Then I shifted my hips and she settled onto me. I took her gasps, her pleas, and her sighs, and I held tight as she moved over me. I never wanted to let go.
“How long have you and your girl here been an item, Kennedy?” George, the vice president of my father’s company, took a giant bite of his sandwich as if he hadn’t just sent my meal from uncomfortable to extremely awkward.
We were all gathered around my parents’ oversized dining room table—Mom and Dad, my sisters, the board of Hale Construction, Aubree, and me.
“Um, we’re not—” Crap. We hadn’t had this discussion. Were we an item? Or was this just a weekend of no-strings sex? I’d pulled an Aubree and acted before I thought it through, and now look where I was.
“If I could have everyone’s attention.” My father pushed out of his chair, and all eyes turned to him. “George and I have an exciting announcement.”
George Stevens stood up and grinned. Or I thought he was grinning. It was hard to tell behind all his facial hair. “As you all know,” George said, “I’ve been anxious to retire for some time now, but I’ve been putting it off until we could find a suitable replacement. I have no doubt my wife shares my enthusiasm when I say that we’ve found that replacement and I will be transitioning into retirement between now and this summer.”
I took a drink of my water and tried to be patient while I waited to return to my conversation with Bree. I hadn’t wanted to get dressed and come play nice with the board. I’d wanted to spend the day with Bree. Alone. Naked.
“Kennedy, would you mind standing, son?” George extended a hand in my direction. “I’m pleased to introduce you all to the next vice president of Hale Construction.”
Just like that, water was racing to my lungs. I coughed as my dad’s chest puffed with pride.
“Kennedy will move back to Abbott Springs when he graduates in May and step right into George’s position as vice president. We’re all very excited.”
Fuck me.
Everyone around the table started clapping, but I was still trying to cough the water from my lungs. George came around the table and slapped my back in a manly hug. “You’ll do great, son.”
My father was right behind him, wrapping his arm around me and smiling across the table. Another board member pointed his cell phone camera in our direction. “I wanted it to be a surprise, but your mother thought I should tell you.”
Mother sent an aggravated glare at my father then gave me an apologetic smile. I’d bet my mother thought he should have told me before today—or hell, ask if I even wanted the position. But my father didn’t get permission. He did as he pleased, everyone else be damned.
“I’m not sure this is what I want right now,” I said. My father scowled, so I added, “Sir.”
“Nonsense,” my father said. Then he returned to his seat like this conversation was over. “You’re a Hale. This is in your blood.”
My chest burned as I lowered back into my seat.
He was right. I was a Hale. I’d been working for my father’s company my whole life. I’d be comfortable stepping into George’s position. I’d be good at it. It was the sure bet.
“Actually,” Bree began, and I squeezed her thigh under the table and shook my head. Now wasn’t the time. She narrowed her eyes at me. “What if Kennedy—”
“Thank you, everyone, for all of your support,” I said, cutting her off again. “It means a lot.”
“You’re a lucky man, son,” my father said, turning his attention back to his plate. “We arranged this all for you.”
He wasn’t doing it for me. He was doing it for him. And if I wanted to live my own life for once? If I wanted to take a chance? Just to see what that was like? I should know better. I was a Hale, and that was asking too much.
My father and turned the conversation to Winterfest, and Bree scowled at me. She wanted me to tell them the truth, to tell them I wanted to go pro, but I would look like a complete fool if I did that now. She had no idea what it was like to be me. The people in this town loved her no matter what. But I had to earn it by living my life exactly as they deemed suitable.
When the meal ended, Bree calmly placed her napkin on her plate, hugged my mom, and left the house without a word to me.
“Go after her,” Mom said, coming to my side.
“What?”
“Bree,” she said. “She’s obviously upset.” She squeezed my shoulder and nodded toward the door. “There are a few hours yet before the parade. Go.”
“What are you doing?”