This wedding isn’t helping with my emotions. Nor is the fact that I didn’t hear from Kenton this morning. He always texts me first thing. I pull out my phone to check it again. He had texted me last night telling me he’d see me tomorrow. Of course he’d be here for his brother’s wedding.
As much of a jerk as he was about Lennon getting married in the beginning, it’s clear he truly cares about his brother, and he wouldn’t miss the wedding. He’s not here to see me today. I’m not what purged him out of the city. I thought he would be at the rehearsal dinner last night, but he wasn’t. I couldn’t bring myself to ask where he was or to text him myself.
I scroll through my messages again to make sure I hadn’t missed any. But there are still only the ones from late last night. Much later than he usually texts at night. It had been almost midnight when he’d sent them.
Kenton: Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Try not to outshine the bride too much.
Kenton: You have no idea how much I miss you.
Kenton: Sleep tight. You’re all mine tomorrow.
The texts got sweeter as they went on. I’m sure he was busy making his way out here for the wedding and he didn’t get a chance to send a text today. That has to be it. I mean, a text takes two seconds. I let out a long sigh. I’m awfully bratty for a girl who never texts him back. Not even once.
I tab out of my texts and pull up Google, entering Kenton’s name. Why have I never done this before? If I told Glory about what was up with Kenton and me, she’d have his whole life story pulled up in seconds. That girl can be downright scary when it comes to her ability to get information.
The first few things that come up about him are mostly about the cases he’s won and the crazy settlements he’s gotten for some of his clients. I’m surprised when I read an article about how a prenup he structured became the standard one used for the wealthy. Yet he has never brought one up to me. I’m guessing it’s due to the fact that he’s really confident in his ability to protect himself in a divorce.
I roll my eyes when I see an article naming him as Syn City’s most eligible bachelor. And then another one calling him uncatchable. It seems the gossip magazines are always trying to pin down who he might be dating.
I click into another article and see him standing with a beautiful blonde. I click through one picture after another. Each time he’s in a suit as always. My eyes linger on one of them, recognizing the tie. He had it on at his brother's house the other night.
This must have been taken the same day I saw him. The day he followed me into the bathroom. My mood immediately sours. In the next photo he’s at a restaurant with the same blonde. There is a tag over the pic that says Hot lunch date?
My stomach drops when I see the timestamp on the article. All the pictures were taken somewhat recently. I’m guessing the media is trying to track their dating history. This article is titled Kenton Carver may have started out as Stacy York’s attorney, but could he now be her new man?
I read through it all. He was her divorce attorney. She was a model who was once married to a very famous photographer. That marriage ended this past week when Kenton finalized their divorce. The article claims Kenton and Stacy have kept their love affair quiet, but now they are free to go public because he’s not her attorney anymore.
The last photo is from last night. The two are standing outside of a building the article identifies as Kenton’s penthouse condo. A pang of jealousy hits me at the thought of that woman knowing more about him than I do. But anger is the main emotion flowing through me at this point. I’m guessing they’d gone back to his place after a late dinner. I click the picture, zooming in on Kenton’s hand. His ring is nowhere to be seen.
“Why?” My heart sinks. I swipe at my cheeks, realizing I’m crying. I shouldn’t even care, but deep down I do. This is what I get for allowing myself to hope. To get lost in a fairy tale that wasn’t meant for me.
It’s no wonder his texts came so late. He must have slipped into the bathroom to send me those texts. What the hell? I don’t get it. Why would he marry me?! Why would he say all of those things to me?
“Gabby? Been looking everywhere for you,” Ames calls from behind me. I wipe my cheeks quickly, not wanting her to see that I’m upset. Today isn’t about me; it’s Willow’s day, and all the attention should be on her. “We’re ordering some snacks to the bridal suite. You’re up for hair next.” She comes to stand next to me. “Wow this is beautiful.” She glances around the resort entryway. “They didn’t miss a thing.”