“I still have a lot to learn, but I took my time doing that,” Austen says. “I didn’t want to fuck up my fiancé’s arm. Especially when I’ll be looking at it for the rest of my life,” he adds, grinning at Keaton.
“You couldn’t fuck it up.” Keaton places his hand on top of Austen’s over the stick shift. “That’s a virtual impossibility.” Austen takes his eyes off the road for a few seconds, and they share an intense look that is wholly intimate. The love between them is completely obvious, and it’s a thing of beauty.
All of Kent’s brothers seem crazy in love with their partners, and the way his parents are with one another is super sweet too. I can’t help wondering how Kent became so closed off to the idea of love when he’s surrounded with nothing but good examples.
“I’d like to see your work sometime,” Austen says, and I snap out of my thoughts, realizing they are staring at me.
“I can bring my sketchpad next time.”
If there is a next time, because everything is up in the air.
“That will probably be our wedding,” Keaton says.
Kent hasn’t mentioned one word to me about their upcoming wedding, which, now that I think about it, is really strange.
“Congrats on your engagement. I remember reading about it online.”
“Thanks.” Keaton’s grin is wide and proud. “We can’t wait.”
“Where are you planning on having it?”
“Initially, we were thinking of going abroad, but planning an overseas wedding in three months is a tall order. One even Bridezilla wasn’t keen to take on.”
“Bridezilla?” I quirk a brow.
“Alex.” Austen flashes me a blinding smile, and I can totally see how Keaton fell for this guy.
“Mom loves planning shit,” Keaton explains. “But she gave an Italian wedding the thumbs-down unless we wanted to postpone it to next year.”
“Which we don’t,” Austen cuts in. “Because we just want to be married. It doesn’t really matter where we do it as long as the people we care about are with us.”
Keaton darts forward and pecks him quickly on the lips before he sits back in his seat, smiling at me. “So, we’re having it in this gorgeous castle resort and spa, nestled in the Green Mountains in Vermont. We’ve rented out the entire place so we have complete privacy.”
“It sounds fantastic.”
“It will be, and we hope to see you there.”
We chat casually about all manner of things the rest of the journey, and by the time we reach the triple-decker I call home, I am a die-hard Austen and Keaton fan. It helps that they’ve distracted me from the anguished thoughts in my head, but there will be no stopping the onslaught once I reach my apartment.
“Thank you so much for the ride,” I tell Austen, grabbing my purse.
“Anytime, Presley.”
Keaton opens my car door, taking my hand as I climb out. If the triplets are any gauge, all the Kennedy men have exemplary manners. “Thank you, Keaton.”
He closes the door, keeping my hand in his. “I don’t know if Kent has explained that we’re not talking.”
“He briefly mentioned it at the house.”
Keaton’s lips turn down. “And he didn’t even mention the wedding to you, did he?”
I shake my head. “He didn’t, but he’s not really the type to plan far ahead. He only mentioned Easter dinner to me last week.”
Keaton drags a hand through his hair. “I don’t want to speak out of turn, but we haven’t spoken in a long time, and I miss him. I was really hoping to clear the air before the wedding, but this situation with Whitney has thrown a wrench in the works. And I’m worried about how this will affect him.”
“You think the baby is his?”
“I don’t want to speculate, and neither should you until we find out for sure, but either way, this has the potential to derail Kent. He seemed so happy today. At least, until the She-Devil arrived.” He shoves his hands deep in his pockets, staring me straight in the face. “I have no right to ask anything of you, Presley, and I can tell this has been upsetting, but don’t give up on him. I know my brother, and he cares about you. It’s blatantly obvious. Don’t let Whitney come between you, because I’ve no doubt that’s her plan.”
