Page 41 of The Only Shot that Mattered

Skylar stomped out of the room, tapping away on her phone, and Damien walked toward Kenna and hugged her into him. “You sure you’re up for this?”

He felt her shrug against him. “I don’t really do movie theaters.”

“You don’t really do teenaged girls in the form of my daughter either,” he reminded with amusement dancing in his tone.

She pulled away from him and put her hands up to her face. He noticed they were shaking slightly. “You’re right. What was I thinking?”

“I can tell Skylar we can go another day.”

“No.” Kenna sighed. “It’s okay. I’ll call Cam and see if he can come, maybe. Besides, you’ve been doing well with getting me out of my shell. Maybe it’s time I fly solo and try something new on my own.” Damien had been getting her out of the house a lot over the past month. They’d gone to dinner, picnics, the aquarium, and even laser tag, which had been hard for her, but she actually ended up having fun. He worried about her now, though, and wondered if he should go along with her. Kenna must have sensed it because she offered him a small smile and placed a hand on his chest. “It’s okay. I got this.”

He grabbed her hand and kissed it before a sly grin covered her face. “Good, because I really want to get right into bed.”

She giggled. “You do that. I’ll make sure I get Skylar back here in one piece. Maybe I can come back over tomorrow after your game?”

Damien thought about it. They had been really careful about not having sleepovers while Skylar was here. Damien wasn’t really opposed to it, but he wanted to make sure Kenna and Skylar were comfortable.

“How about we play it by ear? Maybe you can come back after the movie,” he suggested.

She raised a brow up at him. “Depending on?”

“Depending on how things go.” He pecked her forehead.

“Okay,” she muttered. “Let me call Cam real quick.”

He sat down on the couch and got comfortable while he watched her pull her phone out and call her best friend. Heheard the phone ringing and realized she put it on speaker while she paced the length of the floor. She was nervous, but he watched her carefully. She didn’t seem to have much anxiety. Just some healthy nerves, which he could live with. It was when she started fidgeting and looking jumpy that made him hover.

“Yes, Kenna?” Cam answered.

“Hi to you too, Cam. Do you want to go to the movies with me and Skylar? Possibly Alanzo?”

“What in the actual fuck makes you think I would want to go to the movies with those two crumb snatchers? They hate me, and the feeling is mutual.”

“Cam!” Kenna screeched, fumbling with her phone.

Damien chuckled. “It’s all good, love. You didn’t see them fighting over Annalise’s cookies when they first met. I know it ain’t no love lost between him and my baby. Long as he keeps shit cool, I’m cool.”

Damien honestly found Cam comical. He had an uncle like him growing up, always bickering with him and picking fights, but that man loved him and would protect him more than anyone he knew. It was devastating to Damien when he passed a few years ago.

Damien was willing to bet his last dollar that as much as Cam claimed he disliked Skylar and Alanzo, he absolutelylovedthem.

Kenna cleared her throat and hissed her words toward the phone. “Seriously, Cam. I could use some back up.”

Cam’s voice instantly softened. “I wish I could, Kenny, but I have a big dick to hop on toni?—”

His voice suddenly cut off, and while Damien laughed, he noticed Kenna had hung up. She sighed. “Remind me not to put him on speaker ever again.”

“Y’all been friends for how long? And you didn’t know not to put him on speakerphone?”

“You’re right. I should have known better. I blame it on the nerves.”

He held his arms out for her. When she sat down next to him and leaned into his chest, he asked, “Do you want me to see if Rock or one of my security can come with you? I’m not sure who’s available, but I can definitely find out.”

Kenna shook her head. “No, I think I should do this alone. It’s fine.” She looked up at him. “Besides, I really have been wanting to seeWicked.I played the hell out of Elphaba in my third grade play, you know?”

Damien looked down at her in surprise. They had talked about her childhood a lot, so it surprised him that he didn’t know she had been in a play.

“Who the hell is Elphaba, anyway?”

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