The Christmas Pact

by Keeland, Vi

  Kennedy’s mouth curved into that slow, sexy smile that I was becoming far too attached to. “You can say that again.”

  “I mean, that was…”

  “Yeah. It was.”

  A gust of frigid air blew, and I shivered. I’d forgotten all about the cold.

  “You better go inside.”

  “Yeah. Ummm. Okay. I’ll see you Friday.”

  I walked up the driveway in a complete daze. When I reached the front door, I couldn’t resist looking back. Kennedy hadn’t moved from where I had left him, and his eyes were still on me. I waved, and he finally opened the car door and got in.

  It didn’t matter that it was freezing outside. I was still on fire from our impromptu make-out session and needed a moment to cool off before going into the house. So I stood at the door and watched as Kennedy’s car pulled away and drove down the block.

  Eventually, when the taillights were no longer in view, I opened the front door and hurried inside. My mom and sister were sitting at the dining room table, exactly where they’d been sitting when I’d left to walk Kennedy out. Mom looked over at me.

  “Did Kennedy get off alright?”

  “Yeah.” I thumbed back toward the front door. “Umm…weren’t you…at the window a few minutes ago?”

  My mom chuckled. “No, honey. I’m nosey, but not that nosey. I’m sure you two lovebirds needed a little private time to say your goodbyes.”

  Hmmm…

  “Was anyone at the window? I thought I saw the blinds move.”

  Mom smiled. “No, sweetheart. None of us have moved a muscle since you left to walk Kennedy out to the car.”

  Riley

  “So there’s been a slight change of plans.”

  Kennedy called me during my drive to Rochester. I was only about twenty minutes away.

  “What is it?”

  “I’m stuck at this tux fitting place with the guys from the wedding party. They screwed up all of the sizes, and now they’re trying to fix it. So I won’t be able to meet you at my mom’s shop.”

  Kennedy’s mother was supposed to be giving him the keys to her boutique so he could take me to select a dress for the wedding. I wasn’t exactly sure what this news meant.

  “Should I wait for you somewhere?

  “No. If you wait for me, we won’t have enough time before the rehearsal dinner. I just got off the phone with my mom, and she’s going to meet you there.”

  Panic started to set in. “Kennedy, I can’t meet your mom without you!”

  “Why not?”

  “We haven’t even discussed what I’m going to say or anything.”

  “Honestly, Riley? Just be yourself. That’s more than enough. There’s nothing you could say that could make you better than you already are.”

  His words calmed me down just a tad. Seriously, what a sweet thing to say.

  “I guess I just thought maybe you wanted me to jazz things up a bit. You know, like how we met when I was saving you from a burning building. That sort of thing.”

  He let out a hearty laugh. “Riley, that was never the plan. Tell the truth. Although, maybe neglect to mention that I lied through my teeth to your mother over Christmas. My mom doesn’t need to know any of that.”

  I blew out a breath. “God, now I’m nervous. I thought you’d be with me.”

  “Riley. You’ll be fine. And I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  Mrs. Riley’s boutique was basically a little house, situated at the corner of a residential street. A white lace gown with a champagne-colored sash was displayed in the window and a sign read: Suzanne’s Bridals. From what Kennedy told me, his mother’s shop also featured regular dresses and shoes, as well as the bridal gowns.

  One-stop shopping to meet your fake boyfriend’s family.

  A bell chimed as I opened the door.

  “Be right there!” I heard someone call from the back.

  My palms were sweaty as I geared up to meet Mrs. Riley. My eyes trailed along a line of white dresses sandwiched together along the left side of the room. On the other side were evening gowns and shorter dresses in a rainbow of colors.

  “Riley?”

  I turned toward the voice.

  A petite woman with short brown hair and a huge smile greeted me.

  “Mrs. Riley?”

  “Please, call me Suzanne. Gosh, I can’t get over the fact that your first name is our last name!”

  “Yeah. It’s a pretty funny coincidence.”

  “Kennedy tells me that’s how you two met? He was being a wiseass after receiving some of your email messages?”

