Page 50 of Big Daddy to Go

“Do you have a vase? I’ll put those flowers in water,” I offer, moving over to him and reaching for them.

Kane yanks away from my touch, which catches me by surprise. I look around. It doesn’t seem like we’ll be having dinner anytime soon. There are groceries on the counter, but nothing is cooking.

“What’s wrong?”

Kane turns toward me, but his eyes are still focused on the flowers in his hand.

“Are you married?”

At first, I’m not sure I heard him correctly. But he looks over at me finally and repeats the questions. His eyes are cold, and his chiseled jaw that I love to kiss is clenched. He’s trying to hold back his anger.

“What?!” I ask, but my question turns to an awkward laugh. “Why would you ask that?”

“Don’t lie to me, Lexi,” he sighs.

“I’m not lying!” I huff. “I swear I’m not married. Who told you that?”

“I saw it online. I knew you were keeping something from me, and there it was… with just a simple search of your name… you pop up smiling next to Jason Peckham.”

I silently curse myself as tears fill my eyes. Why didn’t I ever take down that damn wedding site?

“Kane, I can explain…” I say, but he cuts me off.

“You’ve only been married a month according to that website. What happened? Jason wasn’t cutting it in the bedroom, so you wanted me to step in? How did you even find me?”

“What?” I blink. “I met you at The Drunken Bucket… it wasn’t planned,” I practically laugh.

Wow, how twisted does Kane think I am?

“Oh no? Then why do I look exactly like your fucking husband, Lexi?!” he barks at me, causing me to jump.

I have never seen him angry like this. At the softball game, he was mad at Joey, but even then, he wasn’t like this. And his anger at that time wasn’t directed at me. I don’t even think anger is an accurate description for what Kane is expressing.

I think Kane actually hates me now. That thought tears me up inside as I fight to explain my side of the story.

“The wedding never happened, okay?” I yell in tears.

Kane stares at me, trying to figure out if I’m lying.

“It didn’t happen,” I repeat, my voice shaky. “That asshole left me at the altar and humiliated me in front of everyone.”

For a moment, I think Kane is going to wrap his arms around me and give me one of his comforting hugs. But he remains planted with too much distance between us.

“Why do I look like your ex-fiancé?”

I shake my head from side to side and throw my hands up in the air.

“I have no idea. Maybe you’re long lost cousins or something. Who cares?”

“I care, Lexi!” He grits his teeth and throws the flowers across the room in a rage.

I close my eyes, and that is all of the encouragement my tears need to fall down my cheeks. Kane doesn’t seem fazed.

“I know this is all weird, Kane, but…”

“I’m just impressed you never called me Jason in bed.”

His tone is scathing, and he barely looks at me. Kane’s stance is stiff, and his jaw is still rigid.