Page 140 of Faux Real
God, the things I want to do to those lips. I swallow, simmering myself the fuck down. Kennedy blushes. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Not a chance,” I reply, taking my hand in hers. “All kidding aside, I’m proud of you, Ken. I think you’re doing the right thing.”
“Me too,” she smiles, playing with my fingertips. “I just hope my parents agree.”
“It’s not up to them,” I note. “It’s your life. Just tell them you need a break. If they understand then good, if not, then whatever. They’ll get over it.”
Kenny’s lips twist up in contemplation. “What if they ask me what I plan to do during this ‘break’? I don’t have a plan.”
“You don’t need a plan,” I say. “Tell them you plan on doing nothing for a year.”
“Nothing?”
“Yeah, nothing,” I repeat. “Say you’re gonna be a beach bum and just tan for three hundred and sixty-five days.”
“That’s a lot of tanning,” she muses, scrunching her nose. “And I burn easily.”
“All I’m saying is that you don’t need to decide right now,” I say, rubbing her back. “It’s okay not to have a plan.”
“It’s kinda scary though,” Kennedy groans. “I’ve always had a plan.”
“Don’t be scared, love. I’ve got you. Always,” I say, nodding at her phone. “Go call your parents.”
“Right now?” “Why not?”
She chews on her bottom lips for a second before grabbing her phone and dialing a number. “It’s ringing,” she whispers to me. A beat later her eyes widen. “Hi, Dad, it’s me. Can you hang on for a second?”
I frown as she presses more buttons. “What are you doing?” Kenny holds up a finger as she stands up.
“Mom?” Oh Christ, she called both of them? At the same time? What a nutter. Although, the shock might mitigate her news. She might be a nutter but she’s a smart nutter. “Hi Mom, hi Dad. I know this is super awkward, but I have something to tell you.”
I give her an encouraging nod as she walks a few yards away. “Prom tickets!” voices yell from the distance. “Get your prom tickets!”
I crane my neck toward Leon and Felicity who are handing out flyers. Shit. I forgot about prom. She’s going to be wanting to go, isn’t she? It’s like an American rite of passage. I’d be a total turd if I denied her that experience.
Fuck’s sake.
“Oi!” I wave my hand. “Leon!”
Leon comes sprinting over. “Hello lover boy,” he sings, wiggling his brows. “How’s it going?”
“Better than I deserve,” I mutter, stealing a glance at Kennedy who’s pacing back and forth. She’s not crying. Must be a good sign. I take my wallet out of my pocket. “Can I get two tickets?”
“Oh,” Leon laughs. “Kenny already got your tickets.”
I blink. “Of course she did.”
“Get used to being the beta, my friend.”
Leon places a supportive hand on my shoulder. “I’ll pray for you.”
“Thanks, mate,” I say, pocketing my wallet. “So, how long is it customary to stay at prom for? Few hours?”
“It won’t be that bad,” Leon chuckles, handing me a flyer. “We’ve got a real band playing, plus, there’ll be food and booze. We’re even raffling off a shit ton of awesome prizes, including a trip to Paris!”
“A band?” I ask, gears whirling in my head. “Really?”
“Yeah, they’re pretty dope,” Leon says, slightly annoyed that I’m not more stoked about the possibility of going to France apparently. “I heard a cover of theirs on YouTube and Ihadto book them!”
