“Be a bother?” I sidle up next to her. “Kenna, I assure you, you aren’t a bother. You’re the opposite of a bother. You’re like a breath of fresh air.”
I mentally smack myself. Did I really just say that?
Her cheeks pink, and I can’t stop myself from staring at her. Almost reluctantly, she looks back. Then she turns her whole body to face me. Our eyes lock onto each other’s, her incredible pools of green looking up into mine like she wants to say something. Then they stray for just a millisecond when she glances at my lips.Holy shit—she looked at my lips. That’s a sign she wants me to kiss her.
My pants get tight like I’m a goddamn teenager at a co-ed sleepover. I swear I haven’t been this nervous since I asked Denise to be my date for junior prom. My palms sweat. My heart pounds. My mind races.
Something passes between us. Something even more powerful than last night when we were on the ground. There’s this invisible tether of emotions connecting us.
Kiss her, stupid.
I lean in, and…
“Mommy, I’m hungry.”
Amelia appears at Kenna’s side, and the moment is gone. I want to be angry at her for ruining what was most definitely going to be our first kiss, but it’s hard to be mad at such a little angel.
To be honest, what bothers me more than Amelia’s interruption is Kenna’s reaction to it. I’m not sure, but she seems… relieved.
To say I’m as confused as a squirrel in traffic would be an understatement.
Shaking off the frustration trying to sink in, I hoist Amelia up and let her look into the pot. “Looks like your mom cooked up an amazing dinner.” I tickle her then drop her on the couch. “I’ll see you later, pumpkin.”
I turn to Kenna, trying to keep my dejection at bay. “Goodnight, Kenna.”
She gives me a sheepish nod.
At the top of the stairs, I grab my tools and the chain lock I left here earlier and get to work installing it. When I’m done a few minutes later, I turn to see Kenna staring at me from the bottom of the stairs. Neither of us says anything. I just nod and go through the door.
“How many steaks should I get out?” Christian asks, his eyes flitting to the basement door.
“Two.” I don’t intend to blow out a deep, disappointed breath, but after the brief exchange Kenna and I had, I can’t help it.
“You okay, Dad?”
I nod and walk to the refrigerator.
“Girls can be confusing, can’t they?” he asks.
I open a bottle of beer, lean against the counter, and stare at my intuitive kid. “They sure as hell can be, son. They sure as hell can be.” I take a long swig and then get started on dinner.
Chapter Eleven
Kenna
I’ve avoided him for the past two days. I’ve binge-watchedBelow Deckmarathons, played countless hours of video games with Amelia, and walked to and from the nearby park no less than two times every day just to let my daughter expend some energy.
Carter’s nightly invitations for dinner have gone unaccepted. I have my own food. After all, he’s just being a gentleman. Surely he would extend the same courtesy to anyone staying in his basement.
Who am I kidding?
There was a moment Tuesday night when I was sure he was going to kiss me. Did I want him to? I honestly can’t answer the question. Which is why I’m keeping my distance.
I like it here. Not necessarily in this basement, although it’s not bad. I like the town, or what little I’ve seen of it. I like the neighbors. I ran into Allie at the small grocery store on McQuaid Circle. She’s someone I feel like I could have been friends with were circumstances different.
Too bad I didn’t find this town three years ago. Before Cyrus. Before… a lot of things. There’s so much possibility here. And then there’s Carter. He’s kind and chivalrous and hardworking. And obviously a great dad. In another life, he’d have been the perfect man for me.
Then again, would he have? I’m the first person to admit I’m a terrible judge of character. I always pick the wrong guy.Always. Like the way wrong guy. By huge, colossal leaps and bounds.
