Chapter 17
FELL INTO HIS LAP
There was no reason for him to feel nervous a week later, but telling himself that enough wasn’t making it true.
He’d flown in last night, Kenzie came over, they had dinner, she’d spent the night at his hotel just as she had the weekend before, then she was out the door early this morning on her way to walk the stage.
He didn’t want to sit around the hotel, but going on campus alone didn’t hold a ton of appeal when there were still two hours until the ceremony. He was only ten minutes away.
His phone rang, so he reached for it on the end table and saw Rowan calling.
“How come you’re not on your board catching some waves?”
“I’m on the beach,” Rowan said, the humor and relaxation in his voice clear. “Doesn’t that count for something?”
His brother had always been the carefree one. The guy who loved the outdoors more than the rest of them.
“Better than me in the hotel room staring at the wall.”
“I told you I’d come,” Rowan said.
He appreciated the support more than he could explain. He always knew his siblings would be in his corner when the time came.
He just never thought it’d be in this form.
“Nah. It’s not like I’m walking the plank before being shoved into the ocean.”
“Well, if you were, I’m the guy by your side,” Rowan said, laughing. “We know if anyone can get you to shore the easiest it’d be me.”
“Good point.”
“I’m assuming Kenzie is gone?”
“Yeah, she left two hours ago.”
“Are you nervous about meeting her parents after?”
“A little. They know she’s moving to New Jersey. They aren’t thrilled but they’re happier than if she were filing for divorce. In their eyes it’s the lesser of the two evils.”
“Dude,” Rowan said, laughing. “I’m sorry, but this still cracks me up. Not what you went through or how it happened, but that it ended up happening to you. When everyone finds out, you’re never going to live it down.”
“I know. Once I leave here, I’m flying to North Carolina. Have to break the news to Mom. I appreciate you, Braylon and West sitting on this for so long.”
“We’ll get our asses handed to us over it too.”
“Mom isn’t going to be happy, I know,” he said, sighing. “But there was no reason to bring it up without knowing how it was going to turn out.”
“Is Kenzie going with you to North Carolina?” Rowan asked.
“No. She’s got a few things to take care of here, packing for one, then going to see her parents for a few days. Her flight out is Thursday.”
He couldn’t wait. Over the past few days, he’d cleaned out his room and closet to make space for her, surprised at how many clothes he owned until he started shifting some into the spare room. He wanted her to feel at home. It wasn’t just his place anymore. It was hers too.
“Can’t wait to meet her,” Rowan said. “We’ll be out to see Laken after the baby is born, so we’ll get that shot then, I hope.”
“Definitely,” he said. “Not sure if going home to tell Mom tomorrow is a good time with Talia in labor. She’s going to be occupied.”
“That’s working in your favor,” Rowan said. “She’ll be distracted enough. Does she know you’re coming yet?”
“No. I wanted to wait until the last minute and play it off as I was traveling and figured I’d stop on the way. I can still do it and add the fact I wanted to see Talia and the baby.”
Sometimes life just fell into his lap.
Not always in a good way, unfortunately.
But he wasn’t going to get in his head about it. There were too many other things to stress about and his mother’s reaction wasn’t going to be one of them.
“It will work out,” Rowan said, “with Mom and Kenzie. If Mom is pissed, you’ll get over it. We all have.”
“Nothing I can do about it and can’t let it bring me down. You’re right, she’ll expect it of me.”
He’d always been the one to do stupid, irresponsible shit. Next to Rowan. But Rowan’s was more on a dare and had stopped years ago.
Nelson was still living his life.
Maybe flaunting what he had a little too much. Bringing attention to himself rather than keeping a low profile.
He didn’t think he’d done anything out of the ordinary in the casino to make himself a target.
It wasn’t like he was the only one wearing expensive clothes and a pricey watch.
Sure, he had a pile of chips in front of him and might’ve been betting recklessly, but he wasn’t the only one doing that either.
Was he flirting more than he should have with the server? He honestly couldn’t remember, but it wouldn’t be out of character either.
Those flirting days were long gone now. He was a married man and hoped to stay that way.
“Have you met any of Kenzie’s friends while you’ve been there? This whole thing is going to be a lot for you both. She’s met two of your siblings, but I’m curious if you’ve met anyone who knows her or can give you some insight into her.”
He didn’t want to let Rowan’s questioning of Kenzie get under his skin. He’d have to shake off those emotional reactions fast or it’d feed more drama in the future that neither of them needed to worry about.
What his brother was saying was the truth. He knew little about his wife.
“Did you ever meet anyone in Saylor’s life before she moved in with you?”
Rowan sighed. “No. Our situation was different. We were together nonstop for a week and nothing binding us.”
“I met her roommates last night,” he said. “They’d given her a hard time about keeping me hidden.”
“How did that make you feel?”
“What the fuck, Rowan? Are you my shrink now?”
His brother snorted on the other line, then laughed. “Some would say you might need one. Or me. Maybe all of us at some point. But I’m just curious.”
He shrugged, though his brother wouldn’t know he’d done that action. “They were nice. Kenzie laughed with them and said since it was long distance she wasn’t sure how it’d go, but it was obviously going well.”
“Were you introduced as her husband though?” Rowan asked.
He blew a breath out. “No. Just her boyfriend.”
“And that is bothering you,” Rowan said. “I know it might be. Or maybe not. This whole thing is unconventional, you’ve got to admit.”
“Not really. If we weren’t married and I asked her to move here and give us a try, it’d be no different from what you and Saylor did. It’s just a piece of paper more between us.”
“Don’t delude yourself, idiot,” Rowan said. “That piece of paper is powerful. Enough that it has you doubting yourself when you don’t do that often.”
“Whatever,” he said. “I should head over there now and get a seat.”
“Let me know how things work out later,” Rowan said.
“Will do.” He hung up and grabbed the fob to the rental car and left to see if he could get a good enough view of Kenzie walking on stage.
Over three hours later, his ass was numb on the chair, but he wasn’t thinking of that as his wife’s name was called to walk across the stage.
McKenzie Marie Raye.
A shot of pride filled his soul mixed with a layer of disappointment that Carlisle hadn’t been added to it.
Stupid on his part.
When the ceremony was done, he went in search of Kenzie where she’d texted she’d be.
He found her next to people he assumed were her parents.
He squared his shoulders, drew in a deep breath, and walked the last ten steps to his destination, hoping it wasn’t his final one, but rather the start of his new life.