Page 30 of Banking on Love

Chapter Fifteen

KENSI

VALENTINE’S DAY

“Are you still upset because our evening was shared?” Nick chuckled.

“No,” I sighed heavily.

“Mmhmm. Real convincing, Kensi,” he laughed, hugging me and kissing me on the top of my head. “You can be honest. You were hoping to ravish me after dinner.”

“Nick!” I busted out laughing as my eyes scanned the crowd for any signs of Kallia and Kimberly. They had run off to go get us funnel cakes.

“Relax, Beautiful. I made sure they were nowhere near before I said that. Trust me.”

“I trust you,” I whispered. He smiled down at me.

“I’m really glad we were able to hang out today.” His words were shaky. He teetered nervously on his feet and his cheeks reddened.

“Are you being shy right now, Mr. Campton?” I teased then stood on my tippy-toes and kissed him. “I like seeing you blush.”

“I don’t blush, Ma’am,” he informed me with a grin.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” The line to the Ferris wheel moved forward. Nick and I were now next to get on. “Have you noticed that we never all make it on this thing?”

Nick looked over my shoulder and grinned. I glanced back to see what had caught his attention. My mouth gaped open as Kimberly and Kallia approached us with our father in tow.

His face was clean-shaven. He wore blue jeans, a heavy winter coat, and a beanie. He looked presentable for the first time in months. My eyes filled with tears and I held my breath to keep from crying.

“Look who we found!” Kimberly said cheerfully.

“Uh, hey, Kenz. Hope it’s okay that I came,” my dad stammered nervously. I smiled and nodded my head. I didn’t trust myself to speak. “Nick and your sisters invited me.”

I looked at Kallia then Kimberly and finally Nick. Each of them smiled knowingly.

“Next!” the guy running the Ferris wheel called out.

“I’ll understand if you don’t want me to–” my father said, but I pulled away from Nick and hugged my dad.

“I’m glad you’re here, Dad,” I sniffled.

“Next!” the Ferris wheel guy shouted as though we weren’t two feet from him.

“We hear ya. Hold your horses,” Nick grumped, handing the guy tickets for the five of us. We all climbed into a passenger car. Nick and I sat on one side, while my dad and sisters sat on the other side. The ride jolted then began to move.

“Haven’t been in one of these in… forever,” my dad admitted sheepishly.

“Pretty fun, huh, Dad?” Kallia smiled. He looked at her and nodded.

“Yeah. It’s a nice day for the festival too. I’m glad you guys invited me.”

“Us too,” Kimberly laid her head on his shoulder. He seemed caught off guard, but only for a moment because he leaned his head against hers and smiled.

“It’s nice having the three… Uh. Four of us together,” he laughed, looking at Nick.

“I’m glad I was able to tag along,” Nick chuckled.

“You got him to go to A.A.You’re allowed to tag along any time you want to,” Kallia informed him. My heart skipped a beat as my stomach knotted. Kallia’s words fired off in my head like a canon.

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