Page 133 of Gold Rush

Annoyance expands. “Unless a direct question was posed regarding the matter at issue, omission of information doesn’t constitute a false statement. And any assertion that information is something another party ‘should know’ is a subjective determination contingent upon the specific context.”

“I’m talking to my best friend. Not a lawyer.”

“I’m your best friend and a lawyer.”

Kit shakes his head. “I mean it, Flynn. If you mess this up with her … it’s going to affect things between us. You get that, right? I don’t care how much history we have. Family comes first. I’ll pick Rory.”

I scowl at him. Not because I don’t understand the ultimatum. Because it’s entirely unnecessary. “How long Rory and I date will be our decision, not because you’re threatening to end a nearly twenty-year friendship. I’m not cheating or lying. I was waiting to tell her about this fucking foundation when it was more than a hypothetical. When it wasn’t tied up with all this shit with my dad and⁠—”

“Finally. Hurry. Family up front.” Wren appears, herding Kit and me closer to the vintage convertible with a Just Married banner attached to the back.

She seems oblivious to our stony expressions with everything else going on. So do the rest of the Kensingtons, who are all lined up on the right side of the aisle. Kit continues walking until he reaches Collins, stopping right behind her. I watch as she leans back against him, glancing up and smiling before he kisses the top of her head.

What the fuck am I doing? Why did I ever think that dragging the brightest spot in my life, which is Kit and his family, into one of the darkest—mine—would be a good idea? All I can see ahead are disastrous outcomes.

I thought Rory would impress my father. Would improve our relationship by showing, at least temporarily, that I had potential. I saw convincing her as a challenge, pretending to date her a way to make a tedious facade more enjoyable. Asking her for the favor was selfish, my motivations even more so. I saw an opportunity to find out what being with her would be like. I wanted to identify the strange energy that’d always existed between us.

I find her in the crowd, standing between her mom and sister. Wren is using her lit sparkler to spark the one Rory is holding. The noise around me increases as the bride and groom appear, treading the makeshift aisle that’s already covered with birdseed and flower petals. More of both are tossed as they rush toward the waiting car.

Charlie and Lili pause at the end of the aisle, hugging their families. Charlie’s side is much sparser than Lili’s. His grandmother and sister are here, but that’s it for relatives.

I don’t have any siblings. If I were to get married tomorrow, I’m not even sure my parents would show up. Perry probably would, out of obligation, even though I still haven’t texted him about the drink I suggested. There’s no relationship to repair there; we never had one to begin with. I was considering inviting Rory, suggesting Perry bring his girlfriend, and making it a double date, but I feel too guilty, asking Rory to do that, thinking it’s for a reason that no longer exists.

Lili’s wedding is officially over. With it, I’m out of excuses to not come clean about my most recent conversation with Julian.

Charlie and Lili depart a few minutes later. They’re not leaving the Hamptons until tomorrow—Scarlett and Crew are hosting a brunch at their house tomorrow morning. The newlyweds are headed to a suite at the hotel, where most of the wedding party is staying as well—the shuttle for which pulls up as soon as the decorated convertible disappears down the country club’s drive.

Rory glances back as guests begin to board, blue eyes meeting mine. A charred sparkler dangles from her left hand, black and burned and close to her gold dress.

I push through the crowd toward her. “Want me to take that?”

“Sure.” She lets go as soon as our fingers brush, crossing her arms and rubbing her biceps. “I think Bash was collecting trash.”

I nod. “I’ll find him.”

“See you on board?”

I nod again, watching her turn and join the line for the shuttle. Most people are dispersing, heading to their own cars if they’re not waiting on private transportation. It makes it easy to find Bash and the plastic bag he’s using to collect used sparklers. He’s distracted, talking intently with a woman, so I add Rory’s without interrupting the conversation, then climb on the full shuttle.

Collins and Rory are sitting together, Kit and an empty seat across from them. I unbutton my jacket and take the open spot.

A minute later, we begin moving.

The silence between me and Kit is noticeable. Not only because we’re a bubble of quiet, surrounded by chatter, but because the guy beside me knows me better than anyone else in the world.

If someone had asked me a few months ago who I’d call after ending up in the hospital, it’d have been him. But Kit wasn’t the first person I thought of when Jay and I got into that accident. I wanted to call Rory. And I would have, if I wasn’t aware she would show up to play a part and that her real job was far more important than us pretending. Or pretending to pretend.

I didn’t neglect to consider that fake dating his cousin could negatively impact my relationship with my best friend. I wanted Rory more than I worried about those possibilities. Which is … a lot.

“I overstepped.”

I glance at Kit. He’s staring out the window, not looking at me as he speaks.

“But I meant it,” he adds.

“I know,” I tell him.

It’s not only up to me, what happens with Rory. Kit thinks that she chose to date me for no reason except wanting to date me. If she still views our relationship as a favor she’s doing for me, there’s nothing substantial for me to take seriously. For me to mess up.