“How does that even count?”
“I told you, stopping to smell the roses.”
Kenya groaned and covered her face, too late to hide what her friend could clearly see.
What could she even say? Was there any point in even going as far as explaining the fake-date scenario when this felt more real than anything she’d experienced in a long time?
She peered through her hands at the expectant face of her friend. Dedra’s knowing grin made all the moments bubble up that she’d tried so hard to justify away. But one thing remained clear. Solomon was becoming too much of a fixture for her toignore. And she wanted to live in the moment of an evening she wouldn’t soon forget.
She removed her hands. Dedra released a hushed squeal and clapped her hands lightly together.
Kenya exhaled. “So, I met Solomon at work yesterday...”
25
ALARM,SATURDAY,6:30A.M.:“Walk to5K.”
Saturday morning thankfully rolled in with promises of reasonable weather for a run. Kenya didn’t have to go far to help oversee the Fall Family Fun Run. The roads were blocked off during the night, and this morning all she had to do was put on her leggings and bright-peach T-shirt and head downstairs. She pulled her windbreaker off the hook by the door and stepped outside.
The early morning air was cool and fresh. Glimpses of fall were peeking through, but not enough for sweater weather. But it had brought with it the sweetest of surprises. She glanced down at the foot that would not be running this year’s 5K. Well, bittersweet surprises. But as Dedra had said when Kenya recounted the trip to the game to her last Thursday, “There would have been no kisses without it.”
The warmth of that night still lingered with Kenya, even a week and a half later. It had been her motivation throughout the week as she worked on convincing Evelyn she would come through and as she dealt with Vance’s efforts to undermine her previous work.
“I guess I should be thankful for you, foot.”
Kenya looked down at the colorful running shoes she’d bought almost a year ago when she thought she would be able to run.
Her younger sister greeted her outside of her apartment with a tight hug, looking adorable in a ball cap and matching shirt with knee-length floral leggings under pink athletic shorts. Salome had her own eclectic style.
“Are you sure you’re good?”
“Yes, yes, of course, but the more people ask me that, I won’t be. I’m so excited to support you guys in this.”
They walked farther down the sidewalk and met Gary, who drove them in his beloved golf cart to the staging area where the rest of her family waited.
Her dad wrapped her in his arms. The peach looked good on him. He even donned a sweatband to match.
“We wouldn’t even be doing this if it wasn’t for you,” he said into her hair.
“I know, but that makes it even better that I get to watch and cheer you on at the beginning and cheer for you when you finish.”
She stepped from his arms and gave everyone else a hug of greeting.
“Look at all of you. Everyone looks so good.” Kenya didn’t have to force her grin. The T-shirts she had specially designed were bright and vibrant. How often did most of her family gather for something she organized? Besides the wedding, this was one of the few. Of course, Celise couldn’t make it since she was on a job, but at least they’d been able to get together at her cousin’s house.
Her mom tipped her head to the side. Uh-oh, she knew that look. But Mama wasn’t going to do that to her today. “I wish you were able to join us.”
Her dad nodded. “Because Lord knows if you hadn’t pushed us, we wouldn’t have even signed up.”
This race was a staple of their area. When their agency took on some of the events surrounding it, she jumped at the chance not only to help with the planning and implementation but also to run. There would be none of that for her here, at least not in the way she was used to.
But a special man was going to be taking her on a date to a wedding in a week. How times had changed. She’d gone from deep interest to suppressing all her feelings when it hadn’t worked out.
Now she wondered if it all was more real than they imagined. Because that kiss at the soccer game sure felt more real than most things in her life. And gave her the boldness to shoo away all the sympathy.
“It’s fine. It’s fine. I’ll be able to see you all doing well from here anyway.” She tapped the golf cart that Gary had volunteered to continue driving her around in.
“And is a certain someone going to be riding with you?” Salome gave her a cheeky look.
