Twist of Fate (A Holiday Romance Novella) (10 page)

Kenzie’s gaze moved to Ty, who stood by Belle—her most bashful of students. Belle smiled and nodded then told Ty about something. Whatever Ty said back made her laugh, and Kenzie’s heart warmed at the sight.

And then almost as quickly, sank.

One week from today, Brad would step off the plane. Less than two months from today, they were supposed to walk down the aisle, say “I do,” and live the rest of their lives as man and wife.

But how could Kenzie do that when she couldn’t stop thinking about Ty?

She couldn’t. Just like she couldn’t pick up a phone to call Brad and let him know. Or email him. Or write a letter that would somehow reach Madagascar before he got on that plane.

Instead, she’d have to welcome him back with the news that she didn’t think she could marry him after all.

The temperature dropped below freezing once the sun had set. Since Kenzie wasn’t about to make two trips from her car to her apartment, she loaded up all of her shopping bags, kicked the door of her car shut, and slogged toward the building with her newly purchased Christmas gifts. Although it felt good to finally have her shopping all done, she had a long night of wrapping ahead of her—the price of procrastination.

By the time she’d made it to the top of the stairs, her breath came in short spurts, and her arms burned from the strain. At the end of the hall, Ty sat on the floor outside her door, tapping on the screen of his smart phone.

Her heart beat faster.

He looked up and moved quickly to help her. His faded jeans and dark gray sweater made his eyes pop, and Kenzie couldn’t look away.

“Let me take some of those,” he said, taking most of them.

“Thanks.”

“Did you happen to leave anything at the store for the other customers?” he teased as they walked to her apartment.

“Very funny,” said Kenzie. “I just haven’t had a chance to go Christmas shopping until now. My family is big, and I’m headed home tomorrow after school. I wanted to get it done before I left.” She unlocked the door and let herself inside, dropping the bags on the floor.

Ty followed, setting the ones he carried on the table. “I thought you weren’t leaving until Wednesday.”

“I know, but I changed my mind. I have a lot to think about and do before Brad gets back, and, well, I just need to get home.” Her fingers fidgeted as a heavy weight settled in her stomach—one that had been slowly growing since the night of Ty’s Christmas party. It now felt like a bowling ball. How do you tell someone you’re engaged to marry that you’ve fallen out of love with them?

“So I guess I won’t see you again until after Christmas,” Ty said.

She nodded, suddenly feeling like she wanted to cry. If only she could walk into his arms and bury her face in his shoulder. If only she hadn’t said yes to Brad or planned a wedding with him. If only she didn’t have to go home tomorrow and find a way out. Kenzie bit her lip, hating that she’d gotten herself into this mess.

“Hey, what’s the matter?” Ty took her hands and pulled her in for a hug. His strong arms encircled her, making her feel warm and cherished and… home. This is where she wanted to stay. With him. Right here, just like this.

“I need to tell you something.” Ty’s chin rested on her head. “I should have told you sooner, but I was hoping that…” his voice drifted off as he tightened his hold on her.

The pit in Kenzie’s stomach grew until she couldn’t stand it anymore. Tears stung her eyes as she pulled back. “I’m sorry, but—I can’t do this.” Her voice broke as the words gushed out. “I’m supposed to be getting married in six weeks. Six weeks, Ty! Brad’s coming Monday and I was all set to marry him. I’ve ordered flowers, bought a dress, scheduled a church, a caterer. I’m all ready! And you—well, you’ve been so good to me. You’ve helped me when I needed it, fixed my computer when it broke, brought me Chinese after long days, gave me a hug when I needed it—just like you’re doing now—and—and—and I just can’t marry Brad anymore. Not now. Not when I feel this way about you. But how can I—”

Ty’s hands framed her face, and his mouth covered hers in a kiss that seemed to sear her soul, unlocking feelings and sensations she’d never felt with Brad—at least not to this extent. Awe and warmth and happiness mixed with desire and perfection and everything else she couldn’t describe. He’d been right here this entire time. How could she have been so blind? So clueless?

Kenzie’s hands found their way to nape of his neck, and her fingers tangled in his hair. His arms tightened around her as his lips worked warm and passionate against her own. Everything about him filled her senses to the bursting point, making her realize that what she’d had with Brad was nothing compared to this.

Wait. Brad.

The unbidden thought worked its way through her muddled mind like an annoying fly zipping past, reminding her that Brad didn’t deserve this, and Ty—well, he deserved to kiss a girl who wasn’t engaged to someone else.

Using every ounce of willpower she possessed, Kenzie broke free. “I can’t do this right now—not when Brad will be home in a week. He’s off working hard in some third-world country, while I’m here in warm and cozy America, kissing someone else. This is wrong. I have to talk to him first. I have to take care of some things. I have to—” Tears misted her eyes, blurring her vision. She couldn’t look at Ty anymore, at least not without throwing herself back into his arms, so she did the only thing she could do. She fled. Out the door and down the hall, she ran.

“Kenzie, wait!” Ty’s footsteps sounded behind her, growing louder and louder. She made it to the bottom of the stairs when his hand claimed her wrist. “Wait,” he said. “Please. I need to tell you something.”

