“That’show I know you! Oh my God, you’rethatKendra Gray?“ she asks, now looking at me with wonder instead of suspicion. I give her a genuine smile this time, always happy to meet a fan.
“Yeah, that’s me. But I’m just Kendra today, here to get a hot dog, a hamburger, and maybe some potato salad unless there are raisins in it.”
Camila covers her mouth to stop a giggle.
“Mama Park would never.”
“So Denise invited you,” Henry begins slowly, still trying to work it out. “Cory’s girlfriend, Denise?”
I nod.
“I wore her design at a show during New York Fashion Week and now I’m helping with her new line.”
“Small world,” Henry mutters, taking a swig of his beer. I turn to address Camila again.
“And is this the woman you were asking about when we first met?”
Henry bobs his head in acknowledgment, and Camila actually drops the plastic cup in her hands. Luckily, it was empty.
“He talked about me with you? In ameeting?”
My face cracks into a sly grin. I do so love to spill the tea.
“It was quite an unusual meeting, given his reputation. I’m expecting some sharp-dressing legal shark, but the Henry Park I met that day was in a bad way. He showed up late, looking like he slept in his clothes, and he hadn’t even read the documents I sent over. I figured it was better to go ahead and talk about whatever was bothering him than to ignore the elephant in the room.”
“That was after you left,” Henry explains, addressing his fiancée now. “I couldn’t think straight.”
Camila is stunned silent.
“Our next meeting was thankfully much more professional, though he went on leave or something shortly after.” I jab my finger at him with a mock glare. “I wasnotin good hands while you were gone, by the way! That other lawyer seemed way over his head with the prenup, letting Andre’s lawyer walk all over him. If you hadn’t come back when you did, I doubt he would have settled.”
Henry’s lip twitches, but he says nothing.
“Is she talking about Jonathan?” Camila asks, looking up at him. His sudden interest in his empty beer bottle speaks volumes. “Oh my God, that is hilarious.”
Before we can get too deep into the depressing topic of my divorce, a hand claps me on the shoulder from behind.
“I see you’ve finally met the last brother,” Noah says, with a slight slur to his words. He’s leaning a bit too, clearly already tipsy. Looking at them, they must be twins, maybe even identical, but their vibes are completely different.
“I actually met Henry before I met you; he was the lawyer for my divorce.”
Noah looks at Henry.
“No shit?”
“No shit,” Henry answers. “When didyoumeet her?”
“At Denise’s show. We all ended up going. I think you had to work.” Noah reaches to the refreshment table and hands me a cup of punch.
“Really fuckin’ small world,” I mutter, and Henry raises his bottle in agreement.
We fall into an easy conversation, the other brothers and their girlfriends coming to join our circle. Apparently, I’ve been dancing around this family for the better part of a year. I still haven’t seen Damon, though. Is he not coming? He’s the main reason I came tonight, wearing strappy sandals that kill my feet but make my legs look incredible, a flowy sundress a few inches short of respectable, and my curls out and popping. If he’s a no-show after all that flirting, I really will hit up Daniela about her roommate. I’m KendraFuckingGray! I don’t need to keep putting myself out there for a guy who doesn’t want me.
I chance another glance around the party, preparing my excuse to bail, when I spot him. He looks good, wearing dark-wash jeans and a short-sleeved v-neck shirt. More of his tattoos are showing tonight, running up his forearms until they disappear under his shirt. From what I’ve seen of the other brothers, he’s the only one with ink. Or maybe he’s just the only one withvisibleink. He’s still got the dreaded cross-trainers on, but this is one of the more stylish outfits I’ve seen him in.
He’s barely through the front door before some ho pulls him in for a hug.
I shake my head. I shouldn’t call her a ho. I don’t even know her. But her dress looks like it’s painted on, and she’s pressing her whole body against his just to say hello. Have I been barking up the wrong tree? Has Damon had a girlfriend this whole time? If so, why the hell was he coming to all my events? I clench my jaw. If he’s another cheating bastard, so help me—
