Page 15 of Powerless

She shrugs out of my hold and stands firm in front of both Liam and me. “Did he tell you what he’s proposed?” she asks Liam who shakes his head and slowly lifts his shoulders. “Because I’m gay, he said we’ll have a long engagement, and he’ll ‘cheat’ on me so I can break if off with him and be ‘heartbroken’ enough that my parents won’t try to force me into marrying someone else.” She air quotes the key words.

“You did?” Liam looks to me.

“It’s a no-brainer, it’s the right thing to do.”

“This…” Jen makes a circular movement between the three of us. “You’re willing to be the scapegoat for me, and I’m prepared to do the same thing for you.”

“This is different,” I say as we head back toward the table.

“Why?” Liam argues. “If anything, it’s exactly the same thing you’ve offered Jennifer.”

“Jen,” she corrects as she folds her arms in front of her chest. I can’t help but smile when she invites Liam to call her by a name her parents won’t allow. To me, it means she’s trusting him. “And Liam’s right. Why can you do something so amazing, but I can’t?” Jen wets her lips and exhales a deep sigh. “Let me talk to her, she might not even believe me.”

“Man, for a fake girlfriend, you’re really cool about all of this,” Liam says with a broad smile.

“Bennett’s a good guy, and he deserves to be with someone who’s interested in him.”

“That’s another thing,” I say. “She might not be.”

“Ah, seriously?” Jen’s pitch elevates. “Make no mistake. She’s into you.”

“She is?” Liam asks. “Are you sure?”

Yeah, are you sure? “I don’t know.” I peer over to where Jacob and Kathryn are now sitting. His arm is draped on the back of her chair, and his fingertips are lightly skimming her shoulder. I swallow back my anger as my eyes bore into where he’s touching her. That fucker better not get any ideas.

“Really?” Jen asks. “I bet you’re more busy staring at the guy than her.”

“What?” I avert my attention from him to Kathryn, only to find her eyes locked on me.

“You two are such boys. All testosterone and no brains.” Jen stands and looks toward me. “I’m going to the bathroom.” She makes her way over to where the bathrooms are, and I notice Kathryn stand and head in the same direction.

“Shit,” I say as I stand and rush toward them.

“What?” Liam’s right by my side.

“Kathryn and Jen are both in the bathroom together.”

I extend my hand to push on the door, but Liam pulls me back. “You can’t go in there, Bennett.”

He’s right, I can’t. Liam pulls the closest chair to the bathroom out from the table, and sits. I pace back and forth, worried that something is going to happen. I hope Jen doesn’t say anything. It’s not fair to her to let her out herself because I like Kathryn. “How long have they been in there for?” It feels like hours.

“About five minutes.”

The door creaks open, and I spin and wait. But it’s neither of the girls, which makes me even more anxious. I slide my phone out of my pocket to check in case Jen’s sent me a message. “What’s taking them so long?”

“They’re talking about you,” Liam replies flatly.

My chest tightens and I keep pacing as I wait for the girls. The door creaks open again, and this time, they walk out together. “Sorted,” Jen says, turns to Liam, grabs his hand, and drags him to his feet. “Dance with me.”

“What?” I ask as they both head toward the dance floor. “I’m sorry,” I say to Kathryn.

She steps forward, lifts her chin, and places a kiss on my lips. In this one moment of crazy, everything is sane and right. My right hand relaxes on her hip while my left snakes around to her lower back. Our kiss is calm, yet passionate. “Kathryn,” I whisper against her soft lips.

“Shut up and kiss me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I move her closer to me while our mouths connect. My heart thrums with happiness as I hold her against my body.

Kathryn finally pulls back and looks up at me. “I understand now.”

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