When Our Worlds Stand Still (Our Worlds #3)(9)

“There’s something else …” The urgency in his voice causes my heart to beat fast and my palms to sweat.

If his voice is any indication, I’m not going to like what he has to say. “What is it?”

“The girl I met… she’s friends with Kennedy. Your time’s running out.” He rubs his forehead.

“What do you mean?” My eyebrows scrunch together.

“She’s going to be here next weekend.”

“Mark, what do you mean she’s going to be here?” I try to decipher the meaning behind his words.

“They’re making a trip to Connecticut. You’re going to have to tell her what you’ve been up to. You can’t hide anymore, man. Your time’s up,” he explains.

I sit up in bed. “Did you see her?”

“I did.” He nods, knowing how hard this is for me. “She looks good, healthy.”

“So, I guess this weekend the truth will come out.”

“The truth always comes out. And with that sentiment, I’m going to leave, because this conversation is teetering on the edge of female talk show and braiding each other’s hair.”

“Thank you,” I mutter. My words stop him. “What I mean to say, and probably haven’t said enough, is thank you.”

“Shit like that is going to make all the other guys think I followed your ass to Connecticut, and we’re an adorable couple now.” Mark disappears but pokes his head back in my room. “And you’re welcome.” He shuts the door behind him.

I stare at the pearl white ceiling, processing everything Mark has revealed. It may have been stupid of me to assume I would have more time to figure everything out. Right now, there are too many loose ends, and too many troubled memories I’m trying to sift through.





“Don’t forget your bathing suit, Ken,” Violet shouts across the hall from her bedroom.

I drop the jeans I’m folding and stomp over to her room. “What the hell do I need a bathing suit for? If you haven’t noticed, there’s a random dusting of snow on the ground, and we’re going to Connecticut. Now, if we were going to Florida like I originally suggested, then maybe I would need one.”

Violet looks up from her stuffed suitcase and looks out the window. “It’s called a hot tub, bitch, and before you get in the car, I suggest you turn your poor ass attitude around.” A tiny ball of fabric hits me in the chest. I unfold it with a single finger to see it’s her new bikini. “You wear it. I like my white one better.”

“Violet, this will show just about everything I have going on,” I plead for some sympathy and toss the material at her. I shuffle back to my room to finish packing.

“I’m bringing it with me, so if you forget yours, you’ll be all set,” she shouts.

“I won’t need it,” I singsong back.

I roll my suitcase down the hallway and find Amanda staring in the fridge. She grabs a few bottles of water and tosses one to me. With cat-like agility, I catch it with one hand. She gives me a nod of approval. All those self-defense classes have done wonders for my reflexes.

“Is everyone all ready to go?” Amanda hangs her oversized travel bag over her shoulder.

Violet races down the hallway, stands on her tiptoes to kiss Dan and turns to us. “Let’s hit the road.”

“Why are we leaving so early?” I check my watch. “Connecticut is, like, maybe an hour and a half, two hours away, and I doubt we’ll hit much traffic on a Thursday morning at eight o’clock.”

“There’s no time to waste. We still have to pick up Bea and get gas and junk food. It won’t be a real road trip until we have beef jerky,” Amanda says.

We push out the door, with Violet hanging behind to secure the locks. Once we’re tucked into the elevator, we stand in silence until the bell alerts us we’ve reached the ground floor. Richard greets us, like usual, with his hand extended to take some of our bags. After helping load the trunk, Richard steps back as I roll down my window.

“Try to have a little fun,” he offers, patting my arm.

“I always have fun, Richard. You know that.” I grin at the white haired man.

“I mean real fun, Kennedy. You girls deserve it, and Dan,” he looks through the front window, “if you let anything happen to these girls, Mr. Jones will have your balls.”

Dan pops the gearshift to reverse as he nods, but before he drives out of the parking garage, he looks at his girlfriend. “Is your dad always going to give me a hard time?”

Violet giggles when she looks back at Amanda and me.

“Oh, yeah,” we all say together.

I lean forward and wrap my arms around his shoulders. “You should be used to it by now. You guys have been together, for what, three years?”

“Three wonderfully long and brilliant years.” Violet plants a kiss on his cheek.

“If I remember correctly, the first year was rather tumultuous.” I squeeze his shoulders but sit back when Violet sends lightning out of her eyes, striking me in my seat.

“Only because Violet is so damn stubborn,” Dan explains.

“Was.” Violet corrects him.

“You’re still as damn stubborn as the day I met you, so I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Dan winks at me in the rearview mirror, and I smile at their banter.