Page 9 of The Weight Of Falling
He doesn’t hesitate. “Agreed.”
Huh. I was expecting more of an argument.
“We’ll take this to our graves,” I maintain, recovering.
“Coming on a bit strong, but I’m in agreement here that we keep this between the two of us.”
“Okay. Good.”
An awkward silence descends. I clear my throat and we both turn toward the door at the same time.
Joel sighs. “I suggest we leave separately.”
“Oh. Yes. Good idea.”
“I know you like taking the lead, but I’ll go first this time. Shake up the dynamic between us.”
I narrow my eyes at him and allow him to have his little joke.
He reaches for the door handle, but pauses. Without turning around, he says, “And Kenzie?”
“Yes?”
“Just so we’re clear, if we ever kiss again—which we won’t—you won’t mistake me for someone else.”
With that, he exits the storeroom without looking back.
4
I catch sight of my reflection in the fancy wall of mirrors in the ladies’ room. A groan of disbelief falls out of me and I press my palms to my fiery cheeks. No wonder I received a few startled glances from the waitstaff as I hurriedly made my way down the hallway to the restroom.
I look like I’ve been thoroughly and completely kissed. My lips are red and swollen, my hair tousled. My skin is lit up like the fire of a thousand suns is burning inside me. And my eyes? They’re glowing with excitement.
Excitement?
That can’t be right. I frown at my reflection. My eyes should be filled with...I don’t know...repulsion. They don’t look repulsed though. They look...satisfied.
I’m alone in the restroom, so I take the opportunity to address the dazed woman in the mirror. “Stop it. It’s just a kiss. It’s not a big deal.”
What a little liar you are, my eyes say. I drop my gaze. There’s no way that kiss wasn’t a big deal. Not when every molecule in my body is feeling the aftereffects of it.
All I can think is, I’ve been waiting my whole life to be kissed like that.
What made it so different? The darkness of the room and the fact we couldn’t see each other? Maybe it was the man himself. There’s no denying Joel is an incredible kisser. He knew exactly what he was doing.
But maybe it was also the fact that he didn’t treat me like I was breakable. The kiss was rough and intense, and I loved every second of it.
At least until I heard Joel’s voice.
I splash cold water on my neck and make my way to the banquet room. Thankfully, the magical setting distracts me from my thoughts. Warm fairy lights are strung across the ceiling like a canopy of stars. The round tables are draped in soft ivory linens and each table holds a low floral centerpiece of roses and peonies. Gideon has created a literal fairytale backdrop for Kate. This is the wedding of my dreams. Happiness for the two of them surges through me.
As I weave through the tables, my heart is pounding so hard I hear it throbbing in my ears. My panicked conscience is whispering that everyone is staring at me, that they all know what I got up to in that storeroom.
I spot my name card in a pressed flower holder and collapse into the seat between Tess and Sofia.
“You okay?” Tess asks, her head tilted with concern.
“I’m okay,” I say, even though I’m not. Not at all.
