Page 106 of The Princess and the Paparazzi
“Of course, you get to choose how much you want me in your life. But I’m kind of hoping you won’t kick me to the curb.”
There’s just a hint of that toddler in her still. I see it now.
“Who hasn’t secretly wished for a sister as cool and awesome as you?” I say. “But it’s overwhelming. I’m not sure I can live up to your level of success. I don’t fit into your world. I’m not smart, glamorous and … shiny like you.”
“Are you kidding me? You know that’s all bullshit, right? There’s nothing that makes celebrities better people than anybody else,” Lorelei insists.
“I mean, it’s not like you’re a neurosurgeon.” I imitate Naomi, and we both crack up.
“If anything, neither Rafe nor I are worthy of you, Kenna. You work tirelessly to make other people’s lives better. And I know some bad dudes have taken advantage of you, but I’m here to tell you, Rafe is not that guy. I know Rafe like a brother, and that dude is crazy about you.”
“If he’s your brother and you’re my sister …”
“Stop. I saidlikea brother.” Lorelei rolls her eyes. “Do you know how weird it was to find that photo of the two of you where you looked so much like me?” She shivers. “But here’s the thing. It’s so clearly not a picture of me because Rafe, mybuddyRafe, would never ever in a million years look at me the way he was looking at you in that photo.”
“What photo?”Is she talking about the ones on social media?
“The one that you took.”
“I didn’t take a photo of me and Rafe.”
“Oh yeah, you did.” Lorelei holds out a hand. “Come back inside and see.”
* * *
We cut through the kitchen when we head back in. Naomi is standing beside Uncle Nick and Uncle Stavros at the griddle.
“I suspected it, but I knew something was definitely up the minute I chatted with Lorelei’s mom. She said Lorelei had found some photos, possible relatives here in Ephron. Plus, Lorelei can’t make a grilled cheese sandwich, let alone pancakes.”
“Oh, I’ve heard you make some excellent dishes with cheese at your restaurant,” Uncle Stavros gushes.
“Oh yes. Come to my restaurant in Toronto, and I’ll show you what I do with Halloumi,” Naomi says, smiling.
Uncle Nick flips the last pancake onto the stack on the plate and slides it to me. Then he dusts the stack with a mixture of crushed Fruity Pebbles and powdered sugar. “Order up,” he says, passing me the plate and jerking his head toward the seating area.
“You got this.” Lorelei squeezes my hand.
I take a deep breath and head out into the diner where Rafe and Orly are sitting by themselves at one of the large, round booths. Orly is perched in a booster. Her dolls and crayons are spilled across the surface of the table where she is currently coloring and snacking on some fruit. She’s stacked up all the jelly containers like blocks, and some of them have spilled onto the bench. Rafe is just sitting there, staring at the blank screen of the camera in front of him.
“Your pancakes, madam?” I set the plate in front of Orly. “We have strawberry syrup to go with them,” I say, pointing at the cruet on the side of the plate. “I highly recommend you try it.”
“LIE LIE!” Orly stands in the booth and flings herself at me, knocking her juice over in the process. Fortunately, there’s a lid on it, and Rafe rights the cup and mops the spill before it travels. His eyes meet mine.
“Looks like we made a little bit of a mess after all,” I say, sitting down in the booth with Orly still wrapped around me. “Are you going to eat these, or are they for me?” I tease, pretending that I’m going to eat one of her pancakes. She jumps off me, moving to guard her plate protectively.
“My poncooks!” she says.
“Better eat them while they’re still warm then,” I say, smiling.
“I wish you would keep the camera.” Rafe looks up at me, pushing the camera toward me, hopefully.
“Show her the picture, Rafe,” Lorelei hisses, sauntering by with a pot of coffee held aloft, like she works in the place and she’s scouting for mugs to fill.
“Hi, Lorelei.” Orly waves her Barbie at my sister without looking up from the plate of pancakes.
“Go away, Lorelei. I was getting to it.” Rafe rolls his eyes and makes an annoyed face at her. Then he resumes blankly staring at the blank screen.
“So? Are you going to show me?” I hold out a hand.
