24. Kam
24
KAM
Once I feel comfortable in the dress, and my shoes are no longer sticky, I check my hair and make up, making sure everything is in place before turning to Kris.
He’s been leaning against the wall watching me the entire time. I know I’m playing with fire right now, teasing him this way and going hot and cold constantly, but I can’t help it. I want to let loose a little, I want to enjoy our time together, but I’m terrified my feelings will mask any fun we have and then I’ll have my heart broken again.
And last time, he shattered me.
He’s made it perfectly clear he’s not looking for anything serious, and I’m not looking for a one night stand. But, something about what Cora said, and the fact that we’re literally trapped on the side of a mountain together for this wedding is messing with my head.
I should be embarrassed that I just let him partially strip me the way he did, but I’m not. It was hot, and if we didn’t need to be out there for the rehearsal I’d have let him do a lot more than just take off my dress.
“Ready?” I ask, turning to face him before looking down at my dress. The cream fabric really does contrast with the tone of my skin well. It may even be a better fit than my dress from earlier. “I just need to put this in your truck.”
“I got it.” He pushes away from the wall, taking the dress from my hand before reaching for my other. “Ready?”
I nod, following him to the door. He holds it open, letting me step through before he follows behind me. Once we’re back in the room where the lunch was, he takes my hand leading me through the now empty tables as staff from the venue clean up.
“Wait right here, I’ll put this in the truck.”
I nod, watching as he disappears. Damn, he’s seriously hotter now than when we were in college, and that wasn’t that long ago.
I’m right outside the entrance where the rehearsal is taking place, but I don’t pay attention when the door opens.
“Oh, you’ve changed.”
The voice jars me from my thoughts.
Lauren. What a fitting name.
“Yes, thankfully Ruby had another dress.” I smile at her, shame she’s too preoccupied with Kris at his truck to notice how fake it is.
“Good thing. Accidents happen and all.” She laughs, and it reminds me of nails on a chalkboard.
But I don’t miss the underlying message there. She was intentional at the table, everyone was right. My gut was right, I just really didn’t want to believe it.
“So, you’re dating Kris’ father?” I ask, trying to remind her who her date is tonight instead of ogling my date.
Her eyes finally connect with mine, and I see it. She’s attracted to her boyfriend’s son. “I am.”
“How long have you been dating?”
“A few months.” She shrugs.
“So not serious then?” I’m being a bitch, I know this, but I don’t really care right now.
“Oh, very serious.” The way she stresses the word makes me want to eye roll and gag at the same time.
Kris gets closer to the door, and her eyes go back to him. “Maybe you should stop drooling over his son then.”
That gets her attention. Her pissed off glare is on me before she stomps back inside.
Kris slides up beside me. “You ready?”
I nod.
“Was that Lauren you were talking to?”
“Yes.” I blow out a breath and take the elbow he offers me. “She’s just pretentious.”
“Using big words on me, babe.” He pulls the door open like always, letting me step through first.
Everyone in the room stops to look at us, several are taking in my wardrobe change, while others look at us briefly then back to their discussions.
Kris stays with me as long as he can before his brother pulls him away for the rehearsal.
The rehearsal doesn’t last long, I think they run through everything two or three times just to make sure everyone is comfortable.
I’ve sat off to the side, watching and observing everyone. Ruby and Kaleb are adorable, and their love for each other really shines in moments like this. The two are giddy to say, “I do,” tomorrow, and they keep talking about spending forever together.
My eyes drift to Kris, he’s standing near his brother listening to something the preacher is saying. For all I know they could be in a deep conversation about football or baseball, we are in Tennessee after all.
I glance over at his mom, she’s talking with her fiancé while looking at Kaleb and Ruby with a smile. She doesn’t seem as bad as Kris has made her out to be, granted I didn’t grow up with her so I don’t know all the hardships, but it’s obvious she loves her boys. But I’m not so sure the wall Kris has built up between them can be knocked down so easily.
As I continue looking around the room, doing my people watching, my eyes drift to Kris’ dad and his date, Lauren.
Ugh, just the name makes me want to go throw a drink in her face.
