2. Kennedy
CHAPTER 2
Kennedy
PRESENT DAY
“You may now kiss your bride!”
Ashton brings his hands to cup Samara’s cheeks and plants a small kiss on her lips. I see my friend melt into his touch, even after all these years together. She pulls him closer to deepen said kiss, and relish in the fact she’s finally going to be his wife. After so much planning, I know how happy she’s feeling right now.
The couple walks down the aisle, the ribbon bouquet Sam put together at her bridal shower clutched in one hand while the opposite arm intertwines with her fiancé.
“Now remember that the photographer and videographer will be capturing this incredible moment while you walk down, so make sure to keep smiling; make sure it’s natural. You’re going to walk all the way from the gazebo to the hallway where we started the procession. Got it?” Theresa, the wedding planner, beams like she’s going to win an Olympic medal after this entire wedding is over tomorrow night. She moves her attention to us, still standing at the altar. “Now, the rest of you, keep your smiles plastered on. Do not give me any resting bitch face during the ceremony.”
“That might be hard for Kennedy!” That comment comes from fucker, I mean, River.
I swing my gaze at him, narrowing my eyes in his direction while he looks mighty proud of his snide comment.
I still remember the moment we crossed paths ten years ago at that fraternity party. At first, my gaze locked on his because—now, this hurts greatly to admit—he was the hottest person I had ever laid eyes on. He had on a backward cap that night, which is my kryptonite. That might be why it took me a minute to figure out where I had seen him before. But the moment the lightbulb went off, he instantly soured my mood.
River Nichols has been a damn gnat, one I can’t seem to swat away. And the asshole doesn’t seem to get ugly. Actually, despite my attempts not to find him attractive, it’s almost like he’s even hotter today than that day a decade ago. Damn him!
I’m pulled out of my thoughts when Ashton speaks up. “I think we can manage that.” He’s down the aisle now, standing next to Sam. If he had it his way, they would have eloped and saved the hassle of doing a whole wedding. He isn’t much for the glitz and glamour Sammie had always dreamed of for her wedding.
Add in that his soon-to-be bride has been a slight nightmare in the last few weeks, so I don’t blame him. Sammie is usually sunshine and rainbows, always smiling and seeing the positive in everything. The only thing is, she’s turned over a new leaf that I wish she had left unturned.
She has been snappy and exhausted, dark circles under her eyes, and has completely deviated from her normal bubbly self. Not sure what happened recently to cause this change, but I am now counting the hours until this wedding is over if it means my friend will come back to me.
Theresa calls out my name for me to begin my walk down the aisle next, and I walk toward the one man I really hoped I would never have to interact with again.
As happy as I am for the bride and groom-to-be, the one downfall of this whole thing revolves around the fact that I’m stuck with River Dipstick Nichols as a partner throughout this whole wedding. Actually, he’s been the downfall of this entire relationship between Ash and Sam. They got happily ever after, and I got a lifetime of staring at his smug face, along with mocking comments whenever he finds a reason. Honestly, the reason is usually my existence.
I make a show of rolling my eyes as I walk toward River, my annoyance fueling him to smile brighter, the dimples in his cheeks more prominent as I get closer to him.
“Why, exactly, can’t I walk down the aisle with your brother?” I know how much it irks him when I choose Clay over him, yet I get a huge sense of satisfaction that takes over my body each time I bother him. I guess I’m as bad as him when it comes to irritating one another.
“Because we flipped a coin, and I lost,” he says without missing a beat.
Clay and River are twins. Their dark brown hair, tan skin, and hazel eyes turn heads everywhere. The fact there are two of them is just a bonus for the female population. As the years have passed, I can tell some differences between them, but if you’re not familiar with them, they could easily pass off as the same person, especially if River keeps his mouth shut. His smug remarks really set him apart from his brother. Actually, they’re chiseled to perfection, but I’d never tell River that.
“Ha ha, very funny. I think in reality—” I’m interrupted by Theresa as we make our way down toward the area where Ashton and Samara just disappeared.
“Pay attention, you two. You’re worse than my toddler,” she huffs. I hold a laugh in because she’s acting like we are taking off into space tomorrow instead of simply walking down the aisle.
“Yeah, Kennedy, shush.” River agrees with Theresa, and I see hearts form in her eyes at him. What the fuck? Isn’t she married?
“Figures you already have her wrapped around your finger. Dick.” I roll my eyes again.
“You know, for the number of times you refer to me as a dick, I’m starting to think you’re a little obsessed with him. You know, he’s always down to play. All you have to do is ask.” He waggles his eyebrows, and I use my elbow to shove him in the ribs. He huffs but lets out a laugh at the same time.
The moment we make it through the double doors and back into the hotel, we rip apart as if we’re going to internally combust with the proximity.
“Kenny, I need you to talk some sense into my mother!” Sam is already red faced and irritated. “My Aunt Kay wants me to use a crocheted purse she made special for the money dance. I can’t do it. Please help me out.” She’s got her hands in a prayer position, and I swear she’s on the verge of getting on her knees to beg.
“What’s so bad about the purse?” That’s from River, and the moment he asks, I think I see regret mar his features.
“What’s wrong with it, you ask?” Sam is now on the verge of exploding, and River takes a step back and puts his arms up in surrender.
I vaguely hear Ashton whisper, “Don’t anger it.”
“It’s in the shape of a penis, River! A fucking penis. Who does that?” My friend is worked up, and now I am starting to fully comprehend why, and I might have to agree.
“Start from the beginning,” I say, hoping to understand why her aunt would want to do such a thing for an event like this.
