Should’ve Known It’s You (Not You Again #7)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

KENNEDY

T hanksgiving was fast approaching, and once the initial ecstasy of finally having found someone who believed in me started fading, I felt panic rising up from deep within my soul.

Can we really pull this off in a month?

Austin seemed confident enough, sitting there in another bespoke suit with his chocolate brown hair perfectly styled and his fingers twined casually in his lap. He didn’t seem fazed by the daunting timeline at all.

“We start by putting together a guest list and finding a venue,” he said, very calm and matter of fact. “I’ve got some connections, so I’ll work on the guest list. Your job is to find a venue.”

“I’ll get right on that,” I said, but I had no clue where to start.

Austin rose from his seat and held out his hand. “I’m looking forward to doing business with you, Kenny. We’re on the right track now. I can feel it.”

A healthy dose of exhilaration shot through me again. I stood and placed my palm in his, unable to believe that I was finally getting a handshake from an investment banker. For months now, I’d been pounding the pavement, knocking on every door and pitching every possible firm and institution in this city.

My dogged perseverance had finally paid off, and I was so excited, I almost kissed him, but then I remembered that I had a job to do. “Thank you, Austin. I’m going to find us the most perfect venue ever.”

“I don’t doubt it.” His hand lingered in mine for a just a second and my heart began to race in my chest at the feel of his strong fingers wrapped around mine.

Before I could do something stupid, like kiss him after all, he withdrew it and walked me to the door. “Keep me in the loop, Kenny. Let us know if you need anything. Mindy might have some ideas for venues if you run into any trouble. We’re a team now, so you need to be honest with me.”

“Absolutely,” I agreed, staring up into those deep brown eyes for a moment before I finally hurried out of his office, immediately sticking my hand into my purse to rummage around for my phone.

As soon as I found it, I called Winrey. If I was going to have any hope of getting this done, I had to enlist my sister’s help.

“Hey, Kenny,” she said happily when she picked up. “How was the meeting?”

“Awesome,” I replied as I rushed toward the elevator. “I’ll tell you all about it when I get there, but can I come over? I need help.”

“Of course,” she said without hesitating. “Benji just got home from his shift too, and we’re both at your service.”

“Thank you.” I hung up and pushed the down arrow in the panel on the wall, my foot tapping against the tiled floor as I waited impatiently for the car to arrive.

While I waited and all the way to their apartment, my head spun with possible venue options that I’d either visited before or had heard about, but none of them stood out. Winrey was waiting for me at the door when I arrived and I hugged her, already blurting out what had happened at Austin’s office.

She shrieked as she let go, beaming at me before she shut the door behind us. “That’s amazing, Kenny! I’m so proud of you. I knew you were going to find the right person. I just knew it.”

My heart thudded in my ears. “Yeah, well, not even the right person is going to be able to help me if I don’t find the right venue.”

Benji strode toward us from the living room, grinning from ear to ear as he motioned to the dining-room table. “I’ve already set up my laptop and Winrey’s. We’ll get it done, Kenny. Don’t worry, and congratulations, by the way.”

“Thank you,” I muttered, sliding my arms out of my coat and hanging it over a chair at the table.

I took a seat next to Winrey while Benji sat across from us, their laptops back to back on the little table. Together, we scoured the internet for hours looking for an ideal spot, but we kept coming up empty. All the while, my heart skipped whenever we came across a place that looked promising. Then it sank again when we had to disqualify said place for whatever reason. It was agonizing.

“How about this?” Benji asked finally, his features tight with concentration as he leaned forward to study whatever place was open on his screen. “It’s a heritage row home in Manhattan that was built in 1835. Come check it out. It’s beautiful and it’s got plenty of charm. The website says it’s in disrepair and that it’s been somewhat neglected since it was foreclosed on. It’s sitting empty and it’s been that way for a few years, but apparently, it’s a renovator’s dream.”

My heart skipped again and I was out of my chair like a shot, practically tripping over the table in my haste to get to him. As soon as my gaze landed on his screen, I was in love.

“I think this could be it,” I whispered, too nervous to speak any louder. Benji leaned over to make space for me beside him and I clicked through the pictures of the old brick home, three stories of drop-dead gorgeous history and potential. “It’s perfect.”

“Love at first sight, huh?” Winrey teased as she stood up slowly, making her way around the table to come join me. “Oh, wow. I see why. That’s gorgeous.”

“Right?” I breathed, my ears heating as I realized that we’d found it. This was the place I hadn’t even known I was looking for.

Clicking through the pictures again and again, I could see the dining areas, the coffee bar, and guests milling about. I could see grand state rooms, each with their own fireplaces and some even having private balconies. I could easily see glamorous events being staged here, like weddings and special occasions.

“I have to have it,” I murmured, immediately copying the link and sending it to myself to send to Austin.

