Page 10 of Keeping Kaitlyn

“Since about thirty seconds ago when I decided he is.” Tess gives me a shrug, absolutely confident in the fact that when she asks Patrick to close his bar on its busiest night of the week, he will. No questions asked. “So… eight o’clock?”

Shit.

“Who?” Swiping a rough hand over my face while fighting the urge to look over her shoulder at the row of framed drawings behind her. It’s a stupid question.

I know who.

“Me and Henley. Grace and Cari—if she can stay awake that long.” Tess rolls her eyes. “Maeve, Henley’s sister, and Ryan’s nurse, Kait.”

Kait.

When she says her name, it’s like someone zapped me in the balls with a cattle prod.

Kaitlyn isn’t just a guest at Con and Henley’s wedding.

She’sinthe wedding.

Same as me.

“Okay.” Before she can ask about my cognitive function again, I give Tess a terse nod. “IfPatrick agrees to close the bar.”

“He’ll agree.” Tess gives me a sweet smile. “Since it’s a bachelorette party, would you mind working with your shirt off?”

I laugh in spite of myself and the fact that I’m seriously considering faking my own death and fleeing the country before she comes back. “Get out.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Clapping her hands like a kid on Christmas day, Tess bounces in her boots while giving me a shit-eating grin. “See you tonight,” she tells me before letting herself out the way she came in, leaving me wondering why the hell I said yes and with little hope of getting myself out of it.

FIVE

KAITLYN

I stareat the group text from Tess that came through a few minutes ago, heart pounding in my chest so hard my ears are ringing like church bells.

Tess: Bachelorette party tonight at Went’s shop. Bar’s closed. Limo will be at the center to pick us up at 7:30.

Went’s shop.

As soon as I saw it, my brain started to scramble, frantically searching for a rational, believable reason that will allow me to bow out gracefully.

Because I can’t.

Icannotgo there.

I can’t see him.

Not again.

Not after what happened last time…

Another text comes through, mid-scramble, that instantly ties my guts into a thousand tiny knots.

Tess: This is happening, ladies. Even if I have to hogtie each and every one of you and toss you in the trunk.

Surely, she doesn’t mean me. I mean… the only reason Henley even asked me to be a bridesmaid is because there was an odd number of groomsman and she needed a stand-in. Someone reliable and who?—

Another text rolls in.

Tess: yes, I mean YOU.

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