Her arm is linked through Kris’ dad’s, but her eyes are anywhere but the conversation he’s having with a man next to him, who I think may be Ruby’s dad, I’m not entirely sure. I’ve not been introduced to everyone yet.
The way she blatantly checks Kris out, while hanging from his father’s arm really pisses me off. It blows my mind that his dad doesn’t notice, she’s anything but subtle.
“Jealous?” someone asks. Kris’ mom offers me a smile. “Lauren isn’t my favorite of the women he’s brought around.”
She offers me a glass of wine, I take it willingly to calm my nerves since my last one was spilt on me.
“Yeah, well, she isn’t my favorite either considering I had to change dresses because of her.” I glance at her, before looking back at Lauren.
“You have nothing to worry about though.”
I frown, pulling my attention to her.
“With my son that is. I see the way he looks at you.” She offers a small smile. “I know I’ve not been the best mother, and I desperately wish I could go back in time and fix the mistakes I’ve made, but I love my boys with my whole heart, even if they don’t always think I do. Everything I did in my life was for them, I just didn’t realize at the time that I was hurting them by trying to give them everything.”
My heart cracks open a little at her words.
“But I see the way he looks at you, and even if the two of you say there isn’t anything between you both anymore, it’s very much still there.”
“I, umm, I don’t really know what to say.” I laugh, awkwardly. “Kris and I aren’t dating, we dated briefly in college and it was more of a disaster than anything. He doesn’t do relationships, and I don’t do casual. It’s like fire and rain,” I point out.
“Or, it’s the perfect recipe.” She shrugs, looking over to Kris who’s now watching the two of us. “I think we’re about to head out, I’m exhausted and need to prepare to cry my heart out when my baby gets married tomorrow. It was so nice to meet you, Kameron.” She touches my shoulder and I smile, telling her the same.
The second she steps away from me, Kris comes in hot. “What did she say? Are you okay?”
“Kris,” I place a hand on his chest, “it is fine. She is actually really nice, it was good.” His heart is beating rapidly beneath my palm. “I promise,” I tell him, trying to calm him.
But it’s like trying to calm a bull in a china cabinet.
“What’d she say?” he asks again.
“We were just talking about you.” I look into his eyes, his bounce back and forth between mine before he blows out a breath and relaxes slightly. “Everything was good, I promise.”
We stand frozen in our spots, staring into each other’s eyes before a throat clears and we jump apart slightly. Or apart before Kris wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me flush against his side.
“Oh, Kris, will we see you all out tonight? Everyone is going to celebrate the newlyweds shortly.” Lauren doesn’t even spare me a glance, and I feel Kris’ fingers dig into my side.
His dad saunters up, looking between the two before wrapping his arm possessively around her.
Hmm. Maybe the man isn’t blind after all.
Kris tilts his head, looking down at me. “What do you want to do, babe?”
Babe.
That little word shouldn’t send goosebumps over my skin or a shiver down my spine, but it does.
“I’m good with whatever you want to do. I wouldn’t mind hanging with Ruby and Kaleb for a bit.” I look over at Lauren and his dad. The look on Lauren’s face should make me laugh, the steam might as well be coming out of her eye balls with the glare I’m getting. “But don’t forget about our plans later.” I bite my bottom lip, looking into Kris’ eyes.
Sparks of recognition flash in his gaze, and a warmth travels over me at what I’ve just promised him.
He smiles, leans in for only me to hear and says, “Trust me, I couldn’t forget our plans even if I tried.”
“I guess we will see you out, Lauren,” I say, but I’m met with a simple nod before she all but marches out of the venue.
“Kris,” his dad says before nodding at me, and following behind his date.
“I don’t like her.” I stare after his dad’s retreating form.
“Yeah, I picked up on that.” He chuckles.
“Really?” I smile, looking up at him. “What gave it away?”
“There were a few, but the one that was most noticeable was when you were hiking your leg to pee on me.”
I swat his chest, making him take a step back, laughing.
Ugh, the easy-going, care-free Kris has always been my favorite. The one I can laugh and joke around with. This is the version that really pulled me under when we first got together. And if I’m being honest, it’s the version that tore me up the most when I lost it.
And all those vows I made myself have gone completely out the window.