Page 82 of D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding

“Love is unpredictable,” he started. “It’s messy; it does what it wants regardless of what you think people are supposed to do or how things are supposed to go. You can’t control it. And because of all of those things, what you’re experiencing right now is normal.”

“Well since you know so much, why don’t you tell me what to do?”

He chuckled, sitting back in his chair as he crossed one leg over the other. “Now, that I can’t do.”

Poking my bottom lip out, I pouted.

“Why not?”

I was whining and there wasn’t a shred of shame in me. I’d been careening down this hill for a nice little minute with no brakes in sight, and if he was going to point out my impending crash, the least he could do was give me some airbags.

“Well, dearheart, if I tell you what to do, how will you know that it was the right move for your heart? What might seem like the obvious next step to me might not be the path that takes you to your rainbow.”

“Rainbows are overrated,” I murmured, causing him to release a bray of laughter.

“You hush your mouth!”

I giggled. “I didn’t mean that.”

“Oh, I know. Not with Ms. Kris Zavala waiting for you to arrive at your wedding rehearsal.”

Just the mention of Kris’s name brought a smile to my face. Ducking my head, I dropped my gaze to my lap.

“Has anyone ever said I do?” I held my breath as I waited for him to give me the answer I already knew. I hadn’t watched the show, but I’d pored over the wiki pages. I knew how this thing had played out time and again.

“Not yet.”

There was something in his tone that made me raise my gaze to meet his. “Not yet, huh?”

He winked. “There’s no time like the present.”

Sighing, I lifted my shoulders. “How foolish would I be to turn down one hundred thousand dollars for a woman who might tell me no?”

His smile was tender, almost paternal. “Not any more foolish than the one who takes the money because they’re afraid to try for a yes.”

A fresh round of tears fell from my eyes at the thought. Over the past few weeks, Kris and I had discussed a million and one things, but managed to avoid the one topic that would put my mind at ease about our future. We’d fallen into a sort of routine, becoming more comfortable settling into each other’s lives, learning each other’s schedules, but hadn’t put one word toward what would happen once we made it to that altar.

I knew what I wanted.

I wanted Kris. I wanted her to choose me and love me and make this tiny romance budding between us grow into a bountiful garden. The problem was communicating that to her without making her feel pressured to choose something she doesn’t want. All of the “I love yous” in the world can’t make someone want to be in a place not of their choosing.

“What are you so afraid of?” asked Kevin. Kris’s audition video was paused, and his eyes were trained on me.

I shook my head. There was no way to verbalize my thoughts. It would sound bonkers on camera and they’d for sure edit it into the episode, and then I’d spend the rest of my life having to deal with people pitying me for being afraid that the girl I love doesn’t love me enough to turn away six figures. Actually, it sounded bonkers even in my head.

“I’d rather not say.”

“Okay, dearheart. I won’t push.”

Pursing my lips, I stared at him. One of the many things I’d discovered about myself over the past few weeks was that I really, really hated when people didn’t push for information. First Cinta, and now Kevin! They forced me to share of my own volition and that robbed me of blaming them when I would then have to confront my problems after spilling the beans. I hated it.

“I’m scared that Kris will only say yes because she’s tired of being alone. She’s wanted someone long before she met me and now that I’m here, what if she thinks this is her only opportunity and she just...settles?”

I felt Kevin’s penetrating stare for several long moments before he finally spoke.

“Has Kris ever made you feel like she was settling for you?”

“Well—”