done a brilliant job of hiding my true feelings. But, apparently, my mom had known all along. Once again giving proof to the validity of the Mom sixth sense theory.
“Kenny, you sat at that kitchen table every evening, doing homework and hoping to catch a glimpse of Caden. Dad and I were, of course, relieved that the crush only seemed to be one sided. Caden was a likable boy, but he was trouble. Dad and I had always hoped that you’d end up with Grady.” And that weird, unexpected parent confession, with the mention of Grady, sent her back to tears.
I shook my head and walked over to kiss Dad good-bye. “I’m going to the beach with Caden. I’m an adult now, so I’m just letting you know so you won’t wonder where I am. But I don’t need permission anymore.”
Mom sighed dejectedly as I kissed her cheek.
“I will be back in a few days to help you with your new orders.”
“What about New York?” she asked. It was the first time she’d brought up the east coast. A few days earlier, she’d been thrilled that I’d be staying on for a few weeks to help with her shop. Now she seemed anxious for me to get back to New York.
“I’m sure it’ll still be there when I get back from the beach. Then I’ll decide about my return ticket.” I picked up my duffle, deciding to make a run for it like a giant coward. If I told them that I’d broken it off with Jeremy, then it would only confirm their suspicions about the beach trip.
“Kenny,” Mom called to my back, “your ring, where’s your engagement ring?”
It seemed I’d underestimated her mom detective skills as well. I turned back around. My parents stood behind the kitchen island waiting for an explanation.
“I broke off the engagement. I can’t marry Jeremy. I don’t love him.”
“You’re just upset about Grady,” Mom insisted. “You’ll come around.”
Dad looked at her as if she’d grown horns. “Did you not just hear her? She doesn’t love him.” He looked at me. “It was the right decision, Kenna. A loveless marriage is no marriage at all.” And, with that small spark of philosophy, my dad picked up his soda and walked confidently out of the kitchen.
Mom’s reaction was a little less thoughtful. But something told me it had more to do with me spending time alone with Caden than with me breaking off an engagement with a successful young lawyer.
“Mom, I’ll be back in a few days. Then we can talk about everything.” I headed to the front door, deciding she needed time to absorb the news, and I—I just needed time.
Caden’s truck pulled up out front just as I stepped outside. Just seeing him helped relieve some of the anxiety and guilt I’d been feeling. I was doing something completely out of character. Up until now, I’d always stayed on the straight and narrow, the right path, with all my decisions. But what use was the straight and narrow if it was leading me in the wrong direction?
Chapter 12
Caden
I didn’t notice the white band of skin on her ring finger until she reached forward to turn up the radio. I couldn’t remember the exact moment yesterday when I’d decided to ignore everything and kiss Kenna, but I hadn’t had one second of regret. I was sure she’d have changed her mind about the beach by now. All morning I’d expected a text telling me she wasn’t going after all and that the kiss had been a big mistake. But the text never came, and she seemed happy to be going. I had no idea what would happen next, but I was done trying to analyze things. I wanted Kenna. Plain and simple. If she wanted me back, then that would be the damn cherry on top.
Kenna caught me staring at her newly naked finger. She pulled her hand away from the radio and sat back, sliding her hand beneath her thigh. “It had nothing to do with this trip, or you, or the kiss. Well, maybe the kiss. I don’t deal well with guilt.”
I kept my eyes on the road, deciding this was a conversation that I was better off listening to than participating in. She was dealing with a lot, and I was just a little too good at saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
She gazed out her passenger window at the other cars on the freeway. “It hadn’t been