Chapter 6
“And you didn’t get his number?” Ruth, Kenna’s mother, asked as they sat at the table eating brunch.
Her mother’s house felt like home to her, since it was where she grew up. Ruth’s only condition in the divorce was that she got to keep the house. Kenna’s father, George, seemed to be just fine with that since he planned to move out of state.
For Ruth, the house could never be parted with because Rashad had been there.
The house held the memory of him. It was in the markings on the wall of Kenna and Rashad’s heights, his stopping at the age of fourteen, frozen in time.
The broken wood on the third stair from the bottom where he fell and chipped it, breaking his leg in the process when he was only ten.
His room was still the same, completely untouched, as if he might come back at any moment.
Kenna secretly thought those were all the reasons her father needed to get away.
Kenna shrugged. “You know I don’t really do all that, Ma.”
She was so embarrassed by how she ran out of that man’s house the night before, but she didn’t know how to gracefully end the night on good terms. The last thing she wanted was to feel so stupid, but here she was…
“Do all what, girl?” Ruth asked. Ruth James-Arlington had aged beautifully. Her smooth light skin, long curly brown hair, and freckled face remained timeless with not even a gray hair in sight.
Kenna stayed silent for a moment as she picked at the eggs on her plate. “Ask for numbers… date?”
Ruth laughed warmly before covering her daughter’s hand with hers. They sat in silence for a few seconds while Kenna looked at her plate and Ruth looked at her daughter.
Kenna thought about Damien. The night before, she had awkwardly gotten through dinner while stealing glances at him…
often. Every time she looked at him, he was already looking at her.
She wasn’t so green that she didn’t know he was feeling her.
The issue was she didn’t know what to do with that information.
Damien seemed different than most men, not that she had much experience.
The last time she had gotten close to a straight man was in high school.
Her ex-boyfriend who took her virginity junior year.
They had sex and went out on dates for a few months before he dumped her.
She hadn’t dated since, and not even a year later, the biggest trauma of her life happened.
Her mother’s next words mirrored the road her thoughts were heading down.
“You’ve never moved on from that day, you know?”
Kenna stiffened as she continued to avoid her mother’s eye contact.
The crazy part was, she really wanted to move on from that day.
She wanted to shed the anxiety, fear, and paranoia that plagued her every day.
She wanted to date. Hell, the night before, when she said her goodbyes to Damien, she wanted to be bold and ask for his number, but the thought of what road that might lead her down stopped her.
She wasn’t cut out to date a celebrity. End of story.
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Mama.”
They ate in silence for a few moments before Ruth spoke again. “You know, I always wished I could have swapped places with you. What you went through… no child should have gone through that. I know back then you thought you were grown?—”
“Grown grown,” Kenna interrupted with a faint smile.
Ruth grinned sadly. “Right, but you weren’t.
” When Kenna shook her head, agreeing wholeheartedly, Ruth continued.
“Your brother… seeing him in that way.” She closed her eyes tightly.
“I can’t imagine what that was like for you.
I try. I try to understand so I can sympathize with you on the highest level and understand the way that day shaped you, but no matter how hard I try, I will never truly understand.
“God knows I walked away with my own trauma after that day, but it was nothing like what you went through, and I’ve had to accept that nobody would ever be able to understand unless they were there. That’s why I’m so thankful you have Cam. Lord knows I love that boy.”
Kenna smiled softly. “And he loves you too.”
Ruth squeezed Kenna’s fingers. “I say all that to say… please forgive my ignorance when I say this, but baby, you have got to start living again. You have to move on.”
Kenna’s eyes found her plate again, which was practically empty. “You got all that from me not getting a famous basketball player’s number?”
“Yeah, because the Kenna I used to know way back when might have been shy, but she definitely would shoot her shot. Ain’t that what y’all say?”
“Oh my God, Mama.” Kenna giggled. Her mother always knew how to brighten her spirit.
She wondered how she managed to do that.
After Rashad died, Kenna found it hard to brighten her own spirit, let alone anyone else’s.
Her mom had lost a son but managed to keep living and keep brightness in their lives.
If it hadn’t been for Ruth, Kenna knew she would have been in a deep depression and unable to ever come out. Her mother and Cam truly saved her.
That thought made something click within her.
They had done the most to make sure she lived.
Not just survived but had a good life and memories to hold on to.
What good was she doing with those precious gifts they had given her if she wasn’t going to live to her fullest potential?
The thought terrified her, but everything in her wanted to do right by the people she loved most.
“I’m just saying. You fumbled that one.”
Kenna giggled. “On that note.” She stood from the table. “Are you finished?”
Ruth nodded, and Kenna took their plates into the kitchen. While she rinsed them off so she could put them in the dishwasher, she thought about Damien. She knew without her mother telling her that she fumbled that big time, and she had been kicking herself since last night.
Her thoughts scattered when she heard the front door open and close and a deep voice sound from the dining room.
David was her mother’s husband. They got married five years ago, and Kenna loved him for her mom.
Their love made her realize that true love and second chances at happiness were real.
Her parents had true love before Rashad died, but trauma like that could change people.
Kenna had learned to be okay with that change over the years, but she realized that she had also become complacent in it.
