Chapter 12

 

Kenzie could feel him pulling away from her emotionally. His eyes shuttered and he started walking back toward the resort. How had things gotten so messed up? She was enjoying her time with him. Why had she allowed him to kiss her?

She knew the guilty answer. She liked the feel of his lips on hers. The warmth of his strong arms around her. She spoiled herself a little by letting him close, but then knew she had to stop it from progressing, or she would only make things worse. She wasn’t ready to start up a new relationship.

They walked in silence toward the lamppost at the end of the boardwalk. The sand felt good between her toes. She focused on that, and ignored the hollow feeling in her chest.

Camden bent down to pick up his shoes, his socks stuffed inside. He let them hang from his fingers as they walked up the boardwalk to the resort. When they got to the door, he opened it for her. Always the gentleman. Why did that make her feel even worse about how the night had ended?

When they got upstairs to their rooms, she touched his arm. “I didn’t mean to make things awkward between us.”

He gave her a lazy smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t worry. Already forgotten. I’ll see you in the morning.” He slid his key card and disappeared before she had a chance to say anything else.

She stood in the hallway, staring at Camden’s door. Why did she regret saying anything? Couldn’t she have let the flirting be for one more day? Why did she feel the need to cut him down?

As the thoughts raced through her head, her sister turned the corner and came down the hallway. She wore blue pajamas with orange ducks on them. “Kenzie,” she said as she approached. “I couldn’t sleep. I had to come talk to you.”

Kenzie wasn’t mad at her sister anymore. She took Tessa in her arms and gave her a hug.

“I’m so sorry,” Tessa said, her voice cracking with emotion.

“Don’t be. It was nothing.”

Tessa pulled back and looked at Kenzie. Her eyes were filled with tears. “I shouldn’t have said those things about you.”

Kenzie laughed. “They’re true. I’m giving up my Sherlock Holmes trick. I’m no good at it.”

Tessa laughed through her tears. “You aren’t. But I love you.”

“I love you too. And I don’t want anything upsetting you on your big day tomorrow.” Kenzie looked at Tessa’s flannel pajamas. “I hope that’s not what you’re wearing tomorrow night.”

Tessa threw her head back and laughed. “Not even close.”

“Go get some sleep. You need your beauty rest. Tomorrow’s your day.”

Tessa nodded. “Love you,” she said as she walked down the hallway toward her room.

“Love you, too.”

Kenzie opened her door and slipped into her hotel room. She rinsed the remaining sand off her feet and got ready for bed. She tried not to think about Camden or his kiss, but her brain kept replaying it over and over in her head.

Was he interested in her? He was acting like it. But she didn’t want to process that information. She didn’t seem to be a very good judge of character, based on her choice to marry Mason. And Camden seemed nice, but what did she really know about him? He was a construction worker who wore five-hundred-dollar shoes? That didn’t make a lot of sense. Maybe he was lying about his shoes. Or joking.

She brushed her teeth and climbed into bed. She needed to put Camden out of her head. She was here to celebrate her sister. That’s who was most important. And tomorrow would be a big day for her.

When she woke the next day, she was determined to think only of Tessa. She showered, ate breakfast, then went back upstairs to slip into her bridesmaid dress. Tessa had chosen well. It was a beautiful teal dress, formfitting, and accentuated her figure. She put on the matching shoes and pulled her hair up, fastening it with a comb decorated with little flowers made of semi-precious stones. She’d made a matching one for Tessa as a wedding gift.

A knock came on the adjoining door to Camden’s room. She took a peek in her mirror before opening it. One look at Camden and she nearly gasped. He could have stepped out of a men’s magazine. His tux made him look . . . well, yummy was the word echoing in her head.

“Good morning,” he said, a slight smile on his face. His eyes were still reserved, though. “You look lovely.”

“Thank you.” She grabbed her clutch and shut their adjoining door. “You ready to go down?”

“Yes.” He held out his arm and she took it.

They kept to surface conversation on the way down to avoid the awkwardness of talking about yesterday. Kenzie ignored the butterflies that assaulted her stomach each time she looked at Camden. He was polite and composed.

Kenzie left Camden with the men and snuck into the room set aside for getting Tessa ready. Her mother was already there, a frown on her face. Tessa wasn’t in sight.

A bad feeling crept into Kenzie’s chest. “Where’s Tessa?”

“Oh, thank goodness you’re here,” her mother said, rushing over to her.

Kenzie blinked. Her mother was glad to see her? What alternate universe had she stepped into?

Helene continued. “Your sister’s locked herself in the dressing room and won’t come out.”

Kenzie went to the door and knocked on it. “Tessa?” She heard muffled crying. “Tessa! What’s wrong?”

The door opened a crack, and Tessa’s tear-streaked face appeared. Mascara ran down her cheeks. “The wedding is off. I can’t marry Eric.”

A low panic began to buzz in Kenzie’s ears. “Why not? Did he cheat on you?”

