myself get involved with someone so young.
Is she pregnant with my baby?
“She doesn’t want to talk to me about it, so I can only assume she doesn’t want me worrying about her while I’m about to get married.”
“It’s nice that she looks after you,” I tell her. “And that you are still good friends despite you moving away.”
Piper sighs. “I know. But maybe if she can’t talk to me, this is her pulling away.”
“I doubt that, sweetheart. Kelly doesn’t want you to worry about her. Do you want me to have a chat with her?”
As we pull up to the church doors, Piper turns to me with a smile. “If you would.”
I glance down at my suit and tie, feeling a little self-conscious. “Okay, I’ll talk to her after the wedding.”
“Thanks Dad.” Piper leans over and gives me a quick peck on the cheek before stepping out of the car and fluffing her wedding dress.