  I blinked. It caught me off guard that he’d opened up to his mother about that.

  “Yeah. That’s exactly how we met,” I chuckled and lowered my eyes, wondering how much she knew about those emails.

  “Well, he seems very fond of you. I guess it was meant to be.” She smiled. “Anyway, I don’t mean to make you blush.”

  I hadn’t realized I was.

  She clapped her hands together. “Let’s find you a dress, shall we? Kennedy emailed me your size.”

  Suzanne asked me what color I had in mind, and I told her I was particularly fond of deeper tones since anything too pale made me look washed out. She selected a few shorter dresses in red, blue, and plum.

  “You can change in that dressing room right over there in the corner. Then come out and use the large mirror out here. Better lighting.”

  “Thank you so much.” I ventured into the changing area to play dress up.

  When I returned to the main room, someone else had arrived, a young, attractive woman about my age.

  Kennedy’s mother introduced us. “Riley, this is my son Bradley’s fiancée, Felicity.”

  “Oh you’re the bride! Congratulations,” I said. “It’s great to meet you.”

  Felicity had long brown hair and reminded me a bit of the actress Katie Holmes in her Dawson’s Creek days.

  “Riley is Kennedy’s date to the wedding.”

  Felicity’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped a little, as if the news of Kennedy bringing someone home was a shock. “Wow, okay. How did you two meet?”

  “We work for the same company, different divisions.”

  “Ah, an office romance.”

  “Sort of, I guess. But nevertheless, I’m here. And he’s a great guy.”

  “Oh, I know,” she assured me.

  Trying to change the subject from my relationship with Kennedy, I asked, “Is your gown from here?”

  “Of course. Where else?” She grinned. “I’m actually here for my final fitting. Suzanne figured that since she was coming here anyway to meet you, we might as well do that now instead of waiting until tomorrow morning.” She looked down at my dress. “That plum is a great color on you, by the way.”

  “Thanks. I think this is the one. I don’t think I even need to try on the others. I love it so much.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. It fits you perfectly.” Excitement filled her eyes. “Wanna see my dress?”

  “Um, sure. I’d love to.”

  “Okay. Be right back!”

  Felicity disappeared with Suzanne into a backroom. I made my way over to the long rack of wedding gowns and stopped at one in particular that I absolutely loved. Oh, yes, this would be the one I’d pick if it were my big day. A simple lace gown, trumpet style, strapless, and just a hint of sparkle. My heart felt heavy because at that moment I thought of Frankie, and how he’d planned to propose but never got the chance.

  I snapped out of my sad thoughts, blinking back an unexpected tear just as Felicity floated back into the room holding out the sides of her Cinderella-style ball gown with a huge smile on her face.

  “Oh my gosh. You look gorgeous, like a princess,” I said as she stepped onto the raised platform in front of the mirror, even though the huge tulle skirt wasn’t my style at all.

  Suzanne noticed my hand still on the dress I’d been admiring. “You like that one? Good choice.”

  “
I do.”

  “That’s actually my original design. I don’t design all of these, but that one is custom. I made it for a wedding that never ended up happening, unfortunately.”

  “Oh, so it’s cursed? It’s perfect for me, then,” I laughed.

  “Want to try it on?”

  “Oh, I shouldn’t.”

  “Come on, Riley!” Felicity said. “It’ll be fun.”

  I didn’t take much convincing. It really was a gorgeous gown. I shrugged and removed it from the rack. “Okay!”

  After heading back to the dressing room and slipping it on, I realized that the back was like a corset and needed to be cinched and tied. I was going to need some help.

  When I emerged, Suzanne said, “Oh, how lovely. That dress looks like it was made for you, Riley!”

  Felicity came around behind me. “Here, let me,” she said as she began lacing up the back of the bodice.

  The boutique phone rang and Suzanne disappeared to answer it.

  As Felicity continued to work on the ties, she said, “I’m really glad you’re here, Riley.”

