by Eliza Ellis
But no one could argue with the result of her action. Lea had clung to Pete for the rest of the boat ride, and Pete looked like he was king of the world.
Keke frowned, and then and tore her eyes away from a girl who wasn’t a rival. Sure, Lea was younger and sillier—if guys liked that sort of thing—but Keke was experienced. In a man-catching contest, she didn’t doubt she’d win.
Except, Lea was winning. She had Pete.
Pete’s off limits, Keke told herself…again…for the fifth time since she had first noticed that he wasn’t in the cafeteria—about ten minutes ago. He was too young, and she wasn’t really interested in the brainiac type. He was too serious, and she was a free spirit. A creative while he was all cerebral.
It would never work.
Bertie laughed loudly, followed by the group of kids around her.
And then there was Bertie. Back in middle school, they had created the Best Friend’s Code for a reason: so they wouldn’t have to fight and lose each other’s friendship. And the code had worked all these years later. In its simplicity, from two naive and immature girls, it demanded they both possess a certain amount of integrity.
No way Keke would break it. It wasn’t worth losing Bertie’s friendship. A friend for life for a quick fling? Never.
Pete walked into the cafeteria—more like stormed in—keeping his head down. His face tight and his hands in fists. Keke and Bertie exchanged a look. Something had happened. Something not good if Pete wasn’t his normal, laid-back, “I’d rather be playing video games,” indifferent self.
The person who seemed totally unaware of this change in attitude was Lea. She waved at him and beckoned him to join her table. Pete lifted his head quickly. He sat down next to her after Lea shooed a kid to the side to make room.
Keke shook her head. What did Lea expect, exactly? Pete was probably going to Cornell. Where was Lea going? State school maybe?
Not that there’s anything wrong with state school. Only the girl couldn’t expect Pete to enter into a long-distance relationship with her. He would be off at school meeting other pretty girls and entertaining them. Lea was a blonde a dozen.
Meeting other pretty girls…
That didn’t sit well with Keke. She sucked in her already flat stomach until the discomfort dissipated. Soon, she would be surrounded by gorgeous actors and models. Why miss out on that?
One by one, the tables were called, and kids rushed into line to be served food. When Keke’s table was called, she took her place behind the counter. After washing her hands, she slipped on plastic gloves and a hairnet and took her position right when the first of her kids reached her.
They jumped excitedly at the dinner choices: pizza, hot wings, chips, and jello for dessert. Afterwards, they would all sit around the campfire again for another round of s’mores. It was going to be a sticky night.
Pete stood beside Keke, gloves and hairnet on. His group of kids right behind hers.
“What happened to you?” Keke asked after Pete stood silently waiting to serve.
“Nothing,” he said with a grunt.
“Pete, you’re never mad. At least, I’ve never seen you get mad.”
“First time for everything.”
Frustrated at his short tone, Keke put a hand on her hip, caught his arm, and swung him around. Well, swung his arm since she couldn’t exactly move him. His bicep was larger than she’d realized, and it made his entire arm seem heavy, even for a fit dancer like herself.
“Keke—”
“Pete, tell me,” Keke insisted. “I don’t like seeing you all…mad. I’d rather see you—”
“Crying? Embarrassed because you teased me one too many times?” His pointed gaze turned her mute. As she worked to get her jaw moving and figure out what to say, Pete whispered, “Sorry. I’m not mad at you.”
“Well, I was going to say I’d rather see you smile. You’ve been making progress with Lea, and you look…good. The two of you together, I mean.”
He offered her a small smile. “Thanks. I feel good—about that. I just had a run-in with Dad. He said some things…” His smile quickly faded, his dark eyes clouded.
She placed a hand back on his arm. “Did you tell him about the app?”
“I tried to, and then he went on a rant about how his life could’ve been different had he made other choices like not having kids.”
Keke gasped. She put her hands over her mouth. Her eyes shot to Bertie, who was laughing and eating with her section. Did Bertie know her dad felt this way? Did that have something to do with why she didn’t finish school?
