Keyonna would have expected a ‘no comment’ answer more appropriate to any curious, nosy photographers or journalists. But then she really wasn’t used to any kind of publicity so Keyonna decided to listen to Nick’s advice on how to handle paparazzi. But at the back of her mind, she still couldn’t help the niggling doubts. Had she really gone to Italy alone to wait for him? Why would she have left on her honeymoon without her groom? And had she really had to wait five whole weeks before he finally managed to drag himself from his business concerns to join her?
Her parents and pals were not much help; they were just as vague saying they knew she’d left but hadn’t been aware of her plans. And Keyonna knew she’d always been the type to value her privacy and she didn’t really go about blabbing to people. To date no one even knew she’d been blackmailed into marrying Nick – except maybe her closest friend Natasha. Keyonna suddenly decided that the first chance she got, she was having a sit-down with her old girlfriend. If anyone could help her get to the bottom of this, Natasha could.
Keyonna truly wanted to trust Nick and believe he would always act in her best interest, but she couldn’t help thinking he only told her what he wanted her to believe.
“Hey,” Nick said, breaking into her thoughts and squeezing gently on her shoulder. She turned to him with a somewhat guilty smile, only just becoming aware of her surroundings. They were in the back of the limo which had picked them up from the airport, and Nick’s smile was far more relaxed now that they were free from any unwanted attention.
“You were far away,” he added, and brushed off her baseball cap, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear as he gazed down at her warmly. “That’s better. It should be a crime to hide those beautiful brown eyes.”
Keyonna gave Nick an answering smile of equal warmth, berating herself once again for doubting him for even a second. He obviously loved and cared for her…why would a few weeks cut out of her life mean anything, when she finally had all she needed right here?
Nick had once told her he’d never thought of love as criteria for marriage. Oh, she remembered that much. But look at them now. The situation was totally different now. She really shouldn’t care either way what had happened in the past, so long as they had each other, right?#p#分页标题#e#
Keyonna couldn’t help wincing in response to Natasha’s squeal of delight as both girls hugged tightly. Keyonna had just walked into the coffee shop where Natasha had suggested they meet to ‘catch up’ on things since the last time they’d seen or spoken.
“What on earth happened? No phone call, not even a text or email…where did you get off to? How could…”
“One at a time,” Keyonna broke in, laughing as they settled into their seats. First they ordered coffee and bagels, and then once she’d taken her first few sips from her cup of skinny cappuccino, she felt ready enough to say, “Okay, first question; a lot happened. But probably not what you might think. Nick told me how you guys were all worried when I left without him.”
“And without telling anyone!” cried Natasha accusingly.
Keyonna frowned to herself at that, but then went on after the interruption. “I’m sorry about that. But it must have had something to do with keeping the paparazzi off my trail or whatever. I don’t believe Nick wanted them to know exactly where we were going for our honeymoon. And well, to your second question: I was in Italy. Nick stayed back here to tie up some loose ends.”
“For a month?” Natasha said incredulously, shaking her head between gulps of her coffee. “Hmm girl, that’s not what we were thinking, believe me. When you disappeared like that, everyone – including me, thought you’d run off, dumping your husband before the honeymoon.”
“Perish the thought!” Keyonna gasped, laughing hollowly. But she was thinking, what the hell had given them that idea?
“And Nick,” Natasha went on doggedly, “Was almost dazed with anxiety. That’s why I’m really skeptical when you say the reasons you left the way you did. Especially when I know how things really stood between you two. After all, the man blackmailed you into marriage. Maybe you suddenly had cold feet or something even after the vows were shared. I was hoping you’d tell me exactly what must have come over you, and not feed me this cover-up tale. I mean, I know you suffered some memory loss from that accident – yeah, your mom told me about that. But as to the rest of the story you both cooked up, I ain’t buying it.”
Yeah, it did sound cooked up, Keyonna had to admit if only to herself. But damn, what could she say? She was still in a whirl just thinking that Nick wasn’t being straight with her, just as she’d feared. Why hadn’t he told her he’d been worried sick when she’d left? That had to mean he didn’t even know himself about why she’d gone. She must have left without telling anyone and this must have caused some major drama at the wedding.