The Christmas Pact(21)

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.”

“That’s because you passed out in the Uber. I had to drag you inside the house.”

He frowned, seeming a bit ashamed, then asked, “Wait. If I’m in the bed, where did you sleep?”

I told him the truth. “Right next to you.”

“You were next to me all night, and I didn’t even know?”

“Yup. Naked and everything,” I lied. “See all the things you miss when you don’t drink responsibly?”

“Don’t even play like that, Riley. If you were naked next to me all night and I missed the whole thing, I swear I’ll never drink again.”

I winked. “Okay, I was wearing my PJs. But I did sleep next to you. I figured it was harmless. You were basically like a pile of rocks. Nothing was going to be moving last night, if you know what I mean.”

He seemed genuinely perplexed. “Why are you being so understanding when I acted like an ass on your first night here?”

It made sense that he was confused as to why I was being so nice. He didn’t know Felicity had told me the real reason he hadn’t come home in so long. He still assumed I was in the dark about why he was dreading this day so much. So my answer wasn’t exactly the full truth.

“Are you forgetting what brought us together for Christmas in the first place? If anyone totally understands letting your family stress you out, it’s me.”

Kennedy pushed the comforter off and sat on the edge of the bed. I’d taken off his shirt last night but kept his pants on, so he’d slept in them.

“Well, after my behavior at the rehearsal dinner, not to mention throwing you into the fire with my mother at the boutique before that, I’m not sure why you’re pardoning me so easily. But thank you.”

I half-smiled. “Let’s just try to get through this day, huh?”

“I’m not going to drink tonight. I won’t do that to you again.”

“I appreciate that. But I’ve got you, Kennedy. It’s fine if you want to drink. It’s a wedding.”

“No way. I brought you with me for support, but that shouldn’t include you having to drag my ass to the door because I couldn’t lay off the sauce. I’ll stick to water.” He turned to me and opened his mouth to speak, then stilled. “God, Riley, you look beautiful. Seriously, I thought they said you’re not supposed to upstage the bride.”

“Aw shucks, you’re so sweet when you’re hungover.”

“Surprisingly, I don’t feel as crappy as I thought I would. I’m actually starving,” he said as his eyes lingered on my cleavage.

I smacked his leg. “C’mon. Get moving. Hurry up and get dressed. Maybe we can hit that IHOP down the road before the ceremony. If I don’t have coffee soon, I think my head’s going to explode.”

“Why didn’t you go down to the kitchen and get some? My mother always has a pot going early.”

The honest answer wasn’t going to bode well for me. “I…didn’t feel like talking to your family.”

“So you stayed in here waiting for me to wake up?”

“Yes. I’m that antisocial. Got up and showered before anyone was awake and have been imprisoned in here with your sorry ass ever since.”

“Well, you deserve a cup of coffee the size of your head for putting up with me last night. Let’s go get you fed and caffeinated.”

“I have to pee really bad, too.”

“Why haven’t you peed?”

“I would’ve had to pass someone in the hall and, I don’t know, chat first to get to the bathroom.”

“So now you’re gonna piss yourself, all because you let me sleep.”

“Pretty much. Just waiting for you to go out there and talk to your family to distract them, then I’ll sneak down the hall.”

Kennedy was laughing at me. It was good to see him smiling because I knew he was probably really anxious about today.

My eyes wandered over to a teddy bear on the corner of his dresser. “Nice Teddy,” I teased.

“You may not believe this, but there are no sex toys hiding inside of him.”