Powerful (The Driven World) - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,26
me, and we all move to the front of the church.
“Mom, can’t I go with you and Dad?”
“Honey, that would leave poor Kris alone. What if he got lost?”
“Mom, the yacht club is in the same spot it was in when he left.”
Dad chimes in, “Don’t be rude, Athena. Show Kris the way. Besides, we’ll have Father Daniel in our car.”
He makes it sound like they don’t have room. Their car can comfortably fit five people. Kris holds out his arm to me, and we leave the church arm in arm. The whole time, I’m concentrating on where to put my feet, so I don’t fall over and make a fool of myself. Kris opens the car door, and I slide into the passenger seat, relieved not to have embarrassed myself. Kris jogs around to his side of the car with a smirk on his handsome face.
“What?” I ask.
Kris chuckles. “I’ve never seen a woman so intent on walking a straight line.”
“You try walking in heels.”
His smile widens. “Can’t be that hard.”
“Just drive the car, Livingston,” I mutter.
Kris shakes his head, and instead of taking the direct route to the yacht club, he turns and heads up toward the bluff.
“We’ll be late.”
“So, let’s be late. You and I haven’t had a real conversation since I got here.”
The thought of being alone with Kris scares me a little, and then Todd’s voice enters my head and reminds me I’m precious. He parks the car at what everyone in town considers to be lover’s lane as it looks out over the ocean. As soon as Kris turns off the car, I open the door, walk around to the front and lean against the hood. Kris joins me, placing his hand right next to mine. A little self-conscious, I cross my arms over my chest.
“I’m sorry.”
I move over a little putting some distance between us and look at him. “What for?”
“Leaving as I did. I know I hurt you. I know I was a coward.”
Sighing, I wrap my arms around myself tighter and look straight ahead. “It was a long time ago.”
Kris lightly touches the side of my face with his knuckles, brushing them along my jawline. “Not that long ago.”
As much as I want to give in to his touch, I push off the car and take a step forward away from him. “It’s ancient history. I have Todd and live here, and you have Sophia and live in LA.” I look at him and smile. “You’re this successful actor adored by millions, and I’m happy here.”
“It was never about being adored. All I wanted to do was work as an actor and make enough money to live comfortably. And I always thought I’d come home one day.” Kris stands beside me. “I guess I thought I’d come home to you.”
Staring straight ahead, to keep my resolve, so I don’t give in to him, I reply, “You left it too long.” Turning, I walk back to the car and open the door. “Come on, the others will be waiting for us.”
Kris holds onto the car door while I buckle my seat belt.
“I’m not giving up on us.”
I’m reasonably sure my heart stopped beating as he closes the door and walks around the car to the driver’s side. Kris drives us to the yacht club. When we get there, reporters are all over the place.
“Goddammit, I forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
He twists in the seat, brushes my hair from my face. “I promised Sophia a photo opportunity with the press. You know, not everything is as it seems. And Athena, I’m not done with you yet.”
My heart does a flip, and my stomach feels like it’s filled with butterflies. Kris gets out of the car and jogs toward the marina, leaving me alone. Opening the door, I slide out and carefully walk across the parking lot. It’s not until I hit the docks that I see Kris and Sophia posing for photographs with the ever-present media, lapping it up. My heart stops, and those butterflies now feel like rocks weighing me down. A hand snakes around my waist, startling me. I yelp and try to move away.
“Jesus, Athena, calm down, it’s me, Todd.” He takes one look at my face, and his other arm wraps around me. “What’s wrong?” he whispers.
“I was beginning to believe him.”
Todd pulls back to look into my eyes. “Who?”
I look over my shoulder and stare at Kris and Sophia. “Him.”
Todd follows my gaze, his arms fall away, and he grabs my