Page 8
Sebastian
I grabbed coffee in the hotel lobby early the next morning. Not to wake up, but to stay awake. I lost count of how many times I’d taken Kennedy throughout the night. I couldn’t help myself.
Tristan came walking toward the seating area in the front lobby with a woman wearing a pale green dress. My cousin’s double-breasted navy suit looked like it’d been painted on him. The guy could have been a freaking model. “Seb, this is Samantha, our event planner.”
“Nice to meet you, Samantha,” I said, shaking her hand.
“We’re all set for this weekend,” Samantha said. “When Kennedy gets here, tell her to come see me. My staff will go over everything with her, but we’ll take it from here. All she has to do is be a doting maid of honor. Shower your sister with attention.”
Tristan smirked at me.
When Kennedy gets here.
She was upstairs, naked, catching her breath while standing under a hot shower because, well, I got kind of messy with her.
Samantha sashayed off and Tristan grinned knowingly at me. “Yeah, so when Kennedy gets here...”
“Dick.” I punched him, nearly spilling my coffee.
“Did my idea help?”
“You have no idea.” I breathed in, feeling great.
“Sorry about bringing up the vacation last night.” Tristan brushed a hand down the back of his long neck.
“Mmmm.” I burned my lip on the coffee. “Yeah, I didn’t think Kennedy would sleep with me if we started talking about me going on your sex cruise. And let’s make sure we’re clear, I’d just be going to get some sun, warm up from this freaking cold snap.”
“It’s not a sex cruise.” Tristan rolled his eyes and sat in one of the lobby’s wing chairs near the elevators. “It’s a regular cruise, but when you spot someone there for the same reason, it’s game on.”
“And does anyone ever tell you no?”
“ Me? No.” Tristan sawed off a laugh.
“And in all the years you’ve gone on this cruise, have you ever met a woman you think you could have something real with?”
“Nope.” Tristan checked his phone.
“No, because you never met someone you’d want something with? Or you’re just not open to it, period?”
Tristan’s face turned red. “Who would want something real with me after a week of giving myself away to strangers?” His eyes turned hooded and I saw shame there.
I used my swig of coffee to look away. “I’m no one to dish out relationship advice, I guess. Kennedy, my wife won’t come to San Francisco with me.”
“You asked her again?”
“Yeah. At the bakery. Thanks for the heads-up that she’d be there, by the way. Gave me the chance to talk to her before doing it in front of my parents.” I breathed. “She said no. That woman is stubborn.”
“Takes one stubborn goat to know another one, Seb.” Tristan leaned forward. “What happened to you guys?”
“Life. Our jobs. My job, really. She’s on a rock-steady schedule.”
“You’ve been together a long time.”
“I know, and it’s worth saving, right?”
“Maybe being together this weekend, you guys will come up with a solution you hadn’t seen before. Being angry can cloud your judgment.” Fixing his suit jacket, Tristan said, “I have to get my staff all set for this weekend. Everyone’s getting here soon.”
Luke had sent his private jet early that morning to collect Harts from all over the country.
Luke and Tristan’s mom, my sweet Aunt Marissa in Florida.
My parents in Atlanta, and Savannah and her fiancé along with his brother, the best man, in Cincinnati.
All the people Kennedy and I were lying to this weekend.
Pretending nothing was wrong. Pretending Kennedy hadn’t moved out and wasn’t living in the West Village somewhere.
I stifled a laugh at Luke waltzing in the hotel lobby, his golden blond hair all askew, his tuxedo wrinkled, and the bowtie undone. Not exactly the pristine put-together piece of work who’d left here twelve hours ago.
“Don’t say a word, Seb.” Luke waved a finger at me as he disappeared down the hallway to the elevators.
I checked my watch and headed out into the cold snap to get Kennedy her favorite egg sandwich for breakfast.