“So when I was little, I guess I told her I wanted her to crochet a purse for me. Do I remember this request? Of course not because I was FOUR! Four years old! This woman can’t remember what day it is, but she remembers me telling her I wanted a crocheted purse. Cut to her finding a funny print on Etsy, which I assume someone would do for a bachelorette party or something, and she thought it would be funny… FOR THE WEDDING. A cock purse, Kenny. Imagine the photos.” Sammie is ready to pull her hair out, and Ashton decides to come up behind her and rub her shoulders.
I try to rein in the laughter that’s threatening to burst out of me as I absorb this information from my best friend. Too bad River can’t seem to have the same maturity, and he busts up laughing.
“I’m definitely dancing with Aunt Kay tomorrow. She sounds like a riot.” His laughter is now spearheading Ashton to laugh, and I have a feeling if they keep this up, Sam may not have a groom to marry tomorrow because he’ll be deceased, and I’ll have to help her get rid of the body.
“Sam, look at me.” I get her attention back on me while the boys, because men they are not if they’re this immature with a penis purse. “Show me who Aunt Kay is, and I’ll go have a friendly chat with her.”
I see Sammie’s shoulders relax, and she starts to look out the window to find who in the crowd is the aunt.
The moment she spots her, she points her finger in the direction of her mother and a group of other women. “See that lady with the purple hat on? That’s Aunt Kay. She’ll likely have a crocheted purse on her right now. She has multiple in every color so that she can coordinate with her outfit.” Sam rolls her eyes, irritation still radiating off her.
“Okay, I’ll take care of it,” I say and begin my walk back out toward the family that’s sitting in the chairs outside. I’ve got my sights set on Aunt Kay and almost miss Dorothy, Samara’s mother, standing right next to the penis purse producer.
Unlike Ashton’s family, Samara’s is full of love and laughter. They welcomed me with open arms when I lived with Sam in college, and we’ve been tight ever since. Though I’m surprised I have never met Aunt Kay before.
“Oh, Kennedy, isn’t all this just lovely? Sam did such an amazing job. Have you met my aunt?” Dorothy motions to the woman next to her.
“It’s lovely to meet you both. Aunt Kay, is it?” I turn to the woman with purple from head to toe, and sure enough, she has a purple crocheted purse in the shape of what looks like an eggplant. I can’t help but look down at it, and she catches me staring.
“Why make a purse in a simple shape when you can make it fun? Don’t you agree?” I think my eyes double in size at the thought of the random items she has made into purses.
Clearing my throat and figuring out how I’m going to rectify this for the bride, I begin my story. “So I heard you made a purse for Samara for the big day,” I say, and the aunt starts to bob her head in agreement, happiness evident in the way her smile takes over her face.
I hope the smile I’m sporting looks genuine. I’m slightly horrified by the eggplant I’m seeing in front of me and the fact that it’s gigantic. I can’t imagine the penis purse is any better, although probably hilarious as a gag gift.
“I’m so bummed out though. See, I had given something to Samara that was pretty special to me that we planned on doing for each other’s weddings, and it was part of what she was using for the money dance. I feel awful because what an amazing gift you made her.” I pull out my saddest face, hoping she feels sympathy.
I see her gaze swing from me to Dorothy, and sympathy etches her face. “Oh, you poor girl. I don’t want to cause any problems between you and our beautiful Sammie. That’s no problem. I don’t mind if you give her your gift. It’s just a shame. I spent so much time on the intricate details for her purse, and it will go to waste.” She looks down, disappointment evident in her features.
I’m about to interject, to say maybe she can use it another time, when a voice speaks up behind me, “Oh, you know, Aunt Kay, I think what would really make this so much better is if you allow Kennedy to borrow this purse, that I know you must have put so much love into making, for her own wedding day.”
I keep the smile plastered on my face as I look at Aunt Kay, but I’m fighting the urge to knee him behind me. Fucking River. He’s such a jackass. Where did he even come from?
I turn around and face him, horror and irritation taking over my face. He sees it instantly, and I know he has no remorse over what he’s saying.
“What a great idea, young man. That’s lovely. I bet you would love it. Yes, let’s do that. When are you two getting married?” Excuse me, what now?
It’s both River and I swinging our gazes to the little old lady, horrified at the thought of spending forever with this chump by my side.
“Oh no, we are not dating!” I protest a little too loudly. River’s gaze looks me over, assessing why I would jump to tell this woman we are not together.
“You see, Kennedy has had a crush on me for years, but I have had to let her down multiple times. It’s such a shame to be obsessed with someone like me for so long, and I just keep saying no.” He’s got that smile again, dimples and all, for Aunt Kay.
River throws his arm over my shoulder without a care in the world. He continues, “I’ve offered her my brother,” he points at his twin with is opposite arm, who’s quite far away, “but she said it’s either me or no one. You see, Kennedy can’t really deal with all the attention I get from the ladies, and she’s a bit jealous, which would never work. I can’t just turn off my charm, right Aunt Kay?”
The giggle that escapes this woman is surprising. What the fuck is happening? Is he winning over an eighty-year-old woman?
He pulls himself off of me and brings his arm out for her to interlock in his and begins walking off with her, laughter continuing as he speaks.
“I know you two don’t get along, but I’m sorry to say, he is a handsome boy,” Dorothy says as she watches them walk off. I’m still speechless, and Sam’s mom is over here giving him compliments. Great, am I the only one who finds him unbearable?
“Yes, you are,” Dorothy says, and that’s when I realize I said that last part out loud. “It’s okay; sometimes that’s how the best love stories begin.” My mouth agape, I swing my gaze toward her, and she gives me a sneaky smile and a wink.
She walks off, and I continue to stand there, now with my chin on the ground, in shock at what just happened. I’m here trying to help a friend out with a penis purse, and everyone is going gaga over this dickwad.
Typical River, winning everyone over while I’m left to seethe and apparently now a proud owner of a dick-shaped purse to go along with it.