Page 140 of Tainted

"Well, since we’re sharing embarrassing moments, Zara’s got one that’s pretty good too." I turned, giving her a teasing smile as her eyes widened slightly. She shook her head, but it was too late. “It can’t be any worse than trying to impress your crush at the talent show, and I’ve heard your singing.”

Zara covered her face with her hands, laughing, and I continued, not letting her off the hook. "She got up on stage, sang the first line, and her voice cracked so bad that the mic squealed. She ended up running off stage before she even finished."

The table laughed again, and Zara peeked at me through her fingers. "You did not just tell them that.”

“What song was it?” Mom asked.

“Jolene,” I replied, causing Zara to hit me under the table.

Mom and Kross were cracking up, but Uncle Leonne seemed to be the most interested.

“You seem a little for Jolene,” he said.

Zara smiled, “My mom was a big fan. I guess it rubbed off on me.”

“Does she still live around here?” Kross asked.

“Oh no. We left when I was young, but I recently moved back.”

“Oh really? From where?” Mom asked.

Zara poked around her dessert for a moment, laughing nervously, “A small little town. Much different from Northbridge.”

“Next time your mom is in town, we have to have her over for Loriann’s world-famous Banana Pudding,” Uncle Leonne suggested.

“I’d like to think I could rival those good country desserts,” Mom beamed confidently.

“It’s delicious,” Zara complimented, “Kenyon didn’t get his cooking skills from you.”

Mom continued embarrassing me by sharing more war stories, like how I’d always had my own fashion sense and wore my Halloween costume to school in first grade. Zara ate it up until I ended Mom’s comedy run, eager to get home.

“Thanks for dinner. I love you, Mama.”

“I love you too.” She pulled herself from my one-armed hug to give one to Zara, “Thank you for coming to dinner.”

“Thank you for having me,” Zara replied.

“You’re welcome anytime.”

“I might not like her tomorrow, and you’re talkin’ about anytime.”

Mom enjoyed our gentle sparring as much as I did. “Goodnight, Kenyon.”

“Night, Mama.”

Pulling out of the driveway, I tried to ignore Zara’s somber expression, but it tugged at my heart.

I finally broached the subject the only way I could, “You being so quiet is making me nervous as fuck.”

“Being with your family just made me miss my own, that’s all. My sister is probably taller than me now,” she laughed softly, but the vulnerability in her eyes spoke volumes.

“Sister? I’m shocked. You give off spoiled ass only child.”

“So do you, and you have a brother,” she retorted as I laced my fingers between hers.

“They’re still alive, just not in my world. So, I pretend they don’t exist. It’s just easier not to talk about her.Them,I shouldsay,” she clarified. “I don’t regret leaving, though. I have bigger dreams than a small town can provide, so I had to.”

Zara was trying not to keep so many secrets, and I appreciated it.

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