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“You have no idea what pain is Kate. No. fucking. idea.” He stepped in front of me, his gaze heated. “It’s watching the woman you love marry someone else on the same day you came back to propose to her.” He hissed. “It’s having to watch her kiss another man and promise her forever to him, after she spent months promising it to you.”
“You were there?” I gasped. “At my wedding?”
“Yes. Sadly, I was uninvited, but I was right there.” He trailed his hand against my arm. “By the way, your dress was stunning. It was a little more elaborate than what I envisioned you wearing for our wedding, but stunning all the same.”
My heart dropped. “Why didn’t you come up to me and say something?”
“What should I have said, Kate? Congratulations?”
“I didn’t have a choice in marrying him, James.” I felt tears pricking my eyes. “It’s not what you think.”
“What I think is that you’re full of excuses.” He shook his head. “I also think I’m done trying, and I think it’s best if I just stop giving a fuck since you don’t seem to be apologetic about putting me through the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life.
“You can keep the fucking cello…” I moved past him. “I pawned it for a reason.” I walked away from him, and I wasn’t sure if I was ever coming back.
…
James
~ February 13, 2010~
I STEPPED OFF THE TRAIN and into the Pacific Northwest’s welcoming rains. The first thing I wanted to do was find Kate and explain everything. I knew she’d never understand why I had to leave for so long, but I also knew that she would’ve talked me out of it, if she knew the truth.
I’d accepted a job on an oil rig to earn what I needed to propose to her—what I needed to secure starting our future together. The job was supposed to be offshore with plenty of cell and internet service, but the fine print left out the fact that the deal was only good for certain rigs. Mine wasn’t included. Still, though. At two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year, I calculated that two years was more than enough for me to start my own business and make a name for myself.
I was now armed with an engagement ring, borrowed time, and a puppy I’d named Blue. I’d barely slept the night before?waking up every half hour at the slightest rattle of the train tracks. I’d rehearsed my proposal so many times, that I could recite it backwards, in English and in French.
As I drove into town, I tried not to think about where we would go from here. All I needed was for Kate to say yes, and we could figure out the rest together.
I made my way to Edgewood Hotel and froze when I entered the lobby. The space was nearly unrecognizable. In place of the elegant, brown sitting chairs and dark, luxury couches, were rows of silver and white chairs. The high vaulted ceilings were adorned with flowy, white panels, and the usual red and pink rose arrangements that lined the columns were replaced with white lilies and baby’s breath.
“You should have seen this place a few hours ago,” the hotel clerk said as I approached. “Prettiest party that I’ve never been invited to.”
I laughed. “Let me guess, some filthy rich tourists just got married?”
“Ha! No, this was beyond rich-ass tourists.” He smiled. “This was just the pre-wedding party for their out of town guests. I can’t even fathom how over the top the wedding will be.”
I handed him my reservation confirmation. “Well, good to know that some things here are still the same.”
“Yeah.” He shrugged and handed me a pen. “The Kensington and Harrison families uniting their dynasties once and for all shouldn’t surprise anyone from here, I’m sure.”
“What?” I raised my eyebrow. “Who did you just say?”
“The Kensington and Harrison families …” He arched his brow, then he picked up a copy of The Edgewood Times and handed it to me. “Kate Kensington and Grant Harrison are getting married.”
I heard his words, processed them slowly, but I didn’t believe anything until I saw them in print.
In the paper, under a large picture of Kate kissing Grant, was the truth.
We are pleased to formally announce the engagement of Grant Harrison, III and Kate Kensington.
The official party to celebrate the occasion will be held at the Edgewood Hotel and open to the public.
The wedding ceremony will be held, in private, at the Kensington Estate. We thank our friends, family, and Edgewood neighbors for their best wishes, and we look forward to building our future together.
WHAT. THE. FUCK.
I reread the words tons of times—hoping that I was stuck in some alternate form of reality. My blood was simmering and my heart felt like it was on fire.
