Page 17 of Forever King

“When? When did she leave her job?” I ask, hating how clueless I sound but needing to know.

Now Kara’s expression is pure pity as she answers, “Two weeks ago. I’m sorry, Ronan. I’m sure there’s a good explanation for all of this. I’m sorry. I have to run. Have a good day!”

She hurries away, leaving me reeling as my reality feels like it’s collapsing around me. The woman I love has been lying to me for weeks, and suddenly I don’t even know if I’m going to be married in a matter of days. What has she been doing every day when she made me believe she was at work? Why would she lie to me?

I don’t want to think the worst, but I can’t help it. Marius says something next to me, but I have no idea what he’s talking about.

“Maybe we should go. I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding, Ronan. You know Kate. I’m sure she has a good reason for leaving her job.”

“Or it’s exactly what you and Kellen told me would happen. Why else would she lie to me and spend all day away from our apartment?”

Marius stares at me like he can’t believe I’ve come to that conclusion. “Why? What would make you think Kate would be unfaithful? You two are getting married in a couple weeks.”

I can’t answer him because I feel like I’m going to be sick right there on that street corner. They told me this would happen, and I always thought they were full of it. How could she do this, though?

And why now?

My brother continues to defend Kate and argue she couldn’t be cheating as we walk to the car, but what other answer is there for her lying for weeks? Where does she go each day? Who is she with, and what are they doing?

By the time we start on our way back to the apartment, all I can think of is how she looked that day in our first year apart in college when I told her I went with that girl. I knew I’d hurt her, but I never expected her to break up with me that day in the park. Now I’m the person on the other end of that terrible news, and I get it. I finally get it.

Marius drives like a madman through mid-afternoon traffic that’s thankfully lighter than usual while I try to come up with answers. Then an idea occurs to me. Her sister Kelly knows. I’d bet a million dollars on that. She knows. I need to call her and find out what the hell is going on with Kate.

“I wish you’d let Kate clear things up before you go nuts about this, Ronan,” my brother says as we make it out of the city, finally, and he speeds up on the open highway.

“Her sister will know what’s going on. I’m going to call her.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Marius grimace. “Kelly? I doubt she’d tell you anything. That one isn’t exactly sweet and kind like her sister.”

I quickly dial her number but remember on the third ring that she’s probably in school right now. I guess I can cross Kelly off my list of people Kate is spending her days with lately.

Then her sister surprises me by answering my call, and I instantly hear guilt in her voice. “Hey, Ronan. What’s up? I didn’t expect you to be calling me today.”

Without wasting a second, I ask, “Where’s Kate?”

She chuckles, but I sense she’s uncomfortable when she jokes, “I don’t know. It wasn’t my turn to watch her. Did you lose her?”

I want to snap at her, but I keep my calm and repeat my question. “Seriously, Kelly. Where’s Kate?”

The silence she gives me is my answer. My chest hurts as I wait to hear her say something. Anything. Finally, she answers,“I don’t think I should get in the middle of you two. Suffice to say, I can tell you she’s safe.”

“That’s not good enough. Tell me where she is. I want to know.”

“To be honest, I don’t know precisely where she is. I promise if she calls me, I’ll tell her to call you as soon as possible. I need to get to class, Ronan. Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be okay.”

She ends the call, leaving me with no answers and more questions than when I called her. I slam my hand into the dashboard in frustration as my mind fills with images of Kate and another man.

“Dude, why are you surprised?” Marius asks as he glides into the right lane to avoid a truck going far too slow to be in the passing lane. “I told you her sister wouldn’t help.”

All I can do is shake my head. My life is a mess suddenly. The woman I love and plan to marry in ten days has been hiding an entirely secret life from me, and all I can think about is how I’ve already lost her.

Then, for some reason, I wonder why Marius is so negative about Kelly and remember she’s never liked him. Desperate to distract myself, even if only for a few minutes, I look over at him and ask, “What is your problem with my future sister-in-law?”

Again, he grimaces. “I don’t know what you mean. I don’t have a problem with her.”

“Sounds like you do. You’ve never had a nice thing to say about Kelly, and you warned me she wouldn’t help a few minutes ago. Why?”

He glances over at me and shrugs. “I wasn’t wrong. She didn’t tell you anything useful. I can’t help it that I’m good at reading people.”