Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
KINSLEY
“Why does your face look like that?”
“That’s a weird way to say good morning to someone.”
Lily snorts, sliding onto a stool at the island. “Whatcha making?”
“Your favorite.”
“Aw, you do love me.”
I laugh under my breath as I hold the bowl and whisk together the icing. I’ve been up for a while, despite the early hour we got back from the club, and when I couldn’t wait any longer for the princess to awaken, I came down to her family’s kitchen.
I learned how to bake at my eighth foster home placement. The woman was older and already had grandkids of her own. She always made it a point to have some sort of baked goods around, usually homemade.
She taught me a few of her family recipes. I loved those Sunday mornings where it was just the two of us baking.
She ended up passing away only a few months after I came to live with her, but I feel like she’s still with me every time I make one of her recipes.
The gooey cinnamon rolls are Lily’s favorite.
She leans over, swiping her finger through the mixture, humming as the sweetness hits her tongue. She leans her elbows on the counter, propping her chin on her hand. “So, did you have fun last night?”
I shrug, turning to set the bowl on the counter behind me to hide my heating cheeks. “It was okay.” It was definitely more than okay.
My phone pings and I turn to glance down at it at the same time Lily pushes up out of her chair, sneaking a peek at the screen. Her eyes meet mine, eyebrows raised. “Want to revise that?”
I duck my head and focus on whisking until the mixture is smooth, my cheeks heating from the memory of last night as her squeal pierces the air.
She shimmies in her seat and I shake my head, setting the bowl off to the side. I look up to see Lily watching me with a grin and roll my eyes. She looks pointedly at my phone, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. “So, Jace seems nice.”
I hum in agreement and check the timer on the oven. When I turn around, she’s watching me with squinted eyes. My cheeks heat and she gasps, straightening in her seat. “Oh my god. You like him!”
I retreat to the sink to wash my hands, pointedly ignoring her laughter at my poor attempt at avoiding her statement.
Of course I like Jace.
How could anyone not like him?
He’s sweet and thoughtful. Incredibly funny. A bright spot for anyone to gravitate towards. He listens, really listens and makes you feel like you and your words truly matter.
With him, it was all just so… effortless.
With him, I felt like I could really be myself.
“Yeah. I think I do,” I whisper.
Her excitement falters, settling with concern. “But you’re scared.”
“It’s just… after everything with Drake?—”
“You really think Jace is anything like?—”
“No,” I cut her off, a defensive tone lacing my voice. Because they aren’t comparable. Not in the slightest. “Jace is nothing like Drake. Even the mere hours we’d spent together, I could sense that. I felt like he was… different.”
“You were different, too, you know.”
“What do you mean?”
She huffs a laugh. “Kinsley, you never talk that much. Yeah, you’re a complete chatterbox with me. I mean good lord, I can’t ever get you to shut up?—”
“Hey!”
“But whenever you’re around others, especially someone you don’t know? I’ve had people ask me if you were mute before.”
“You have not.”
“Okay, maybe not, but they’ve definitely thought it.” I roll my eyes and she laughs. “You weren’t that quiet girl last night, trying to hide herself away in the shadows. You laughed. You smiled. You looked like you actually wanted to be there.”
I sigh, running my finger through the dusting of flour on the counter. “It was really fun. Exactly what I needed.”
“I’ll slip in my ‘I told you so’ right about now, thank you very much.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re a dork.”
She catches the hand towel I toss at her. “So, if this friendship or whatever you have going on with Romeo?—”
“We literally just met less than twenty-four hours ago.”
“Semantics.” She waves me off. “If it eventually turned into something more, would you truly be opposed to that?”
I bite my lip and shrug. “I don’t know.”
It’s what I say, but it’s not what I feel.
Because she’s right. I wouldn’t be opposed to this friendship eventually turning into more.
But I also can’t control the lingering fear and insecurities. Drake wasn’t the only one to instill those insecurities. They’ve been ingrained in my bones since my first breath.
I wasn’t wanted by my parents. Neglected by the countless stand-ins. I couldn’t keep friends since I changed schools so often. I kept to myself, accepted the solitude and eventually found comfort in the quiet.
