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“I’m dead serious about that woman.”
“And Finley loves her, too, right?”
“Yeah. She can’t know about us yet, of course—but it’s going to rock her world when she finds out. Ever since Whitney left, there’s been this… incompleteness. And I think Kendall could be the one to fix that. For both of us. Eventually.”
Owen gently elbowed me. “Guess your story’s not over yet, either.”
Just as I opened my mouth to reply, the door behind us was thrust open and Jake and Xander tumbled onto the balcony. “Jake’s going to jump in the pond!” Xander declared.
My Aunt Michelle wasn’t far behind, warning Jake that he’d better not get us all kicked out of the venue and ruin his brother’s wedding. But Jake was already halfway toward the pond and removing his shirt, much to the amusement of the rest of the wedding party who had joined us on the balcony. The poor ducks scattered, making way for the madman swinging his belt over his head like a lasso.
“Maybe he’ll get it out of his system and be on his best behavior by tomorrow?” I wondered aloud.
Owen sighed. “Don’t count on it.”
chapter forty-three
kendall
“I have an enormous favor to ask you.”
Jamie sat on my bed early Saturday afternoon with a wary look on her face. I was painting my nails a shiny champagne color, which would offset the boldness of the dress I planned to wear that evening. “What is it?” I asked her.
“I’m heading out of town tonight, and Daya’s going to be stuck here. I think she’s depressed. And it’s all my fault. Can you take her to that wedding with you?”
“Will she even want to go?”
“I think she’ll go if you suggest it. Make it seem like it’s a favor for you, and she won’t be able to say no.”
That seemed a little manipulative, but Jamie’s heart was in the right place, at least. “It seems like you still care about her.”
“Of course I care about her,” she said, pulling her knee up onto the bed. “I love her, dude. I just don’t see how this can work. We want different things.”
“But you’re not planning to move for what—six, seven months? You don’t think the two of you could reach some kind of compromise before then?”
“She’s not going to leave that job. So I’m not going to put the work into a relationship that’s not going anywhere. Why waste my time?” She had a point.
“Well,” I said, blowing on my fingernails. “I’ll see if she wants to tag along tonight.”
“Thanks, sis. Appreciate it.” Jamie leaned back onto her hands. “You excited to see Prince Charming tonight?”
“Prince Charming?” I laughed. “That’s one of your better nicknames for him.”
“Just to be clear, I’m referencing Prince Charming from Shrek.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course you are. And yes, I can’t wait to see him. But do you know what I’m most excited about?” I paused, biting my bottom lip. “I can’t wait to hang with Finley and see her all dressed up. She told me she’s got a new dress, and she’s going to twirl for me. Isn’t that the sweetest?”
“Jesus. You’re in deep with these people.”
“I know.” I tightened the cap on my nail polish. It was true, I was “in deep” with Mason and Finley. They’d both woven their way into my heart right under my nose—I almost felt like I’d been tricked. I tried not to smile when I thought about how much my life had changed in just a matter of months.
Love had a funny way of sneaking up on you when you least expected it.
**
“I’ve never felt more feminine.”
Daya stood before the mirror in my bedroom, gawking at her reflection. She was much skinnier than me, but I was able to find a navy maxi dress I hadn’t worn in two years that fit her well enough. She had a tan cardigan to wear over it—it wasn’t perfect, but it worked. “You look amazing,” I said. She’d even let me apply a little make-up, which she said felt even more foreign to her than the dress. But I could tell she was enjoying it.