“He said that?” she whispered fiercely. “What a complete…” She shut her mouth. Titus entered the cafeteria then, hands on hips, gaze roaming around, observing.
Pete stared at his father while simultaneously sliding pizza onto kids’ plates. “Not those exact words. But he didn’t deny it.”
“Petey… Oh, I’m sorry, you hate that.”
Pete shook his head. “No. Not really. I like the way you say it.”
Their gazes locked, and Keke’s stomach warmed. A much more pleasant feeling than what she’d experienced earlier. And suddenly, she wanted to reach up and brush aside the lock of hair that had fallen over his eye. Wanted to take away all the pain his father had caused him, if only to see him smile again.
“Hey! We want pizza!” a couple of kids chanted.
Pete severed their connection first. Silently, he served the kids. They didn’t speak again before moving back to their respective tables to eat with the children.
After all the kids were seated and enjoying food, Lea had the bright idea to flick something at Pete. Keke watched as red jello bounced off his face, onto his shoulder, and then into his lap. Lea grinned victoriously. Pete raised a brow and lifted a chicken wing.
Keke closed her eyes. She did not want to be in the middle of a food fight. It would mean picking food out of her hair, washing it, and going through the whole routine of twisting it so it wouldn’t be a frizzy fro the next morning. And at the same time, she’d have to make sure the kids had their showers before s’mores…
Keke opened her eyes to food flying everywhere. She plugged her ears against the high-pitched squeals and screams. She took her slice of pizza and walked over to Pete. She tapped him on the shoulder and smeared his face with pizza when he turned around.
That’s what he gets for starting this fight, she thought to herself. He didn’t have to respond to Lea’s taunt. It could’ve ended with just him being smeared with jello. Only his ego would’ve been damaged. Now everyone’s clothes and—
A hot wing hit Keke in the head. She refused to retaliate.
Pete opened one dark eye that seemed to both look glaring and gleeful at the same time. He caught her arm as she tried to dart away. Hot wings were tossed, and one managed to find its way down her shirt. She groaned and jumped up and down like a five-year-old having a tantrum. Pete laughed hysterically.
And it was music to her ears. She’d never heard him laugh so hard nor so loud. A deep rumbling that sounded like it came from his soul.
After the counselors were finally able to get the kids to calm down, Keke surveyed the mess around them. Titus, looking like a grumpy bear but with a slice of pizza on his head, ordered everyone to start cleaning. Kids and counselors groaned.
Keke appreciated the manual labor. It gave her a chance to get lost in her thoughts, specifically what Pete had said earlier about the owner of Headley Campground. What Pete’s father had said reminded her of her own father. A man harsh and unrelenting in his opinions and cruel behavior. Someone who didn’t believe in mincing his words. Words were a weapon, which he had wielded with expert precision. She was glad he was dead. A weight off her shoulders…if not her mind.
Chapter 12
Pete raked his fingers through his still-wet hair. He had applied a little gel to it to keep it out of his face, but after Keke had run her hands through it, he had reconsidered his stance on stiff hair. If girls loved the
hair, he’d make it as soft and accessible as he possibly could.
He sat on the office’s back steps, staring into the night sky. Most of the kids were around the campfire singing songs and enjoying more s’mores. He’d have to go for a run early tomorrow morning, considering all the sweets he’d had in the last couple of days.
Across the way, he saw Keke exit the girls’ bunks. She waved and walked over. Pete inhaled the night air that accompanied her, almost smiling at the sweet floral and citrus scent. She smelled amazing.
“How are you?” she hesitantly asked.
Pete shrugged. “Okay. You?”
Keke chuckled and sat next to him. “I’m not the one with the issues.”
“You’re not?”
Keke remained silent. He studied the side of her face. Humor gone, he saw how she worked her tense jaw. He wished she would confide in him. She owed him a story about her father.
