Now he’s getting married, and I know I’m going to be forced to confront this head-on. Only it’s not cut and dry. And I can’t go back there again. The nightmares and flashbacks had been fading, but now they lay siege to me again, almost as bad as it was in the immediate aftermath. It’s why I spent all weekend drowning my sorrows.
It’s not my brother’s fault. It never has been. But I can’t help how I feel. Even if how I feel is unfair to Keaton and Austen. I just don’t see how I will ever come to terms with it—withthem. I legit feel ill every time I think of them together like that.
It’s driven a huge divide in the family, and apart from my parents along with Eva and Kade and Keanu and Sel, I don’t see much of the others anymore. I’m closest with my other triplet, Keanu, and I only see Kade because of my friendship with his wife. If it wasn’t for Eva, I wouldn’t visit Kade because he hasn’t hidden the fact he has disapproved of me for years.
“Dude. We’re here.” Lance tugs on my elbow, pulling me to a stop outside the entrance to Pound Hall.
I snap out of my head, grinning as we stride toward the door. “My favorite building,” I joke, and it’s got nothing to do with the stylish glass and gray-brick façade and everything to do with my immature humor.
***
“You coming to the WCC for lunch?” Lance asks as we pile out of the classroom after our criminal law lecture has ended.
I nod, following my fellow students out the door. “I’ll grab a quick bite before the library.”
We enter the dining hall a few minutes later, joining the line. A shrill whistle rings out, and I jerk my head to the left, nodding at Topher. He’s bagged a table near the window, and he and Mitch are already sitting and chowing down. Lance accepts a heaped plate of creamy pasta from the server, and I stick with two chicken breasts and a generous serving of vegetables.
“Your lunch is almost as boring as property law,” Lance says as we make our way through the crowded room toward our friends.
I poke his fleshy abs. “Tell that to your jelly belly.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“You’re just figuring that out?” I ask, abruptly holding my tray aloft when I spot the tiny little thing barreling toward me.
She slams into me, but she’s so tiny I scarcely feel the impact. “Ohmigawd.” The petite blonde blushes, straining her neck as she stares up at me. I’m six foot three, and she’s like five feet nothing, so she barely reaches my chest. She looks so young, and if we weren’t in a Harvard dining hall, I’d question if she’s even legal. Her blush deepens, and she’s looking at me with these big googly eyes, being obvious in the extreme. I might be tempted if she didn’t look like jailbait and I wasn’t irritatingly fixated on a fiery brunette with killer curves and a potty mouth.
“I’m so sorry, Kent,” she squeals, placing her hand on my stomach. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
I hate how everyone knows me, but it’s par for the course when you’re a Kennedy because everyone knows who my family is.
Welcome to my fucked-up world.
“Don’t make a habit of it,” I grunt, removing her hands from my body.
Her tongue darts out, wetting her lips, and her cheeks are fire-engine red when she speaks. “I have a free hour,” she blurts. “And I booked a study room upstairs.”
“Good for you, sweetheart.” I move to walk away, and she grabs my arm.
“You could join me?”
I should take pity on her, because her face is on fire, but I’m not the good guy in this scenario. Lance is shaking his head at me, but I ignore him, fixing a neutral expression on my face. “To study?”
“No. To…to, you know.” Even her ears are red at this point.
I lean down, putting my face all up in hers. “Use your words, baby.”
“To fuck,” she blurts, cringing when it comes out loud. A few titters ring out around us, and she’s so red now I half-expect her to burst into flames.
Unfolding to my full height, I literally look down my nose at her. “I don’t fuck kids.”
“I’m not a kid,” she pouts, placing her hands on her hips, attempting to glare at me. “I’m nineteen.”
“I prefer my women like fine wine. Aged and full-bodied. Now run along back to the playground, toots.”
Her hands ball into fists, and I almost want her to hit me, but she storms off, taking her red face with her.
“I rest my case,” Lance says, rolling his eyes.