I didn’t know how much I truly craved being wanted until I met Drake. He was the older, more experienced lad I met last year when we went out to celebrate Lily’s eighteenth birthday.
I thought I’d finally found someone I could let in. Someone I could let see me, unbridled.
I thought it was real.
What a fool I was.
Because the moment I met Jace, everything was different. There was something about him that made me feel safe. Valued. It was different enough for my excitement at the possibilities to far outweigh my fears.
I slowly look up at her, my heart racing as the single word slips through my lips. “Maybe.”
She studies me before leaning over the counter, whispering, “That’s not a no.”
Before I can react, her hand shoots out, snatching up my phone and she scrambles off the stool. I’m frozen in shock, but the click of my phone unlocking jump starts my senses.
“Lillian Madison Campbell, you give that back this instant.”
She gasps. “You did not just full name me.”
“Bet your arse I did. Give it back Lily,” I growl, rounding the island.
She barks out a laugh. “You look about as ferocious as a kitten.”
“Oh yeah? Then why are you still backing away?”
“Last time I checked, kittens still have claws.” She squeals and sprints around the island as I chase her. The oven beeps and she grins. “Don’t want those to burn, do you?”
My head darts between her and the oven. With a groan, I run over and shut off the timer, pulling the cinnamon rolls out.
Multiple pings come from my phone as Lily types away and I hurry to set down the hot dish before picking up the bowl of icing.
“Don’t forget to add the sauce while they’re hot!”
I mock her as I pour the vanilla cream icing over the hot rolls. She bounds over just as I set down the spatula, snatching it up to lick off the remnants.
I pluck my phone from her hand and scroll as I walk over and slip onto one of the stools. “Oh my god, you changed his contact name?” I laugh, glancing up at her.
She shrugs, setting two small plates on the counter. “This one’s more fitting.”
Kinsley:
Hey! This is Lily, I’m going to make it quick because we don’t have much time.
Romeo:
Well, good morning to you too.
What universe are you trying to save today?
Kinsley:
The universe where my best friend is happiest.
Romeo:
You’ve got my attention.
Kinsley:
What are you doing today?
Romeo:
I’m about to head into a meeting, but after that… I was hoping your beautiful, talented friend would allow me to occupy some of her time.
Kinsley:
Now THAT is a great answer!
One might think you have a little crush.
Romeo:
I 100% have a crush. Love notes in her locker and cheesy serenades level.
Kinsley:
You do know she will be reading this right?
Romeo:
Oh I know.
Kinsley:
Don’t want to keep that a mystery for her?
Romeo:
Not at all. I’ve been told that I wear my heart on my sleeve, so I wouldn’t be able to hide it even if I tried.
Any tips on how to win her over?
Kinsley:
Something tells me you won’t need the help.
Romeo:
Wait. Did she say something?
Does she like me too?
[sent with fireworks effect]
Kinsley:
That wasn’t at all embarrassing…
Romeo:
You know what? I’m sticking by it.
Kinsley:
I respect that.
Do you remember where you dropped us off last night?
Romeo:
I do.
Kinsley:
Well I know that if you took her out today, she’d be really happy.
Romeo:
And that’s always the goal.
Kinsley:
It is.
And I GUESS if I were to give a certain someone a little tip on how they could possibly win her over… I would tell them that she’s huge on honesty and being open. So, be yourself and don’t hold back.
Romeo:
I can be there by 10.
Lily settles onto the stool next to me and bumps my shoulder with hers. “Well? Are you going to just sit there and leave the poor sap hanging?”
I bite my lip and suck in a steadying breath.
Kinsley:
I’ll be waiting.
This is Kinsley BTW.
Lily snorts. “And you say I’m the dork.”
“What? I wanted him to know it was actually me for that last bit.”
“Come on, you beautiful soul. We’ve got delicious cinnamon rolls to eat and then you have to get ready. Specifically in that order because these smell amazing.”
“But of course,” I laugh as butterflies take flight in my stomach.