Chapter 14
Tanner
I winced when I lowered myself into Greta’s kitchen chair. Coach had put us through a brutal practice—a combination of conditioning and strength training that had every muscle in my body aching. Nothing sounded better than enjoying chocolate-marbled cake with my friends.
Callie had outdone herself and made three different kinds for Kenzie, putting an odd assortment of candles on each one.
I smiled, enjoying everything about the moment, from how Kenzie dipped her head low to avoid the attention as we sang to her to the way Greta and Callie forced her out of her shell, and seeing everyone take care of one another.
Zade joked about Aaron’s stats, getting a punch to the arm in return, and laughter rang around Greta and Callie’s small kitchen.
The dust had settled from me not sharing my drama with them, and a bit of guilt wedged its way into my thoughts.
Should I tell them? What if they don’t handle it like Kenzie?
What if they think it’s stupid?
“Okay, girl, make a wish.” Greta moved around the table to light the candles, bringing me back from my derailing thoughts.
The smell of burning wax filled the room and Kenzie met my gaze over the flicker of smoke.
Those green eyes held a spark of amusement, as though we shared a secret, and I confirmed my original thought. I only want her to know.
She blew out the candles, making those plump lips purse into a gorgeous O shape that had me clearing my throat. Not the time to think about her mouth. Nope.
Everyone cheered and Aaron moved to hug his sister.
She leaned into it, a bit awkward and messy, but he didn’t let her shoo him away.
I called that progress, because the Hills were emotionally challenged.
It was understandable, but still painful to watch.
Greta began cutting the cake and asked the age-old question, “What did you wish for?”
Kenzie made an are you kidding me face and grinned. “I’m not into wishes, but if I were, I sure as hell wouldn’t tell any of you!”
Greta stuck her tongue out at her and soon enough, we all sat around the table laughing and shoving cake into our mouths.
The sweetness hurt my tongue—the healthy food I normally ate did not have sugar—and I appreciated the calories.
I was holding the fork inches away from my mouth for my fourth bite when Greta asked, “Now that you’re nineteen, you can start working at the bar with me! ”
Kenzie grinned, unaware of the little chocolate frosting on her face, and pushed her glasses up. “It’s probably dorky to say it, but I’m legit excited for it. I like having a schedule and having money. I miss my routine. There’s so much free time and I don’t know what to do with it, honestly.”
“I know what you mean. It’s a dope job, I won’t lie,” Greta assured her.
“Damn…when I turned nineteen, I wasn’t planning routines or trying to fill my time with responsibilities.
I gotta hand it to you, girl. I was worrying about parties, hooking up with the hottest dudes and not even thinking about working. ”
“Greta, please.” Aaron glared at her but she ignored him.
“Calm down. It’s true.” Greta gave him a pointed look before directing her attention back to Kenzie. “So, what’s on your summer-before-college agenda? A boyfriend? A crazy fling? Flirting?”
“Wait, weren’t you dating that dude?” Aaron asked.
“We broke up months ago, Aaron.” She huffed a little and I swore her cheeks turned pink before she flicked her gaze to me for one split second.
Greta swatted Aaron’s arm, rested her chin on her hands and continued the questioning. It had me on edge, the words Kenzie would say. It mattered, but I couldn’t explain why. “Okay, no boyfriend. Fling though, yeah? They say the best way to get over somebody is to get under someone new.”
“Jesus, no. I don’t want to hear about my sister having a fling, over or under anyone. She doesn’t—she won’t—just, stop.” Aaron looked so goddamn uncomfortable we all laughed.
“Calm down. Act more like Ross and Monica. They were totally cool talking about this stuff,” Greta said, referencing Friends. I shared a look with Zade, both of us grinning.
Aaron shook his head and took a huge bite, preventing him from talking. Kenzie had a look of amusement on her face and had no issues continuing the conversation. I liked a girl who didn’t back down.
“Mom always told me to never start college with a boyfriend. Said it would prevent me from finding myself. I could do a fling though. That would be fun.”
Aaron covered his ears with his hands and made obnoxious sounds as he left the kitchen. Kenzie’s smile grew to cover her whole face. Her joy pleased me, but her words did more. She could do a fling…
“TJ, Carter was going on about trying to be your new wingman until Jeff gets back. You hitting up downtown tonight?” Zade asked me. Before I responded, I found Kenzie twirling her fork in her hands with a curious expression on her face. It wasn’t accusatory or worried, just interested.
