Page 86 of I Knew He Was Trouble
When we reach the front of the line, I look at her. “You okay if I order for us?”
She loops her arm through mine. “I trust you.”
Those three little words may not seem like much to most people. But to me, they meaneverythingcoming from her. I can’t help but smile at her like a complete freaking idiot. The sun hits her face just right, making her look like a vision straight out of my dreams. How she went from being someone who annoyed me to no end to the girl I can’t stop thinking about wasn’t even gradual. It was hard and fast, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Sir, are you ready to order?” The cashier at the food truck speaks a little louder than normal, like he’s already tried—and failed—to get my attention.
“Yeah, sorry.” I don’t even have to look at the menu. “We’ll take two of the classic burger and fries baskets with extra house sauce on the side.”
“Any drinks?”
“Water for me, and...” I turn to Kelsey.
“A Diet Coke, please.”
The cashier rings up our total and gives me an order number after I pay. Kelsey and I grab our drinks, along with some extra napkins, and head to a picnic table nearby.
Once they call our number, I get up and grab the food.
“I hope you’re ready for the best burger of your life.” I set one of the containers in front of Kelsey.
“You’re really hyping up this burger, so it better be good.” She smirks.
I motion to her food. “Judge away.”
Kelsey picks up her burger and takes a giant bite. She closes her eyes and moans.
I smile and take a bite of my own. “Good, right?”
“Good?” She scoffs. “This is amazing. The sauce is to die for.” Kelsey pops a fry in her mouth. “Mmm, and the fries are fresh and perfectly salted. I can’t believe I’ve been missing out all these years.”
“I’m glad you approve.” I dip a few fries in their house sauce—if I’m having a cheat day, I’m doing it right. “Tell me about your family.”
“My family?”
I nod. “I know about your dreams now, but I’d like to learn about where you came from.”
She sets down her burger and wipes her mouth with a napkin. “My family isn’t like yours. I’m an only child, and my parents divorced when I was in third grade.”
I take a sip of my water. “That sucks that you had to go through that at such a young age.”
“It did.”
“Was their divorce cordial?” I take another bite of my burger.
Kelsey blows out a breath. “Not at all. Their divorce proceedings dragged on for two years because they fought over every little thing. I’m sure their lawyers were thrilled once their divorce was finalized.”
“Did they fight over custody of you?”
“Yeah, my mom won primary custody. But I think they only wanted custody of me so that the other person would have to pay them child support.”
Although she’s the one who knows her family dynamics best, I sincerely hope that’s not true. I can’t imagine a world where anyone wouldn’t want Kelsey. “That’s terrible.”
She eats a few fries. “Yeah. My middle and high school years were spent going back and forth between their homes, with them both wanting information about the other parent. It was pretty exhausting. They bought me nice gifts, trying to outdo the other, too. My mom actually got me front-row seats to a Taylor Swift concert in sixth grade. That was where I met Shayna, Mallory, and Alyssa, so at least one good thing came out of their divorce.”
“Again, that sucks, but I’m glad you got your best friends out of it.” We both finish our burgers, and I dive back into the conversation. “You said you’re an only child, but what about grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins? Did you have someone you could lean on throughout the divorce?”
She shakes her head. “My parents are both only children, too. And they waited a while to have me, so I lost all my grandparents by the time I was seven.”
