“Only that’s what Mark thought, too,” Sloane said.
Jack got up and poured more wine into Kyle’s cup.
“I think he’s had enough,” I said, giving Jack a look.
Jack shook his head. “That’s what you don’t understand, Ansley. There isn’t enough.”
“Have you told her how you feel?” Sloane asked.
Kyle shook his head sadly. “It doesn’t matter. I love her, but she loves Mark.”
“Wait,” Caroline said, as thunder crashed so loudly it sounded like it was inside the room. “Youloveher?”
“Are you sure?” I asked, my heart racing. “Because if you really mean it, that’s a big deal.”
“Of course I’m sure. Do you think I would be this upset if I weren’t sure?” He smiled off into the distance and said, “As my main man AJ says, she always runs as fast as she can.”
I laughed. That was so cute. Then I nodded. “She does, doesn’t she?”
“That’s why I’m here,” Kyle said. “I need your advice.”
“It’s too late,” Jack said. “You can’t tell her now.”
“What?” Caroline practically spat.
“You tell her,” Sloane said, almost frantically. “This is your last chance. This is it. She’s going to be married next week, and she needs to have all the information before she makes that commitment.”
Everyone turned to look at me. I was the mother, so my vote carried the most weight. The part of me that had paid for a wedding, most of which was nonrefundable, would rather Kyle not tell Emerson. The part of me that always felt this weird electricity between them, that had always felt like she smiled more when he was around, thought she ought to know. Although, to be honest, I didn’t think it would matter. Her heart seemed pretty set on Mark.
I shrugged. “All I can say is follow your heart.”
Kyle shot up.
“No, no, no!” I shouted.
He sat back down.
“Follow your heart when you’resober. You only get one chance. It better be sincere.”
“Just please let me be the one to decide,” Kyle said. “Please don’t tell her.”
Caroline laughed. “I’m pretty sure none of us would touch that with a ten-foot pole.”
Kyle nodded. “OK,” he said, sighing. “I’m going to go home now and pray your treatment worked and I don’t get lice.”
Sloane held up two crossed fingers as Kyle left the room.
“Caroline, you had to have known about Kyle and Emerson,” Sloane said, once the door had shut behind him.
Her eyes widened. “Hand to God, I had no idea. She never said a word about it.”
“Why is she so tight-lipped about everything?” I wondered aloud.
Jack laughed incredulously. “Gosh, what a mystery...” He got up from his chair. “I came over here because I couldn’t sleep, but I feel like this might be a Murphy woman kind of thing.”
“No,” I whined. “Don’t go.”
“You should stay,” Caroline said. “Honestly.”