Tessa’s eyes widened. “No. Did he? Did you see him with someone else?”

“No!” Kenzie gently pushed on the door. “Let me in, Tessa. What’s going on? Talk to me.”

Tessa stepped back and let the door open. Kenzie squeezed into the small space and shut the door. Tessa stood in her wedding dress, the back not yet zipped up. She held up the strapless dress with her arms close to her sides. Kenzie put her arm around her sister. “What’s wrong?”

“I was getting ready . . . and I looked down at this dress . . . and I realized something.”

“What did you realize?”

“I’m not good enough for Eric!” Tessa sobbed, and relief filled Kenzie. She grabbed a tissue from the table and dabbed at the mascara on Tessa’s face as she put her other arm around her sister.

“Come on, now. Of course you’re good enough for Eric. You two make an amazing couple.”

“But he’s so smart. And handsome. And I’m so plain!”

A knock sounded. “Who is it?” Kenzie asked.

Her mother’s voice came through the door. “The hair stylist is here.”

“Listen to that. Your stylist is here. She’s going to make you even more beautiful. We just need to zip this thing up.” Kenzie went behind Tessa and gently tugged the zipper up. “There. Now, listen to me.”

Kenzie put her hands on Tessa’s shoulders and faced her. “You are not plain. You’re wonderful. You are kind and good, and think of how much you love Eric. He loves you too.”

Worry filled Tessa’s face. “What if we’re not right for each other?”

“That’s your cold feet talking. Listen, I already married the wrong guy. I took all the pressure off you.”

Tessa giggled, then hiccupped. “I can’t believe you married him and didn’t even tell anyone.”

“I know. I messed up royally. So now you can have the perfect wedding and not worry because you’re not marrying some guy you barely know. You’re marrying Eric. And you love him, and he loves you. And you’re going to have an awesome wedding and live happily ever after.”

Tessa smiled through her tears and nodded. “Okay.”

“Good. Now let’s go out there and get you ready to be the bride you’ve always wanted to be.” Kenzie opened the door and guided Tessa out into the larger room. Their mother stood by the wall, a pinched look on her face. Kenzie ignored that and maneuvered Tessa in front of the mirror.

“Look at how beautiful you are. Well, except for the runny makeup. We’ll fix that. Look at this dress. It’s perfect.”

Tessa looked at her reflection and smiled. “You’re right. This is the perfect dress.”

“And you’re the perfect bride.” Kenzie stepped back and let the stylist start on Tessa’s hair.

Helene approached Kenzie. “Thank you. I didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t listening to reason.”

The smell of hairspray filled the air as the stylist worked. Kenzie stared at her mother. “You’re welcome.”

Helene frowned and turned toward the mirror. “Not too much hairspray. We don’t want her hair to break in half.”

Kenzie sighed. At least her mother had been civil for one minute. Maybe the wedding would be bearable after all.

After the stylist was done, Kenzie helped clean up Tessa’s makeup. “There. Perfect. You’re gorgeous.”

Tessa grinned and pulled Kenzie into a hug. “You are the best. I couldn’t do this without you.”

“I’ll go tell them you’re ready.” Kenzie slipped out of the bride’s room and motioned to the wedding planner. She began putting people in order and getting everyone ready for the processional.

Kenzie grabbed her bouquet of flowers and stood in line. She walked with the other bridesmaids down the aisle runner toward the chairs covered in white fabric with teal bows on the back. The white canopy overhead was also tied with little teal bows. Everything looked beautiful. She caught Camden’s eye as she walked past. He winked at her. Butterflies erupted in her stomach.

She waited until the music faded and Tessa appeared. Shelley stood on the stage, a microphone in hand. She began to sing “A Thousand Years” and Tessa slowly walked down the aisle.

Tears formed in Kenzie’s eyes. Tessa was beautiful. The wedding was just what Tessa wanted. Much different from her own wedding. Kenzie had all kinds of ideas for creating artistic wedding decorations, but Mason had insisted on purchasing everything. He wanted expensive and . . . what had he said? Normal? She wondered what kind of wedding Camden would want.

Kenzie pushed those thoughts out of her head. This was Tessa’s day. She was there to support her sister. The ceremony seemed to fly by quickly, and soon everyone was headed inside. Kenzie stayed outside for pictures, but once they were done she caught up to Camden, who was waiting for her.

“That was a nice ceremony,” he said, obviously trying to make polite conversation.

“Yes.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say, so they walked in silence. They entered the banquet room and found their seats. The rest of the family was already seated at the table. Eric’s parents sat next to her parents. Aunt Vita was seated to Kenzie’s left. She and Camden sat down and completed the circle.

Helene smoothed her hair. “I wish the minister had spoken up. I can’t imagine how the people in the back could have heard him.”

“I thought he did a fine job,” her father said.

“You liar!” someone screamed.

The voice had come from behind Kenzie, and she turned to see a woman, cheeks red, eyes burning. And she was pointing at Camden.

Camden let out a gasp. “Lexi?”