Page 66 of The Troublemaker

Her father grunts. “And after this fake marriage you’re telling me you know who she is.”

“The marriage is real and I know who she is. She’s a kind, generous woman who gives back to her community, and not from behind some desk making a token donation to look good on the books. She’s out there with her hands every day, cooking and creating new programs to help the needy. She cares about others, and she cares about you two when neither of you deserve it. You need to make this right, before you lose her for good, and I’m telling you something, losing Kinsley doesn’t feel very good.” Actually, it feels like my heart’s been torn from my chest and someone is still stomping on it.

Her father takes a step toward me, and I put my hands up. “I’ll leave, but you two need to wake the fuck up and see what I see when I look at your daughter.”

“Let’s go, buddy.” Cole puts his arm on my shoulder and leads me from the backyard. When we’re away from the crowd, he shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Cason,” he says. “The bet was my idea. I pushed it on you, thought I was actually helping and now everything is fucked because of it, because of me.”

“I don’t get it, Cole,” I say, my voice cracking as Nina slides her arm through mine and walks with us. “Did you want me with Kinsley or not?”

“I wanted you with her so much, I was willing to part with my car.” I shake my head, my brain too rattled to put the pieces of the puzzle together. “I knew she was the girl for you. I told you love would happen when you least expected it. I didn’t want you to run away after two weeks like you usually do. I thought the car was incentive for you to stay for thirty days, so you could both explore your feelings and your relationship.”

“I didn’t stay because of the car,” I say quietly.

“You stayed because you love her,” Cole says.

I nod. “That’s right.” I tug on my hair, as my heart thunders. “Now she’s lost her trust fund, probably her food truck, and definitely her restaurant.”

“And you lost the only girl you ever loved.”

“Yeah.”

“Then what are you going to do about that, buddy?”

I lift my head, and as I stare at Cole, an idea takes shape, forms in the back of my brain. “I need to go to the cottage.”

18

Kinsley

“Why don’t you take a break?” Kat suggests and my gaze jerks to hers.

“Why would I take a break? Do you see the line out there?” I bark back. She winces and I sigh. “I’m sorry, Kat. Just under a bit of stress lately.”

“I can tell.” She passes a taco through the window and starts on the next order. “For the last two weeks you’ve been kind of a bear.”

“You’re right, and none of it’s your fault. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you.”

She takes the burrito bowl from me and sets it aside. “You shouldn’t be taking it out on the food, either. You keep messing up the orders. No onion, remember?”

I swallow and wipe my head with the back of my arm. “Shoot. I can’t afford to waste any more food.”

“I’m sorry, Kinsley,” Kat says as she starts a new burrito bowl, her eyes full of worry as she casts a glance my way. “I know things are tough right now, and I’m really sorry you lost the downtown space you wanted.”

My throat tightens and tears pound against the back of my eyes. “When it rains, it pours,” I say, working so hard to keep a positive attitude, but right after the ‘wedding’ party at my parents’ house, I found out my dream space had been rented—snatched out from underneath me. Well, not really, since it was never mine. I lift myself up and straighten my shoulders. I’m not a quitter, dammit, and I have a positive attitude, despite the storm known as my life trying to drag me under.

“I’ll find another place and another way to get it. We’ll just have to keep this truck going for a little while longer, and maybe I can take on a roommate so I can save more.” Just then the fridge makes an ungodly sound, and we both turn to stare at it. “Wonderful.” I drop down, and pull open the door, to make sure it’s still up to temperature. “I’m going to have to get someone in to repair this.”

“I can ask my uncle. He’s a handy guy and he probably wouldn’t charge you very much.”

I nod and stand back up. “You’re sweet, thank you.”

She passes the order through the window and turns back to me. “I can take over here. I already called Jason, and he’s on his way to help.”

My heart pinches. “Are you sure?” I ask, not wanting to put the lunch load on her, but I’m such a mess, I could use a fast break.

“Positive, now go clear your head and think about how you’d like to design your kitchen when you finally get one.”

I reach behind my back and untie my apron. “Okay,” I say, working to inject a bit of enthusiasm into my voice, but from the look on Kat’s face, she knows I’m faking it. I’d drawn plans up once, and forgotten them at Cason’s cottage. Not that they’re of any use now.

---