Kenzie hated how one little touch—his hand on her wrist—weakened her willpower.

“He’s not coming,” Ty blurted.

Her eyes shot to his. “What?”

“Brad’s not coming. He met someone else. In Madagascar. He’s staying there for now.” Ty released her wrist and raked his fingers through his hair. “He wrote you a postcard a few weeks ago. It came in my box, and… well, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want it to ruin your Christmas.”

Kenzie continued to blink at him as his words slowly registered in her brain. Brad met someone else. He wasn’t coming home. The wedding was off.

And Ty had known for weeks.

She suddenly felt like a human punching bag with a million different emotions assaulting her all at once. Anger, hurt, embarrassment, betrayal, relief—they were all there, pelting away at her insides.

She took a step back, shaking her head. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Ty’s expression clouded over. “I should have. I know. I just—“

“Yes, Ty! You should have! How could you keep something like that from me? Do you have any idea what I’ve been through these past few weeks? What
you’ve
put me through?”

“I was only trying to keep you from getting dumped during your favorite time of year.”

Kenzie’s eyes widened as she gaped at him. “Well you didn’t, Ty! You didn’t. Because regardless of whether or not I knew it, I still got dumped. And worse than that, because of you, I’ve just experienced two of the most miserable weeks of my life! I’m so mad at you right now I don’t even know what to say. How could you!” Kenzie pushed past him and took the stairs two at a time, running back to her apartment. She slammed the door hard behind her and stood there, breathing heavily.

Her Christmas tree glowed with an aura that seemed to plead with her to forgive, to forget, to love. But Ty had kept something from her. Something huge. Something that she had a right to know, regardless of whether or not it would have ruined her Christmas. It was her life. Her fiancé. Her wedding.

Yet instead of telling her, Ty had flirted with her, touched her, kissed her, drawn her in like a freaking magnet—all without feeling like he was stealing someone else’s girl. Meanwhile, Kenzie fought a daily battle against guilt and remorse—a battle that never needed to be fought.

She should feel relieved right now. She was free from Brad, free to have feelings for Ty. It was exactly what she’d wanted. But that awful weight was still there, bearing down heavier than before.

Ty had broken a trust.

Kenzie walked over to the glowing tree and yanked the plug free from the wall. The last thing she wanted to do was to forgive and forget.

TY GRIPPED THE steering wheel and painstakingly drove home from work. It had snowed all day long and cars were sliding off the road right and left. His California upbringing didn’t prepare him for driving in these conditions, and he hated how out of control it made him feel.

By the time he pulled into the parking lot of his apartment complex, it was nearly dark. Still, he looked for Kenzie’s car, hoping she’d decided to stay one more day so that they could talk.

But no car, which meant she’d probably already left for home. Which meant she didn’t want to talk. Which meant… what? He really had no idea how deep her anger ran. All he knew was that she was angry. At him.

He left his car running and watched his windshield wipers move back and forth across the window. His father had always told him that hindsight was 20/20, and he was right. Looking back, Ty should have given Kenzie that postcard. Granted, it would have crushed her, and Ty never would have known that she’d have chosen him over Brad, but at least it wouldn’t be Ty’s face Kenzie wanted to punch.

Talk about irony.

By trying to salvage her favorite holiday, Ty had made it the worst one yet. While Brad—the fiancé who’d broken up with her in a lousy postcard—got off scot free. Ty might as well have said, “Hey, Brad, why don’t you let me take that beating for you. Really, it’s no problem.”

He yanked his key from the ignition and slogged his way through the snow, toward frozen pizza and whatever game he could find on TV.

Inside his apartment his cell buzzed with a text. He fished it from his pocket and frowned. His mother had promised to wait at least a week before contacting him, and yet here she was, only the day after she left, sending him a text. Why had he given her his number again? Oh yeah, he’d been under the influence of Kenzie.

Just checking in. Told Kenzie how you feel yet?

Yes, and guess where it got me
, Ty wanted to write back.
Nowhere!
Instead, he tossed the phone on the counter and dropped down on the couch, trying to ignore the Christmas tree and the pudgy one-dimensional snowmen staring at him from the window.

He got up and closed the blinds. Then he punched the power button on the remote and started scanning through stations. His phone buzzed again.

He eyed it from across the room. Was it his mother again? Or Kenzie wanting to talk? Could he be that lucky? Probably not. Still, he walked over, picked up the phone, and groaned. Sure enough, his mother. Again.

Don’t forget to tell her you love her.

Ty nearly powered off his phone, but then he paused, staring at the words again as something registered. He hadn’t told Kenzie he loved her. He hadn’t even told her he liked her. The only thing he’d bothered to mention was the fact that her fiancé had met someone else and her wedding was off.

Ty hated it when his mother was right.

But would it make a difference? If he showed up at her doorstep right now and poured his heart out while groveling, would it help? Would she forgive him? At the very least would she stop wanting to use his face as a punching bag?

Maybe. Maybe not. But he’d never know unless he tried.

With a new sense of purpose, Ty walked to his room, threw some clothes and toiletries in a bag, and headed back into the cold, dark, snowy night. He didn’t care how long it would take to drive to her parents’ house in this weather. He’d eventually get there. And he’d eventually get her to listen.