Page 37 of Just a Little Prick

I’d hoped that I would beat Kenzie to Bakeology. I’d wanted to knock out the morning work as a peace offering before she got in, but her car was already parked in the lot. The lights were on inside.

How long had she been here?

I let myself in. The front was set for opening, and there were already a few batches of muffins in the case.

She had to be in the back kitchen.

I sighed and went through the door to the back. Kenzie faced away from me, aggressively stirring something in a large steel bowl.

I opened my mouth, then closed it again.

What was I supposed to say? Sorry for fucking your brother? Sorry you had to see that?

For a moment, she stopped stirring.

She knew I was here.

I had to say something.

“Kenzie, I’m sorry, I—”

She held one hand up.

Was she that mad at me?

“Lora, just stop.” Her tone wasn’t angry; if anything, she sounded exhausted.

I opened my mouth to speak, but she kept talking.

“Just…don’t. It’s not you. I get it. Women can’t resist Bradley. It’s been a problem since he hit puberty.” She put the spoon down and turned, leaning on the counter to look at me. “I’m pissed at him, but I’m only mad at you for not locking your door.”

I blinked in surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah. I’m blaming you for the fact that I had to see Bradley naked.” Kenzie gave me a half-smile. “I’m serious. He’s really charming, so I can see why you got sucked in.”

“He is.” I felt my cheeks warm up. “He’s…yeah. Really charming. That’s putting it lightly.”

He was charming, and hot, and funny. Fun to talk to. Creative.

Kenzie was giving me a strange look—still half-smiling, but in a way that suggested she knew something I didn’t.

“What?”

She shrugged. “You wear your heart on your sleeve sometimes.”

“I do not.” I shook my head. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“No? You get a look when you’re thinking about Bradley.” Kenzie shrugged, turning to pick up the bowl and spoon. “It says a lot.”

Oh.

The heat that rose in my face was different this time. Kenzie didn’t need to say anything else. I knew what she was getting at, and while I wasn’t going to say it, she was right.

She was so right.

Kenzie sighed and put the bowl down. She opened her arms and approached me. “C’mere. Hugs?”

I moved toward her, wrapping my arms around her. She hugged me tight, patting my back. She smelled like batter—vanilla and sugar. She smelled like my friend. Maybe my best friend.

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