  “Thank you. I’m glad to be here.”

  “We weren’t sure Kennedy would show up at all. Then suddenly he was on his way home and agreed to be in the wedding party. It’s been a long road getting to where we can talk again. A part of me will always love him, just not in the same way, of course.”

  I blinked in confusion. “The same way?”

  Her face froze as her eyes met mine in the mirror. “Kennedy...told you about our history, right?”

  I swallowed. “I’m afraid not.”

  “Shit. I just assumed...”

  I turned to face her. “What history?”

  “Kennedy and I were together, before I fell in love with Bradley.”

  “Bradley. His brother.” The wheels in my head turned so fast, I felt lightheaded. “Wait. You’re...the one he didn’t become Neil Armstrong for?”

  She frowned, looking confused. .”Excuse me?”

  “The one he was with when he turned down the space program?”

  “Oh. Yeah. We were together then.” She seemed to realize her error in divulging this to me. “Crap. If he hasn’t told you, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “No, I’m glad you did.”

  “Maybe don’t mention we had this talk?”

  “I’ll let him tell me himself, in his own time. If he wants me to know.”

  I fussed with my neckline, somehow feeling like it was choking me, even though it wasn’t anywhere near my neck. This new information had me reeling.

  Kennedy’s ex left him…for his brother.

  She was marrying him tomorrow.

  And Kennedy was in the wedding.

  This explained a lot, why he hadn’t been home in so long.

  Just as Suzanne returned, the bell at the door dinged. All of our heads turned to him at the same time.

  Kennedy’s eyes went wide as he took in the surreal sight of two girls and two gowns.

  Riley

  “You might want to slow down.”

  Kennedy lifted what had to be his fourth drink in the hour since we’d arrived at the rehearsal dinner, and downed every last drop before tilting the glass toward me. “You might want to mind your own business.”

  I sighed. Ever since the boutique this afternoon, Kennedy had changed. He’d morphed back into the pompous ass I’d first met in our email exchanges, rather than the sweet man I’d been getting to know little by little. When I’d tried to talk to him about Felicity, opening the door to let him tell me what had gone down with her and his brother, he’d shut me down. So now there was a giant elephant in the room, at least for me—I didn’t let on that I knew, but he also didn’t volunteer anything.

  Someone tapped a fork to their glass, and the entire room joined in until there was a symphony of tinkling crystal. Apparently that meant the soon-to-be bride and groom had to kiss—a tradition I’d never heard of before tonight. But it had happened at least a half-dozen times already, with Bradley making each kiss last longer than the one before. I watched Kennedy’s face as he took in the sight of his smiling brother and glowing ex-fiancée kiss. Bradley was basically a shorter, less handsome version of Kennedy. He was also a showboat. He bent Felicity back in a dramatic dip, and the room erupted in applause.

  Kennedy stopped our waitress as she attempted to walk by. His words were starting to slur. “Another gin and tonic. Make it a double.”

  I frowned and looked at her. “Please. He meant to say please.”

  After she walked away, Kennedy leaned toward me. He reeked like the crap he’d been guzzling all night as he attempted to whisper in my ear. “I’d like to hear you say that underneath me.”

  My brows furrowed. “What?”

  “Please. Come on. Say it again for me. Use that breathy, sexy voice you had while I was rubbing your neck the other night. I’ve been dreaming about you begging me to put my hands on you again all week.”

  I put my hand on his chest and nudged him to back up. “First of all, if you think you’re whispering…you aren’t.” I waved to his aunt seated on the other side of him who was eyeing us curiously. “Second of all…” I leaned in close and actually whispered, “…while it’s nice to know you’ve been dreaming about me all week, you won’t be hearing me beg for anything. I don’t beg. And not because I’m above it, but because I don’t have to. If I were beneath you like in your dreams, you’d be the one begging. And lastly, I don’t do drunk and sloppy.”

