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“And happy anniversary to you,” I tell them, keeping my focus on McKenna. Heaven forbid I look at Kalen a few seconds too long. I have no doubt someone from town is watching us and will start a gossip train since we approached the happy couple.
“Thank you,” McKenna says. “That’s very kind of you.”
Her smile is genuine, and I can see that she doesn’t consider me a threat. She doesn’t grab her husband’s arm and pull him closer. She doesn’t feel the need to prove that he’s hers.
“Has anyone seen Chase?” Kalen asks in a bid to change the subject.
I look around the park, my eyes scanning the crowd, but I don’t see him.
“I saw him, Emily, and their two boys over by Ruth’s tent not long ago,” McKenna says. “Actually, look. There they are.”
We all turn our attention toward the couple walking toward us. The boys can’t be any older than three, and the sound of their laughter fills the air around them as they blow bubbles from tiny wands in their hands.
Emily Woodson, Chase’s wife, has always looked out of place at these events. It’s clear the woman is meant for the city, and even at Chase’s mom’s memorial, she couldn’t seem to wipe the frown from her face.
“Kalen,” Chase says, walking up and shaking his hand. “Good to see you.”
“You too, man,” Kalen says. “Meet Vincent Chilton and Derrick Lee. They’re part of Cerberus.”
Chase shakes Stormy’s hand first before shaking Derrick’s.
“Nice to meet you,” my husband tells him. “Big fan.”
“I appreciate your help in town,” Chase says, and there’s a genuineness to it.
Derrick nods, his jaw working as if it irritates him to accept the gratitude.
“I’m actually from Detroit,” Derrick says. I guess it should be weird that I didn’t know that about the man I married. The fact that we’ve only known each other for less than a day is even more obvious. Other than his name and liking the way I push back against him when he’s taking me from behind, I can’t think of much else that I know about him.
My hands start to shake, that urge to run threatening to take over.
“Really?” Chase asks.
“I still think about Mike’s Deli, and I haven’t been back there in nearly ten years.”
“I freaking love Mike’s,” Chase says with a wide grin on his face.
Emily, on the other hand, looks utterly disgusted by just the mention of the restaurant.
“This is my wife, Emily,” Chase says before turning his attention to his boys. His smile changes when he looks at them, and I can see the genuine joy on his face. “My boys, Cale and Cole.”
I resist the urge to press my palm to my empty stomach. I don’t know if it’s just naturally in my DNA or if it’s a Southern expectation that I want children, but I do. I think I always have. I just learned early on in adulthood that it’s not very likely in the cards for me. My daily life is too much of a struggle to be responsible for someone else.
The conversation picks right back up, Chase asking me about my brother, and I fight the giddiness bubbling inside of me that a pro-hockey superstar recognizes me.
Chase excuses himself when one of the boys starts to wander off, and I feel like a judgmental asshole when I think terrible thoughts about Emily because she didn’t even notice. The woman sticks out like a sore thumb as she follows after her husband, her too-high high heels sinking into the ground.
If that’s what marriage is like, then I don’t want any part of it. They seem indifferent to each other. It’s a vast contrast to the way Kalen and McKenna orbit around each other as if they control the other’s gravity or something. It’s clear they’re in love, but they haven’t been married for very long.
I don’t know that I’ll get more than saving some embarrassment with this marriage to Derrick, but I know I have to see it through. I’ll leave town with him and just disappear. I know a lot of people love living here, but I can’t wait to escape Lindell, Texas and all that comes with it.
Chapter 7
Oracle
I feel twitchy as the memorial begins to draw to a close. There are still wide smiles on people’s faces, and it’s clear that the folks in this town are genuinely happy to be here, despite looking a little weary from an emotionally exhausting day. A little over a year ago, when I was here for the first time, everyone was just as happy. They were proud to be celebrating Kalen and McKenna’s wedding. There was laughter all around until all hell broke loose.
I was standing over to the far side of the square, talking to Devyn, Legacy’s fiancée, when shit hit the fan that day.