For fuck’s sake. It irritated me.
I took another bite and responded with somewhat of the truth. “The workout kicked my ass today. I’m not really feeling it tonight.”
“Dude, same. My quads hurt every time I breathe. Cal, can you massage me later?”
“Can you do all of us?” I asked, chuckling at the menacing glare I got from Zade. “It’s only seven, Kenny. What were your plans for the rest of your birthday?”
I wish I could read her mind. She bit down on her lip and used her pointer finger to wipe away the chocolate—a totally innocent gesture, but it got my blood hot.
“I don’t know. This has been perfect so far, hanging with all of you.”
“You’re so chill. I wanted to go out all night, no curfew, all that when I was your age, still living at home,” Callie said, and I had to agree.
When I’d been nineteen, I’d wanted to raise hell, fuck shit up, get laid.
If she wanted any of those options, I’d gladly sign up. But I knew that wasn’t her.
Kenzie shrugged, took the final piece of the cake and put it into her mouth with an inquisitive look. “If there’s a place with games…not athletic ones, like group ones, I’d love that.”
Callie and Greta cheered and jumped from the table.
“Okay, we have options. Bowling, mini-golf, an escape room…” They continued naming different places to go that would all cost money.
I studied Kenzie’s reaction, trying to figure out why she carried a wave of sadness when she’d admitted the day had been perfect. I came up blank, but an idea struck me.
Growing up with little money, we would have card tournaments for hours when other kids went to the movies or the malls. Kemps, spoons, rummy, speed. They were fun, competitive and decks of cards were cheap. “I have an idea.”
All five of them looked at me and I grinned. “Card games. We can each donate one thing for the prize. It can be anything you want, but winner takes all. We can go out and get some beer and play here? What do ya think, Kenz?”
Her face lit up. “Yes. I love that. Gives me and Zade another chance to kick your asses.”
“Thatta girl. Keep it up and you’re in line to be my fourth favorite lady. You know, behind my mom, sister and Callie.”
“What the fuck, Zade?” Greta fired at him, but he just winked. Greta made an annoyed expression, but it soon turned into a crazy smile. “I love this card game idea,” she said, already starting to clean up the kitchen. “Go get booze, boys, and we’ll get the place ready.”
“Done.” Zade stood and pressed a quick kiss on Callie’s head before grabbing his keys and heading to the door. “Hilly, TJ, let’s go.”
“I’m coming, hold on.” Aaron pointed at his sister. “Any requests for beer?”
“Surprise me.”
“That I can do.”
We left the apartment and I chose to sit in the back of the car.
That left Zade and Aaron able to talk in the front, ideally, so they wouldn’t ask me too many questions.
They had been respectful since knowing I had kept something from them, but they were aggressive, intrusive and persistent.
It took two minutes for Aaron to spin around and stare at me with an odd expression.
I tensed, waiting for the interrogation, but what he asked had nothing to do with what I thought.
“Has Kenzie talked to you about our parents at all? She’s worrying me with how calm she is about everything. She’s…acting way older than she is and it’s freaking me out.”
I’d thought the same thing, too. “Not any time I can think of. She seemed a little sad up there.”
“Yeah. I know. I think it’s my fault.” He sighed, sounding mature beyond his age, and I imagined him and his sister had to be, for their parents.
“Last year, I wasn’t able to go home and that was right when our dad got really bad.
Bad as in we didn’t know if he’d make it through the summer.
I called her, but she spent the entire day alone in that house plagued with sadness while they were at the hospital. Fuck. She’s alone a lot.”
Zade let out a low whistle and held up one hand, like he was a fucking student. I snorted. His sister’s a teacher, so it makes sense.
“If I may, I have an observation.”
“Why are you talking like that?” I asked.
He ignored my question, but Aaron’s shoulders shook in a laugh.
“She’s clearly more mature than all of us combined—just let her figure shit out.
She speaks her mind and if she didn’t want to be here, with you and all our crazy asses, she wouldn’t.
I think it’s that simple. From what I know from dealing with my sister, fretting and overdoing it will backfire. And you fret, Hilly.”
“I annoy myself. Shit. Let’s just stop this and get beer. That sounds better.”
“Fine by me,” I added and wished I had her number so I could text her. Greta and Callie made her nervous, I could tell. She was in good hands, but they were a lot to handle and despite Zade’s insightful observation, I worried about her.