THE TROUBLE WITH RUNAWAY BRIDES (Lake Starlight #3)

Chapter 3

three

LANCE

Kenzie and I have the most awkward hug imaginable before she exits the cab. One of those hugs where you purposely keep all your private areas at a distance and pat the other person’s back.

Then a guy yells to her from the sidewalk, “About time!”

She steps out of the cab and my gaze follows her to where she hugs a guy much differently, but still not in a loving way. He’s not her fiancé, Will. It’s Blake, her podcast partner, which I only know because they now have billboards on buses and bus benches. It’s always a real treat to see the woman who broke your heart passing you in traffic.

They laugh and Blake opens the door to the building, but after she’s inside, his eyes find mine. I nod and he smirks, shaking his head and following her inside.

I’m not more than two minutes away when my phone buzzes with a text from a number I no longer keep in my phone but one I memorized a long time ago.

Unknown Number: Sorry, I should have asked if you’re okay with me having the wedding in Lake Starlight…

Me: It’s fine.

Unknown Number: Are you sure?

Me: Yes. Going into a meeting now.

Unknown Number: Okay. Thanks again.

I don’t respond because I don’t want to keep this line of communication open. I’ve done my part and will set her up with the right person at Glacier Point to arrange her wedding, and now I’m out.

But as the taxi drives me to my office, my mind can’t help but wander back to years ago when things were so different.

I was just over fifteen when I started seeing girls differently. I was a late bloomer, or maybe I was so immersed in academics and becoming class president that I never bothered to notice them in that way. But one night, my mom was having a birthday party for my dad and Brinley brought Kenzie along. They’d been best friends since elementary school and up until then, I’d only ever thought of Kenzie as Brinley’s friend. She was wearing a jean skirt and a tank top with red and yellow flowers. I’m not even sure exactly why, but my body buzzed and reacted immediately the minute I saw her.

“Stop drooling, man.” Easton elbowed me as we stood in line to get food.

My mom had had the food brought in from the Glacier Point restaurant, as always, because she rarely had time to cook. Her business had taken off once my grandfather put all her essential oil products in their hotels, so she was always busy.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I scooped up some of the pasta salad and put it on my plate.

“You have a thing for Kenzie,” he whispered in a typical Easton whisper, which meant five people around us looked at me.

“No, I don’t, and stop talking.”

He grabbed two burgers and a hot dog on top of the heaping spoons of pasta salad already on his plate. Then he caught me staring. “What? I’m a growing boy.”

We went outside, away from Kenzie and Brinley, because they were playing with our younger cousins in the family room, letting their parents eat before they would.

“Just admit it.”

Easton kept on pushing, but I knew why. I’d caught him staring at Kenzie too, lately. And the worse part was Kenzie was staring back at him. It wasn’t hard to see what was happening—when you can’t keep your eyes off someone, you notice when they can’t keep their eyes off someone else.

“Just stop it, man.” I bit into my burger.

Thankfully, Uncle Denver came over and distracted Easton from the topic.

I knew where I stood in the hierarchy of our high school. I was the sophomore class president and, more than likely, our class valedictorian unless someone new moved into Lake Starlight and gave me some competition for the role.

Easton was already playing varsity baseball. He’d even gone on a date with a senior. It only happened once because Aunt Holly, his mom, found out and that was the end of that. He had that whole easygoing, flirtatious vibe while I was more conservative, and it took me a while to warm up to anyone.

So, I’d decided that my feelings for Kenzie would stay hidden. The last thing I wanted was Kenzie or Easton saying they couldn’t date because of me. And I knew Easton—he was all about blood before anything else, so he’d step aside for me in a heartbeat.

For months, I thought about the what-ifs. Kenzie only grew more attractive to me, and every time Brinley brought her around, I’d clam up, unsure of what to say or how to act. I noticed that Easton was always quick to leave, saying he had promised someone else he’d hang out.

Then Grandma Dori’s ninetieth birthday party came. The weather was horrible, the ground wet and snowy. Of course, Brinley brought Kenzie. They were attached at the hip those days.

We pulled up to the front entrance of the Glacier Point banquet center that my dad had added after he’d bought the place. A valet driver opened my mom’s door, and I stepped out after her.

“Watch out, it’s slippery,” the valet said.

A slight rain earlier had melted the dusting of snow we’d gotten during a cold front the week prior, and I guessed the water froze on the pavement.

Dad gave the keys to the other valet, who parked our car in the nearest spot. I guessed that was how the boss got treated. When we were home, I never thought of my dad as anything but my dad, but when we were at Glacier Point, another part of him always emerged. He became this broad-shouldered man with tons of confidence and power. He directed and managed his staff without ever making them feel less than. From what I could tell, his staff liked him and our whole family. Sometimes I wondered what he had been like when he was my age. But Dad always said he didn’t really find himself until after he met my mom. She loved him for him and not what she expected she could get from him.

Uncle Liam drove up behind us, and the valet opened both rear doors of their large SUV. Out walked Aunt Savannah in a dress identical to my mom’s. I glanced over my shoulder, and sure enough, my mom’s jaw hung open.

