First Dance (Strip in the City, Book 3)

06 • The Perfect Cover Story

Lucas

I know it's time for me to leave Kennedy's room, but I'm still standing in her doorway in my boxers, unable to move.

As soon as I leave, things go back to normal.

She will forgive him, and if Flynn has a brain in his head, he'll accept her forgiveness and never break her trust again. They'll get married, and I'll watch from a table in the back as I shove cake in my face.

I don't exist in her happily ever after.

That's the hardest part. Knowing she's in love with someone else even though I spend every waking moment thinking about her.

"Everything okay?" she asks, taking a step closer.

She looks so damn beautiful standing there. With the sun hitting her golden curls. Just like she always does.

She's still wearing the same tank top and mini skirt she was wearing last night, and it's not helping me leave the room any faster. I remember everything we did while she was wearing that outfit.

The kiss. The dancing. The smiles. The laughter. The fucking kiss.

"I'm good," I lie, scrubbing the back of my neck. "You know me. I just spaced out for a second."

I turn to leave, but Kennedy rushes over to me, looking suddenly frightened. Her hand wraps around my bicep, and I swear a physical spark lights off between us. We both freeze, staring at the place where she's touching me.

"Please don't tell anyone about all this," she begs. "About Flynn and..." her voice trails off, and for a second, I wonder if she does remember our kiss. I wonder if she remembers just as much as I do.

But if she does, she wants me to bury it right alongside his cheating.

"I won't. I swear," I reassure her, holding up two fingers again like I did last night. Making a solemn vow to keep her secrets, even though I suck at keeping my mouth shut. "I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy. You know that."

Her eyes soften, and she gives me a smile that makes her eyes sparkle. "Thanks, sugar."

She's still holding on to my arm, making it that much harder for me to leave because the only place I want to be is with her.

"I-I should get dressed," I tell her, trying to sound casual but it's not working. "We're still on for brunch in an hour, right?"

She lets go of my arms and takes a step back, nodding. "Yeah. Brunch," she says, her voice higher than usual. "It will be fun. I hear the place is real good."

I hate the distance between us, but I guess I'll have to get used to it.

Capturing one last look at her before this thing between us officially ends, I tell myself I'm lucky to have her in my life, no matter what it looks like. Then I wave and close the door behind me.

The second the door shuts, I'm sick to my stomach, and it feels like there's a brand new hole in my heart. I lean against a wall and let my chin fall to my chest, wondering what the fuck I should do now.

Everything hurts.

My head, my heart, my soul.

I felt like this when I lost my dad and then again when I lost Denny, which is fucked up because Kennedy is standing on the other side of the door, totally alive.

I'm choking up, and I realize that pretending nothing has changed between us will be impossible. I can't unkiss her.

I think about catching an earlier flight back to New York just to put more space between us, but I can't. I made a promise to be there for Kennedy every step of the way, and that means I need to stay for the rest of the bachelorette weekend.