  Kennedy started to laugh. Not a quiet, polite laugh, but a full-blown, loud, drunken belly laugh. His brother, finished with his public display of affection, walked over and put his hand on Kennedy’s shoulder. Bradley smiled, oblivious to the condition of the man seated next to me. “I’m so glad you decided to come, little bro.”

  Kennedy snickered and mumbled, “You know where else I used to come? Inside your….”

  Oh no. My eyes widened. He’d said it pretty low, so I wasn’t sure if Bradley heard it or not, but I wasn’t waiting for a punch to land to find out. I stood abruptly. “Can you excuse us? I need to go to the ladies’ room. Kennedy was just about to show me where it is.”

  Kennedy looked up at me with a frown and swayed back and forth in his seat. He pointed to the other side of the room. “It’s right over there.”

  I tugged at his elbow and dragged him to his feet. “Yes. But I might get lost. So why don’t you show me.”

  He turned to face his brother. “She probably wants to suck face some more. She does this thing where she—”

  I gave him a hard tug. Bradley laughed. Luckily he mustn’t have caught the part about coming inside his fiancée. He slapped his brother on his shoulder. “You two lovebirds go have fun.”

  I hooked my arm with Kennedy’s and guided him through the restaurant toward the restrooms. Once we got there, I turned to face him.

  “Look, we don’t know each other very well. But in the short time I’ve known you, I’ve learned that you have a lot of pride, and I don’t think you’ll be very happy with yourself tomorrow if you make a scene here tonight. So I think we should call it an evening and head back to your mother’s house.”

  Kennedy seemed to struggle to focus, blinking several times as he looked back and forth between my eyes. Then his shoulders slumped. “Okay.” He sounded a little lost.

  “Thank you. Why don’t you go into the men’s room and splash some water on your face, and I’ll go say our goodbyes.”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Okay.”

  I waited until Kennedy went into the men’s room and then went in search of his mother. She didn’t seem at all surprised to learn that we were leaving.

  “Kennedy isn’t feeling that great, Suzanne, so we’re going to head out.”

  She smiled sadly and took my hand. “I understand. This has to be tough on him. Though I think it’s good that he came. Sometimes we walk away, but don’t fully pull the door shut behind us and that keeps us from moving
on.” Suzanne rubbed my arm. “I have a good feeling about you two, though. I’ve worked with couples my entire life, and sometimes you just know.”

  I thought her love-connection radar was pretty off, but I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so I simply smiled. “Thank you for a lovely dinner.”

  Kennedy was still sulking as we climbed into the back of the Uber. “You okay?” I asked.

  He stared out the window for a long time, and then surprised me by reaching over and taking my hand from my lap. He weaved his fingers with mine. “Thank you,” he said.

  “You’re welcome. That’s what friends are for.”

  He brought our joined hands to his lips and kissed the top of mine. “Friends, huh? Is that what we are?”

  Well, considering every hair on my arms and neck raised the minute any part of his body touched mine, I was thinking perhaps there was a little something more between us. But it was stupid to entertain a conversation with a drunken man. I nodded. “Yes, we’re friends.”

  Kennedy leaned in toward me and lowered his voice. “That’s too bad. Because I really do love that thing you do with your tongue.”

  It was time to open the blinds. I’d been up since 5AM, was already dressed in my plum dress, and had managed to put on my makeup without the proper lighting. Meanwhile, Kennedy was snoring away.

  I’d snuck down the hall and showered really quickly before anyone woke up. I didn’t want to have to face his mother or any other houseguests after last night; at least, not until I had Kennedy as a buffer.

  Nudging his shoulder, I said, “Rise and shine.”

  He blinked his eyes open. “What time is it?” he groaned.

  “It’s almost noon. The ceremony starts at two, so I figured it was time to get you up.”

  His eyes opened wider. “Why didn’t you wake me sooner?”

  “Well, you needed your sleep.”

  Kennedy’s hair was a wild mess. He sat up and rubbed his temples. “About last night…I’m not sure what I might have said or done…I—”

  “Kennedy, it’s okay. We all have those kinds of nights.”

  “I don’t remember much after getting into the car with you.”