Hedidn’t seem to have any problem eating, she noticed, a little annoyed. “Continue.”
When she just looked at him, he nodded to the flowers. “Yes, pink. I got you a dozen pink tulips, and there are a dozen more red ones in the kitchen, in case I got the color wrong. And yes, I really did order the Mexican food just for you. Ihatetacos.” He looked at her like he loved her. And that freaked her out even more. “So please, continue with your apology. And feel free to grovel if you want.”
She couldn’t help laughing. “You’re such a cute jerk. I want to smack you and kiss you at the same time.”
He opened his arms wide. “I won’t hit you back, but be warned, I will kiss you.”
Just as she planned to knock him a good one, her phone rang. “Hold that thought.”
“Hey, Kenzie,” her brother said. “Where are you? Are you at home?”
She frowned. “I’m at Evan’s. Where are you?” Because if he was at home, he’d know she wasn’t there.
“Oh, okay. Hey, good news. I made the team!”
“Daniel! That’s so awesome! I’m proud of you.” She said to Evan, “He made the team.”
“Great news.” Evan looked happy for her brother. “That’s because the douchenozzle has skills,” he said loudly enough to be heard.
She laughed and to her brother said, “Ignore him, Daniel.”
“No, he’s right. About my skills, I mean. Um, would it be okay if I went out with some of my new teammates?”
Since she’d been on the verge of dropping everything to return home and celebrate with him, it took her a moment to process. “You want to go out with friends?” Her antisocial criminal hacker brother now had more than one friend?
“Rafi’s coming too. He’s going to be the team manager. So is it okay if I go out?”
She’d had some issues with Rafael in the past because the boy had been getting into trouble at school. But he’d also been kind to her brother, so she’d let it slide. “Oh, um, sure.”
“We can celebrate tomorrow. Maybe we could have everyone over, like, the girls and their guys. And Evan could come. Ask him.”
“You want me to ask Evan if he wants to come over for dinner tomorrow night to celebrate you making the team?” Evan’s wide smile was all the answer she needed. “He said yes.”
Daniel whooped. “Tonight is so great. Okay, I gotta go. I’ll be back by eleven, I swear. We’re hanging at Sean’s house and partying. No drugs or alcohol, I promise. His dad’s the coach, and both his parents will be there,” he said with exaggerated patience.
“Fine. How are you getting there?”
“Lila said she’d take me. Hold on.” She heard him yell his request to Lila and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, she’ll take me. Text her if you don’t believe me.”
“I believe you. Have fun.”
“You too, and be safe.”
A text came in from Lila:Daniel made team! Hector & me tkg dork 2 & fm soccer pty. Hv fn LOVE SLAVE.Trust Lila to spell out the important parts.
Kenzie texted back,Thx and back at ya, penis wrshpr,and absently asked her brother, “Be safe?”
In a lower voice, he said, “Use birth control, okay?”
“Daniel.” He disconnected on laughter.
“What’s wrong?” Evan asked.
“N-nothing.” Kenzie cleared her throat, now unable to think of anything but kissing Evan again. “So, um, what were we talking about before?”
“You were about to throw yourself in my arms, apologize for grievously wounding my fragile male ego, tell me how much you can’t live without me, then have your wicked way with me. But you can go in any order you want.”
She made up her mind and stood. “You, come with me.” She marched through the living area to the stairs, went up without looking behind her, then entered his bedroom and waited for him.
