Inheritance

Chapter 14

We placed the first round of snacks onto a table arrangement set in the center of the lawn. Unfortunately, we had to make multiple trips back to the kitchen to ensure all of the food was restocked. When the tedious task was finally complete, I continued following her in the direction of the outdoor fire pit. 

However, just as I took a few steps away from the snack table, my heel got caught on a hollow crack on the unsteady pavement. My eyes instinctively shut, as I braced myself for a humiliating fall that never came. 

To my luck, I was saved by the firm hold of a stranger. I nearly fell again from the blunt force emitted from colliding with their massive body, but I was prevented from landing on the hard cement floor when two hands wrapped securely around my waist. 

Hoping to express my gratitude to whoever had been responsible for stopping my fall, I gazed up only to meet the obsidian eyes of—

"Kendall? What are you doing here?" I asked, quite shocked to see him at the Franks' house of all places.

"I should be asking you the same question." He retorted, eyeing me carefully. 

At the feel of his manly hands still pressed tightly around my body, I suddenly realized how close we'd been standing. Releasing an exaggerated cough, I attempted to quickly distance myself from him. He seemed to take notice of my apparent awkwardness and returned the sentiment by clearing his throat. He then coldly removed his hands from my waist, as if in fear that his fingers would magically turn to dust. The place his hands formerly occupied now felt empty.

"I knew Mrs. Franks. She was a family friend." I said, unsure of the reason why I was choosing to be so vague. He nodded his head, not quite buying the curt response.

"Oh, I'm so glad you're here!" Anne Marie yelled from behind me, intentionally shoving me out of the way to greet Kendall. She clung onto his arm with an unrequited admiration, consistent with the alluring effect he seemed to have on most women he encountered.

"Hello Anne." He impatiently dismissed, moving away from her grasp and returning his attention to me.

"C'mon, don't be like that. Just because she's returned all of a sudden, doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Don't you remember how much you enjoyed yourself the last time you were here?" Anne Marie's words began to fuse together, exposing that she had clearly exceeded her threshold of alcohol for the night. I almost pitied how pathetic her drunken pleas were, but Kendall showed no remorse. 

Yet, I did wonder about one thing. Last time you were here? Just how often did he visit this place and what exactly was his reason for coming...

"Wait, have you guys really not seen each other since the day she left?" Anne Marie questioned, giggling to herself like she had been made aware of something that Kendall and I both hadn't. 

"Anne stop, you're drawing unwanted attention." Sarah scolded, just as she approached us. 

I glanced around and, sure enough, people were beginning to stare in our direction. Sarah eyed Kendall carefully, before peering back at me.

"Well, that 's because Aus-" Anne Marie began to say.

"Kendall. I go by Kendall now." He interrupted, annoyance trickling into his tone.

"Raya, come I want to show you something." Sarah rushed me away, but not before I stole one last glance at Kendall. 

But, the man who stared back at me was one that I no longer recognized. 

His usual unreadable facial expression now held visible signs of alarm, as his jaw tensed and his eyebrows raised in further realization. Quickly, I watched as his expression darkened to one of pure disgust. I turned away from him, confused as to who or what had caused his face to contort in that way. Sarah continued to pull me away, ignoring my initial reluctance.