“You smell great,” he said quietly then raked a hand through his hair. Darn. He hadn’t meant for that to come out. When she sat down, the scent was even more intoxicating, taking over faculties he should be able to control.
She grinned. “Thanks. Would you like to try it? My twisting cream?” She pointed to the twists she had gathered and piled on top of her head.
Pete snorted. “No, thanks.” He sat up straighter.
“Too manly for it?”
He smirked. “I’d rather smell it on you.”
Keke’s grin faded, and she looked away. He closed his eyes and silently cursed. It was not his night. And he was waiting to go on a walk with Lea. If he was screwing up with Keke—and she didn’t even like him like that—then he would crash and burn with Lea. Yet, Lea was always in such a good mood; maybe she wouldn’t even notice.
Keke cleared her throat. “Please don’t use that line.”
Pete sputtered a laugh. “Noted.”
“So, what’s next with Lea?”
“A walk. Tonight.”
Keke’s mouth dropped, and a look of satisfaction crossed her face. “My young protégé is doing well. A moonlight stroll in the woods. Not creepy at all.”
He ignored her teasing grin. “I’m no creep.”
“No, you’re not, Petey. I’d feel safe walking through the woods with you. And so will Lea.” She looped an arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder. “You’re a good guy,” she said softly.
He detected a note of sadness in her voice. “You never told me why you didn’t return for the funeral,” he said quietly. “It wasn’t well attended, but your absence was noted.”
And just like that, she let go of his arm and scooted a few inches away. Pete rolled his eyes. He would say nothing unpleasant with Lea. Only lighthearted subjects he couldn’t possibly get in trouble over.
Keke groaned. “I do owe you an explanation, huh?”
“Mmm-hmm. That was the bargain.”
Keke let out a bloated sigh. “I’m glad he’s gone. He was so…mean to me and my sisters.”
“Katrina and Kornelia?”
“Yup. Told us we’d never amount to anything. Outright called me a…” Keke ferociously dragged a hand down the side of her face. “I wasn’t sleeping around. Dance was the only thing on my mind,” she said defensively. “He would’ve known that if he ever took the time to know me at all.”
His heart went out to her. He wanted to wrap an arm around her, pull her in, and tell her that man couldn’t hurt her anymore, but he kept his arms to himself. His compliments didn’t work; she’d gawk at physical contact. She’d already put distance between them, and he didn’t want to encroach.
“He slapped Kori right across the mouth one day for telling him she was going to school out of state and never coming back.” Keke sniffed. “I’d never seen my older sister cry until that night. She wouldn’t stop for a solid hour.” Keke laughed derisively. “I thought how weak she looked. Broken down and sobbing in Kat’s arms.” Keke stared at him, her gaze determined. “I promised myself I would never be that way.”
“What way?”
“Weak!” she seethed. “Vulnerable. Allowing someone to have such control over my emotions that they could tear me down with their words. No man’s opinion could be worth that much risk. I’d leave, and never come back, and I wouldn’t shed a tear no matter what he said.”
Pete sucked in his lips, considering. Keke had a horrible father, but not every guy was like him. There were probably a ton of guys who wouldn’t think to crush the goals and dreams of those closest to them.
He thought she was amazing. He’d seen her dance at school years ago. Her body effortlessly bending and spinning, gliding across the stage. Her movements had him transfixed, and he could only describe it as pure beauty.
“I’m sorry,” he said. The words felt woefully inadequate. “He… There was something wrong with him. All of you are successful. He should’ve been proud, not…” He wasn’t sure what Mr. Kaye thought of his daughters or what he was afraid of. His mistreatment directly influenced and enabled their success. How did he not see that?
Keke snorted. “Oh, there was something wrong with him, all right. He was a bitter jerk who didn’t make something of himself, so he had to take it out on his daughters.”
“I know the feeling.”
Her hand touched his. “Oh, I know you do. I don’t know why you haven’t left yet. Both you and Bertie. I thought for sure she’d go to school out of state.”
“If my meeting with Warp Entertainment goes well, Titus Headley will never see me again,” Pete said firmly, Keke’s prior declarations emboldening him.
