I am interrupted when she says, “Ben.”
“Ben?” I furrow my forehead.
“Yeah, Ben. Safe, dependable, boring, simple, predictable, a Ben. It’s a compliment. You’re welcome.” She gives me a wide smile, like she's really proud of herself.
I let out a laugh and lean toward her ear. She flinches a little but doesn’t pull back, so I whisper, “Oh princess, there's nothing boring and predictable about me.”
Chapter Three
Kennedy Noelle
Well, this took a turn.
I gulp, audibly, at the glint in his eye. I pull back, and for the first time since I met him, I really look at him. He’s clearly older, maybe ten or so years. Fine lines frame his dark blue eyes, eyes that look like they have seen and experienced a lot. I scan the rest of his features: a small scar on his chin and a five o’clock shadow over his strong jawline. His mousey brown hair makes the blue of his eyes more noticeable, and when he clears his throat, it's then I realize I must have been staring for quite some time.
“See something you like.” His tone is playful as he winks.
My cheeks heat with embarrassment and try to hide it with a chuckle. “You wish, old man. I don’t go for men who are close to cashing in their pension.”
A deep rumble comes from his chest, and his head falls back, and I startle, shocked at how forward and kind of rude I am being to this perfect stranger, but I am done with mencontrolling me, done with being a doormat. This break up is an opportunity for me to reinvent myself, be the confident Kennedy Noelle Kensington I know I am.
“You are a firecracker, aren't you?”
I flick my blonde hair over my shoulder and shrug. "Grow up in a house full of girls, the only way to survive it is to be ruthless and have a sharp tongue.” I wink for some unknown reason, and the way his eyebrows rise and his lip quirks up has me feeling some type of way.
“Sisters, huh? How many have you got?” he asks, settling back into his seat, making an attempt to fold his arms across his broad chest, but fails due to our close proximity.
“Three. Have you got any?
“No, just one brother. So, your parents had four girls. Jeez, were they hoping for a boy?” he teases.
“Yep,” I say popping the p. “My dad really wanted a boy, but instead, he ended up with four girls. There's Kate, Kendra, Kendall and then me.”
“Aww little baby Kevin.” He smiles, his tone playful, and I can't help but smirk.
“No, my name’s not Kevin.”
“So, what is it then?”
“You shouldn’t give your name to strangers.”
He eyes me suspiciously. “True. But it begins with a K?”
I nod. That’s all he’s getting.
He narrows his eyes, “All of you have names beginning with K. Who’s your mom? Kris Kardashian-Jenner, or whatever her name is?”
I shake my head and laugh. “No, but she is called Kirsten, and my dad is Robert. My mom wanted us all to have the same initials as her. But hold up. You don’t strike me as someone who watches reality TV. How do you know who the Kardashians are?”
“Casey, my girl…” He pauses, and I don’t miss the way his jaw tightens before he hesitantly says, “My ex-girlfriend, she watched it all the time. I watched a few episodes with her. It was okay, not really my thing.”
I want to pry, but I’ve just met the man. Our conversation is interrupted by the shrill ring of my phone playing “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix–A–Lot.
I frantically search my purse for the offending phone, as the woman I’ve named Janet scoffs again and mumbles something under her breath.
“Is your ringtone, Baby Got Back?” He asks.
“Yes,” I yell as I begin tossing items from my purse. When one lands in his lap, he groans, and I wince. I pull the phone out the purse, which I swear has got louder with every word of the song, and swipe the screen and say far too loudly, “Kate, what's up?” I hunch my shoulders and try to make myself seem smaller when I realize all eyes are on me in this carriage. Janet is looking at me like I’ve just pissed in her coffee cup, and I mouth an apology as I hold a hand up in surrender.