“Hey, Lance sweetie.” Aunt Savannah kissed my cheek and headed over to my mom, complaining about the dress and how Grandma Dori had taken her shopping. From what I gathered, Grandma Dori had taken them all separately and, as usual, swindled her way into getting what she wanted.

Next, Brinley stepped out.

“Lance. You look good in a suit, per usual.” Brinley had come with my family to New York a few times because she loved to shop there, and she was the daughter my mom never had. When we were with my grandparents, we went to fancy places, fancy plays, and everything just all-around fancy. Brinley always loved it.

“You look great, but now I’m trying to figure out who you’re going to match.”

She hugged me, a light perfume lingering around us. “I hope it’s no one.”

She hoped, but I’d bet if Grandma Dori had her way, she’d be matching someone.

The valet held out his hand as Brinley turned around, which meant Kenzie had come with her. Uncle Liam clasped me on the shoulder, my cousin Asher right next to him, on his way over to my parents and Aunt Savannah.

Kenzie got out of the SUV with her long dark hair swept into some half updo and her hair curled into spirals. She was wearing a lot more makeup than normal, and her dress was strapless—meaning her boobs were pushed up with a line of cleavage that was hard not to look at.

The valet shut the door, heading to the next car.

Kenzie took two steps, and her feet slipped.

“Kenz!” Brinley squealed.

I rushed forward, grabbing Kenzie’s elbow and her arm to steady her. She gasped as she fell back into my arms until I righted her, and I gave her my arm until we reached the rubber matting.

“Mac, we need ice melt out here immediately. Especially with the age of the guests we’re having,” Dad said. “I’m not being sued for twenty hip replacements.”

Uncle Liam laughed and Mom swatted Dad’s arm.

“Thank you so much,” Kenzie said once she was standing on the mat. She looked at me and I swore we shared a moment.

“You’re welcome.” I cleared my throat.

“Look at you, saving the day.” Brinley smacked me in the chest. “A modern-day Romeo.”

I shook my head as heat filled my cheeks. Kenzie didn’t say anything, and the three of us walked inside the banquet room, the massive chandeliers glistening above us. The usually white room was decorated with gold, silver, and white, with little treasure boxes in front of each place setting. A large 9-0 display was decorated in black-and-white pictures of Great-Grandma Dori throughout the years, while a slide show played for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour. It was as big as a wedding. Great-Grandma Dori was loved in Lake Starlight, so I wasn’t surprised by how many guests were there that night.

“It’s beautiful,” Mom said, covering her heart.

“Everything she wanted.” Aunt Savannah leaned her weight against Uncle Liam.

Kenzie and Brinley ran to the bathroom, and I ventured farther into the room.

Hours later, guests had left, and I took the chance to walk across the room and ask Kenzie to dance. I held out my hand.

She smiled, sliding her small hand in mine. “I’d love to.”

Brinley mouthed, “About time.”

Easton nodded to me as though he was giving me his approval.

I led her to the makeshift dance floor, and at first, I put our hands together and rested one hand on the small of her back. Just as my grandmother had taught me a long time ago when I had to go to parties with them. My New York grandparents liked to show me off as some treasure and I still didn’t know if I liked that or not.

But midway through the song, Kenzie slid her hand out of mine and wrapped her arms around my neck. I was still growing and wouldn’t reach my full height of six-one until senior year.

“Better,” she said, smiling up at me.

I tried not to stare down at her cleavage, but I had a perfect view as I circled us around the dance floor. As we danced, I said something I couldn’t even remember, but I do remember her laughing. The way her head fell back and a few strands of hair came loose from her updo. I remember her body stepping closer to me. I remember her head on my chest and my cheek resting on her head. I remember feeling something so intense I felt as if I was hovering above the clouds.

The night drew to a close and my mom and dad were busy helping the staff since we’d stayed past the time we’d said we’d be there. Uncle Kingston took Great-Grandma Dori home.

“Bye,” Kenzie said as Brinley walked toward her parents’ SUV.

“Could I… um… have your number?” I asked, wishing I hadn’t stuttered.

“I thought you’d never ask. Give me your phone and I’ll add my number.” I did as she asked, and afterward, she rose on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. “I had a great time, Lance.”

“Me too,” I was quick to say, trying to pretend the kiss didn’t affect me even though my heart was beating so fast I was sure it was what a heart attack felt like.

She walked away and slid into Uncle Liam’s SUV, Brinley shooting me a grin and shaking her head.

That night as I lay in bed, I took out my phone and hovered over her number.

Me: Would you like to go out this Friday?

I waited for the three dots to appear, and they did but disappeared. Just as I thought she wasn’t going to answer, a message popped up.

Kenzie: Pick me up at six?

Me: I’ll be there.

Kenzie: Are you tired?

Me: No. You?

Kenzie: Not at all…

Those late-night text strings turned into video calls over the years. Kenzie and I dated all the way through our senior year. We were king and queen for homecoming and the couple most envied in the school. It was surreal until the reality of life hit us like a sledgehammer.