“That’s the spirit! We don’t need fathers in our lives.”
Pete frowned. The prospect of starting a new life away from Titus Headley was appealing, but he didn’t feel like celebrating. He wanted a father in his life, just not one that wanted to kill his dreams.
“I never have to see my father again, and I’m glad for it.”
Anger and bitterness laced her tone. Her bottom lip trembled. How much did she believe her own words? She had issues with her father that continued to persist after his death. She might be glad to never experience his displeasure again, but his death didn’t give her closure.
Pete spread his fingers until hers fell in between his. Her eyes met his quickly, but she didn’t move her hand. He willed their connection fixed. “Keke—”
“Hey, Petey!”
Lea waved from a distance.
Keke shot up. “Enjoy your evening,” she muttered before jogging back toward the campfire with a quick wave to Lea.
Pete stood slowly, his heart heavy. He had to think positive thoughts, or he’d blow this opportunity with Lea.
“You look nice,” Lea commented.
Pete glanced down at his jeans and t-shirt. “I do?”
She looped an arm around his. “Yeah, silly. Very handsome. Even in the camp uniform.” She giggled. “But I like this look better.”
Pete smiled. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He appreciated the compliment but couldn’t lie to himself. He wished it had come from Keke. But she didn’t see him like that. She was his older sister’s friend who was teaching him how to talk to girls. If anything, she saw him as a charity case. A young padawan not yet able to wield the power of his masculine force.
Not man enough to be with her.
In a disappointing way, she was like his father.
Chapter 13
I t had felt…right.
Her fingers interlocked with his. Him staring intently into her eyes, breathing her name.
So odd.
What wasn’t odd was how he looked. Really beautiful up close. Dark hair freely tumbling over the side of his forehead, expressive dark eyes that seemed to speak right to her soul. Unspoken words of comfort, understanding, and…trust.
After her father, trusting a guy wasn’t an option. Oh, she had had a few boyfriends in college, but she never let them in close. None of them knew how horrible her father was
or how he had fueled her drive to succeed. She saw them more of companions; guys she could go to the movies with or have a date to the club.
Not real confidants. Not men she could give her heart to.
So why did she confide in Peter? And what did it mean that she could trust him with her deepest pain?
Keke shook her head. She brushed her teeth while running cool water over her left hand, which had been burning since being fastened to Pete’s. What was he doing? He was supposed to be focused on Lea, not her. Besides, they were just commiserating over their awful fathers. That couldn’t possibly mean anything more.
Satisfied that her hand had cooled, Keke spit out the toothpaste and dried off her hands. She trekked back to the bunk, dropped her shower caddy next to her bed, and climbed in. She couldn’t wait to sleep in a normal bed. Campsite bunk beds were the worst. She preferred her dorm room bed to this one.
Bertie turned off the lights to the room. Several flashlights came on, and the girls continued laughing and whispering. Neither Bertie, Keke, or the other counselors cared. The girls would fall asleep in an hour after exhausting all topics, namely boys.
Bertie climbed up the ladder to the top bunk above Keke. Her friend released a happy-sounding sigh. A perfect opportunity to demand Bertie set the record straight.
“Bertie?” Keke hissed.
“Hmm?”
“We need to talk.”
A less enthused sigh. “Okay, what about?”
“You and school.”
“Not now, please, Keke? I’m tired.”
“All you have to do is move your mouth. Tell me why you haven’t finished school. What happened?”
Bertie huffed. “I’m…just tired, that’s all. School is a lot of work. It’s not for everyone.”
Keke crossed her arms, even though her friend couldn’t see her. “Bertie, you always got straight As in school without even trying. You lived and breathed studying.”
“So?”
“So, your argument makes no sense!” Keke hissed. “How come you can’t tell me the truth? Rule number two, remember?” Keke wouldn’t bring up how Bertie had consistently lied to her for more than a year. We were supposed to graduate at the same time.
