Chapter 32 #4
Their happy chatter was a welcome change, and soon, she was done with her drink, Luke’s hand on her knee, the nachos tasting better than she expected.
Maybe the close call with Lyle made the flavor stand out, or perhaps it was the good company, but as Kylie ate her way through the enormous pile in front of them, cruets of sour cream, guacamole, and salsa adding to the yum, she felt a glow from within moving out all the fear.
“Too bad there’s no peanut butter for you, Moore,” Colleen said, elbowing him. He smacked her upper arm, mouth full of nachos.
“Peanut butter?” Kylie asked, the entire table groaning at her words.
Moore held up one finger in a gesture that asked her to wait, the guy chewing fast.
“Moore is a freak,” Colleen announced. “He eats peanut butter on his burgers.”
Kylie tilted her head and frowned. “That’s not freakish. It’s a thing in New York.”
Moore swallowed, spreading his hands out toward Kylie, looking pointedly at his mocking friends. “See? I told you all it’s a sign of a sophisticated palate.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Kylie replied. “It’s just a menu item.”
Colleen laughed at Moore. “Just a menu item.”
“Does Rider put the peanut butter in the ground beef, or just on the finished burger?” Kylie asked as everyone’s face, minus Moore, twisted in disgust.
“Put the peanut butter in the beef?” Luke asked, incredulous. “That’s disgusting.”
“It’s no more disgusting than putting it on,” she argued.
“None of it is disgusting! It’s personal preference,” Moore countered. “Kell likes mint jelly on his roasted lamb. Why can’t I enjoy peanut butter on a burger?”
“Because mint jelly and lamb go together. Next thing you’re going to tell us you like grape jelly in your omelettes,” Colleen snapped back.
“Hoo!” Jake said, holding his mouth open, waving his hand in front of it. “Anyone got an unused water? I just chewed through a big piece of jalapeno!”
Moore slid his unused water on over as Jake gave him a grateful look and chugged.
“There are delis that put grape jelly in omelettes in New York, actually,” Kylie said to Colleen, earning a few dropped chins, including Luke’s.
“That’s a crime against humanity,” Darren declared. “Who would do that?”
“Sometimes they layer cream cheese inside, then add the jelly,” Kylie explained.
“Have you tried it?” Colleen asked.
“No.” Kylie shivered. “I like to taste new things like anyone else, but I have my limits.”
Luke squeezed her knees, leaned in, and whispered, “No need for limits with me.”
“I HEARD THAT! I am right here!” Colleen said, adding gagging sounds.
Luke shrugged. “Then move.”
The first sip of her second drink had a soundtrack of laughter, the whole table a moving feast of friendliness, comfort, and community. Kylie reached for Luke’s hand and held it, fingers threading, as he smiled at her, she smiled back, and the world clicked into place a little bit more.
Every piece fitting better.
Her included.
Perry never would have acted the way Luke did with Lyle, protective of his friends, yet trying to help Lyle. Kylie didn’t know what her ex would have done – likely egged Lyle on, or escaped as fast as possible, then made nothing but snide comments about the Luview “inbreds,” like he had before.
Knowing full well she was from the town.
What Kylie hadn’t explained to anyone was the real reason she’d stayed away, though she’d lived nearby for much of the last year: Perry. Shame, sure, but Perry. He’d convinced her that being from Luview was a disadvantage. A stumbling block. Something to hide.
And that what her father had done was even more reason to stay away.
As another man held her hand right now, the glow of good food, good drink, and even better company filling her with happiness, Kylie could look at her past and see how Perry had – much like Lyle – decided that whatever he wanted was what everyone else should let him have.
Perry wanted a girlfriend who would agree with him.
Who would be dependent on him. Who would let him feel superior by making her feel like less.
And she’d let him.
For no reason other than his stupid opinion, Kylie had deprived herself of this. People who knew her. Welcomed her. Included her.
Luke was just the icing on the cake.
Fairy glitter icing, sweeter than heaven.
On impulse, she leaned close to him, and gave his cheek a kiss. Everyone at the table picked up utensils and began gently banging the edges of forks and spoons on glasses.
“Kiss! Kiss!” Rachel said, clapping and laughing, but it was Colleen’s reaction that struck Kylie before Luke pulled her in for a soft, perfect kiss.
Eyes narrowed, hands empty of utensils, Luke’s sister just watched them.
While Moore watched Colleen.
“Tomorrow’s the big Christmas parade,” Rachel said. “Brings a ton of customers into town. Are you planning to go?” she asked Kylie, who was still breathless from the kiss.
“What?”
“She’s a little distracted,” Kell chided Rachel. “Give her a minute to find her brain.”
“Hah. As if a kiss could make you lose your mind,” Rachel snarked back.
Apparently, Kell took that as a challenge, because he dipped her back in her chair and proceeded to kiss her to deeply, so intensely, that even Kylie and Luke had to look away.
When he finally relinquished Rachel, she sat there, struck dumb, Kell triumphant.
“See?”
“Wow,” Rachel whispered, reaching for her drink. “You were right.”
Luke cleared his throat and glared at Kell. “Show off.”
“Anyhow,” Kylie said pointedly, “I can’t go to the parade. We’re having a family video call right at the same time. With my mom, grandparents, and sister in different time zones, we settled on the same two hour stretch as the parade.”
“Next year,” Luke reassured her, his fingers caressing the inside of her arm.
Next year, she thought to herself.
Would there be a next year?