“You could have told me, but you covered it up instead. You lied. You want to start our marriage with a lie,” True spat. “Well, good news. We’re not starting anything today. It’s ending. We’re through.” She tore her engagement ring off her finger and threw it in his face. “I’m out.”
I stood there, my heart pounding and my mouth agape, as Truette Heffernan walked away from Jesse Barbot. For weeks, I fantasized about this moment, imagining the thrill of seeing their wedding plans unravel before my eyes. The anticipation had been intoxicating, a bittersweet poison that burned in myveins. But now, instead of the ecstatic joy I’d envisioned, an overwhelming wave of nausea washed over me.
Truette's shoulders slumped with defeat, her back turned to the world, while Jesse’s face reflected a silent desperation that twisted the knife deeper into my gut. My wish had materialized, but it felt like a cruel joke; there was no exhilaration in their heartbreak. Instead, I stood frozen, caught in a vortex of emotions—relief, pity, guilt—all mingling into a suffocating heaviness that made it hard to breathe.
Watching True walk away struck me like a thunderclap. This wasn’t the sweet, vindictive victory I had longed for. At that moment, as I felt their pain radiate through the air, I realized that sometimes, getting what you wished for doesn’t feel like a victory at all.
Joy turned to me with a furrowed brow.
The handprint on Jesse’s dark skin stood out as he rushed toward me and pulled me into his arms. Shock froze me to the spot, my hands pinned to my side, and that rotten egg smell threatening to upend all my good work with the ice chips.
This cannot be the way everything ends.
I felt an itch between my shoulder blades and turned my head to look back at the tent’s entrance.
Rowan stood there wearing a new suit and resignation on his face. I tried to raise my hand to stop him, but he turned to leave, stumbling on the sand but catching himself on the tent pole before disappearing from my life.
“Jesse, let me go,” I warned.
“Ken. I need comfort right now,” Jesse mumbled into my hair.
“And I need to throw up, so?—”
He let me go so quickly. I barely made it to a nearby trash can.
Chapter 37
Captain Kendra’s Log: Check into that pirate degree
I returnedto the marina in time to watch Pegleg Pete’s Pirate Extravaganza sail off into the sunset. Tears pricked the back of my eyes, but I refused to cry in public, where everyone could see me.
I would do that in the comfort of my home, in comfy sweats, with a panful of brownies. Like God intended.
After a hot shower that was too short, I dressed in comfy clothes and headed to my kitchen. I paused when I heard a knock at the door and looked through the window to see a rumpled Jesse standing on my doorstep.
I let him in, and he shuffled to the couch and flopped down face-first.
“So, how’s your day going?” I joked.
“Mmmhfrh.” Was all he said.
“Ice cream?” I offered. I went to the kitchen, opened the freezer, and found it had been defrosted. Everything inside, including my favorite gelato flavors, was stacked neatly, with the labels facing out. I bit my lip to stop crying and grabbed the first carton I saw. Then, I opened the silverware drawer, which, as luck would have it, was fully stocked with clean forks, knives, and spoons.
I placed the ice cream on the counter and opened all the drawers and cabinets. The only one that wasn’t tidy was my spice cabinet. That one was a mess. I wanted to laugh, but it came out as a sob. Rowan left that one so he could make me watch. I rubbed the ache in my chest as I tried to wipe away my tears.
Fuck it. We’re all wallowing today.
I grabbed two spoons and the carton of gelato, then shoved Jesse’s ass with my foot. “Move over. You’re bogarting all my couch.”
“Don’t wanna,” Jesse complained, but he pulled his legs off and sat on the couch like a big boy.
“Here.” I handed him the gelato and one spoon. “Don’t eat it all. We’re both heartbroken, so that’s gotta last for this bitch session.”
“You’re too good for me, Ken.”
I sighed. “Yeah. I probably am.”
“Can we go for a ride? See the sunset?” Jesse asked, his blue eyes pleading with me in that way he knew I would not be able to resist.