Straightening up, I grabbed Benji’s shoulders and shook him, laughing as delight took hold of every ounce of me. “You did it! You found my dream property. Thank you, Benji. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

He chuckled, flushing beet red as he pulled me in for a quick hug and then shrugged. “It was nothing. Just a bit of online sleuthing. You’d have found it eventually yourself.”

“I doubt that very much,” I said, giving credit where credit was due. “I’m going to owe you forever.”

“You don’t owe me anything, but if you feel like you do, buy all the paint for this project from me at the store and then I’ll be the one owing you.”

I stuck out my hand to shake with him. “You’ve got yourself a deal, little brother.”

“Little brother?” He laughed. “When did that happen?”

I shrugged. “Well, you’re basically family now and you’re with my little sister, which means you’re my little brother. Just roll with it.”

After taking a moment to think about it, he nodded and shook my hand. “Deal, big sister. Subject to approval by this Austin guy, of course.”

“Shit. Yes. Of course. I should probably run stuff like this by him from now on.”

Winrey clapped me on the shoulder. “You’re a businesswoman now. Run it by him, but don’t take no for an answer when it’s something you really want, Kenny. Not just about the paint, but about anything.”

“You know I won’t let him bulldoze me.” I winked at her, then threw my arms out to my sides and spun in a slow circle, dropping my head back and closing my eyes. “This is happening! It’s really happening, and God, I really couldn’t have found a more perfect place for it. Did you see those black and gold mantelpieces? I think they’re marble.”

While I was gushing about the building, my phone rang and I scooped it up off the table, groaning when I saw who was calling. “I have to take this. It’s Mom.”

Winrey paled. “I wonder what she’s going to say.”

“Let’s find out.” I slid my thumb across the screen and strode over to their balcony to speak to my mother.

My sister looked nervous as hell to hear what it was about, so I closed the sliding door behind me, needing to protect her from whatever this was. With Halloween coming up in only a couple more nights, it was ice cold out, but I folded my arm around myself and decided that I would freeze rather than let our mom break my sister’s heart.

Whatever this was about, I would handle her. Winrey would never have to know if she was, in fact, calling to complain about the pregnancy.

“Hello, Mother,” I said as I pressed the phone to my ear. “How are you?”

She let out a squeal of disbelieving laughter. “Are you serious? How am I? My daughter is unmarried and pregnant. That’s how I am.”

I sighed. “Of course.”

“How long did you know, Kenny?” she asked, her tone cool and scolding. “How long did you know that Winrey was carrying a bastard child without saying anything to us?”

Yeah, that’s it . “I’m not talking to you about this, Mom. Mostly because it doesn’t matter. What does matter is how completely unsupported you both made Winrey feel when she told you the news.”

“It’s important how we made her feel?” Mom scoffed. “How about what we were feeling?”

“You don’t have to agree with her and you might have made different choices if you were in Winrey’s shoes, but you’re not, Mom. But you are her parents. You know, the people who are supposed to love their children unconditionally?”

Why she needed to be reminded of that, I didn’t know, but someone had to do it and I wasn’t sad that it was me.

“Sometimes loving someone means telling them what they don’t want to hear,” Mom said sharply. “Your sister can barely take care of herself. How is she going to take care of a baby?”

“That’s not true and you know it.” Exasperation coursed through me as I scoffed and shook my head, turning my back to face away from the door as I narrowed my eyes. “Winrey is going to be an incredible mother, and if you and Dad don’t figure out how to accept this, you’re going to miss your chance at being grandparents.”

“We—”

“No, Mom,” I spoke over her. “Winrey and Benji aren’t asking for anything from you. She never has. All you have to do is to be nice and support them.”

“Being a parent means that you can’t always be nice, Kennedy. You have to do what’s right and what’s in your heart.”

“Oh? And what’s in your heart, Mom? Cutting your pregnant daughter and your first grandchild out of your lives?”

“Winrey needs to get her act together. She needs a man who can provide and a house instead of an apartment in the bad part of town. She needs a career of her own and a plan to make something of herself. We didn’t raise her to be?—”

“I’m not talking to you about this anymore,” I snapped, my heart about to crack open with the hot fury thundering through my veins. “You know where I stand. The ball is in your court. I suggest that you get your act together, Mother. I’d do it fast. Before your antiquated views of what life should be and your snobby attitude ruin your chances of being involved in your grandchild’s life.”

I hung up the phone, drawing in deep breaths and exhaling them slowly. I looked out at the city at night. Through a gap in the buildings across the street, I could see lights twinkling down below and I focused on them while I waited for my temper to simmer down.

Once it felt like I had it under control, I headed back inside to where Winrey and Benji were standing side by side, waiting for the verdict. He had his arm over her shoulders, a giant of a man towering over my little sister so lovingly and protectively.

I wish I had better news for them.

“What did she want?” Winrey asked nervously, her cheeks ashen and her eyes shimmering with moisture.

“To turn me to the dark side,” I said without elaborating. “Don’t worry, though. She didn’t offer any cookies, so I’m not going. I’m right here with you guys, Winrey. I always will be.”