She idolized her mother because she never allowed her pain to keep her from having everything she wanted in life.
After placing the dishes in the dishwasher, Kenna took the liberty of making David a plate. She and her mom often cooked brunch together on Sundays. Really, her mom cooked, and Kenna fetched the things her mother needed and watched. She wasn’t much of a cook.
When she entered the dining room, David and Ruth were hugged up and smiling at each other.
Kenna grinned at them. “Hey, David.”
She put the plate in front of him, and he showed her all of his pearly white teeth. “This for me?”
His deep voice sounded through the room. David was a tall and bulky guy with a thick black mustache and caramel colored skin. His head was bald, and he had a gap in his teeth. He also had the kindest eyes and a beautiful soul.
“All yours. How was work?” Kenna asked.
“Ah, it was work,” he replied, digging into his food.
David was a part time correctional officer.
He was also a retired cop. He retired years ago after an injury to his leg on the job, but he got bored with not working, so he decided to take up a part-time job.
It was a taxing job, but he was one of the few people at that place who genuinely liked what he did.
Kenna knew it was because he was such a people person.
Those inmates no doubt loved him because he was so down to earth and could hold a conversation with a damn ant if he had to.
Kenna smiled politely and looked at her mom. “I’m going to get going.” She kissed her mom on the top of the head. “Love you, old woman.”
“Love you, too, little girl. Lock up for me.”
Kenna nodded and made her way out of the house. She used the same key she’d had since she was a child to lock the door before making her way to her car.
As soon as she was tucked inside and started her car, her cellphone rang through the speakers.
Her brows pinched when she noticed it was an unknown caller.
She decided to ignore it as she pulled out of the driveway.
Before she could make it down the street, her phone rang again with an unknown caller.
This time, she decided to press the green button to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Kenna, it’s nice to hear your voice again, beautiful.”
Kenna stilled, almost stopping completely in the middle of the street, but she shook off her shock enough to focus on her driving and respond at the same time. “Damien?”
His chuckle sounded throughout the car, making Kenna feel warm all over her body, even though it was pretty chilly out that day.
“Surprised to hear from me?”
“I mean, yeah, since I don’t recall giving you my number.” Her voice was light and playful. By the grace of God, she felt like she had been given a second chance, and she knew she wouldn’t fumble this one.
“I had an assist with that. I won’t lie.”
“Cam?” she asked.
“I won’t confirm or deny.”
She giggled. She honestly wasn’t even mad at her best friend. He did what she had been too chicken to do.
Before she could overthink it, she said, “I’m happy you called.”
“Yeah? You seem like you enjoy duckin’ me.”
“I promise it’s not like that. I’m just… I don’t really get out much, so I don’t… I mean, I guess what I’m trying to say…”
“It’s all good, Ken Ken,” Damien interrupted, his tone sounding amused.
“Ken Ken, huh?” Any other time, she would hate the nickname. She hated when people made her name sound masculine, but somehow, Damien made it sound adorable rolling off his lips.
“Yeah, Ken Ken,” he confirmed. “But look, I was calling to invite you to another game.” Anxiety immediately filled her as dread pooled in her stomach, but before she could decline, Damien rushed to say, “I have it all planned out, though, so hear me out. Rock, you remember him?”
Kenna nodded and then realized he couldn’t see her, so she said, “Yeah, your security?”
“The head of my security. The best of the best. I’ll have him with you every moment of the game, and I also secured a box suite for you.
It’ll be safe, and there won’t be much noise or any of that.
I ain’t gon’ lie… I kind of feel like you’re my good luck charm.
It’s been a minute since I shot the winning basket, and one interaction with you brought that beast up out of me. I would love to keep that energy.”
Kenna bit her lip, but she thought about her mother’s words and exhaled a long breath before muttering, “Okay, but only if Cam can come too.”
She could hear the smile in his tone when he responded. “It’s a date. Oh, and it’s in Atlanta.”
“Atlanta?” Kenna screeched. “Wait, I didn’t sign up for all that.”
He chuckled. “We’ll only be there for one night, and I’ll charter us a private jet. Please, Ken Ken. I want to see your beautiful face again. Is that a crime?”
Kenna was in awe. She had one of the most famous basketball players in the world begging her to go to an out of town game with him. Was this real life right now?
She’d barely traveled, and she had always wanted to, so once again, without overthinking, she agreed. “Okay, send me the details. We’ll be there.”
“You have no idea how you just made my day. I have to get to practice, but lock my number in. When I’m done, I’ll send over all the information.”
“Okay,” she responded, nerves bouncing around inside her.
“And, Ken Ken?”
“Yeah?”
“I can’t wait to see you again. Thank you for saying yes.”
“Thank you for thinking of me.”
There was a brief pause before they said their goodbyes.
Kenna spent the rest of the ride home in complete silence, processing what had just happened.
The fact that a celebrity, someone of Damien’s caliber, wanted to spend time with her blew her mind, but deep down inside, teenaged Kenna rejoiced. Finally, some fun in her dull life.
When she pulled up to her house, she immediately parked her car and picked up her phone to text her best friend.
Kenna: Hope you got some PTO since you want to be all up in my business and play matchmaker. Pack a bag. We’re going to Atlanta.