Page 143 of Gold Rush

“Yeah, I heard.”

It was hard to, over the din of congratulations, but I caught Wren loudly suggest they start wedding planning on the way back to Manhattan.

“So, I’ll see you at home.”

“I can move out sooner,” I offer. “Crash at a hotel or with Rhody.”

“No, it’s fine. You already paid for this month.”

I flinch. Fuck, I’m such an asshole.

Rory grabs the handle and opens the door.

“Fl—Rory.” I catch myself just in time. It doesn’t feel right to use her full name during such a shitty moment. Not after all the times I said it during sex or amid happier times.

She waits expectantly.

“Thank you. Truly. For being willing to—I know you were following the plan earlier. I’m really sorry I was such a jerk about it.”

Rory nods. “Sorry you didn’t get your money.”

I watch her climb out of the car. I want to tell her the full story—that I couldn’t stick it out and I was the one who messed up my inheritance. But I’m not sure I can stomach the pity that will appear on her face. Especially after the past hour of her entire family celebrating us. All they cared about was Rory’s happiness, and she did a flawless job of pretending to be thrilled until we were alone. If my parents had been there, their first priority would have been alerting everyone they knew that a Kensington was joining our family. Julian probably would have called Adrian on the spot.

I bang my skull against the headrest, then punch the steering wheel for good measure.

I am mad.

But not about missing out on millions.

About wasting months of chances to ask Florence Kensington to date me for real.

43

There’s a knock on the door while I’m in the middle of closing my suitcase. I pause mid-zip and straighten, smoothing the front of the sweater I changed into for the drive back to the city. It’s probably Wren, waiting to barrage me with a million questions I’m exhausted by the prospect of answering.

It’s done. I did everything Flynn had asked me to. We’ll “break up” soon, although it sort of feels like we did that already. He’ll move out. Maybe he’ll move back to Boston.

In a year, we’ll be an amusing anecdote. Remember that time Flynn Parks dated Rory Kensington? Everyone will laugh. Surprised they lasted for as long as they did, someone will say.

It’s not my sister at the door.

It’s my parents.

“Mom. Dad.” I glance between them, dropping my hand from the handle and fiddling nervously with my bracelets.

“Hi, honey.” Mom steps forward, giving me a quick squeeze before she discreetly glances behind me.

“Did you guys forget something?” I ask, hugging Dad too.

“This,” Mom says, smiling. “We wanted a minute alone with our first …” She sniffs. “Crap, I was going to keep it together.”

“We both knew you wouldn’t,” Dad interjects, wrapping an arm around Mom’s shoulders before refocusing on me. “Things were so hectic at the brunch earlier that we didn’t have a chance to talk to you alone. And—” He glances past me too.

“Flynn already headed back,” I tell them. “Wren asked me to drive back to the city with her.”

Mom nods. “We ran into her in the lobby.”

“Okay …” I say. “I’m almost finished packing, if she’s down there, waiting.”