“I remember.”
“So…why can’t you talk to me about what happens in your life?” she asked with a slight dig to her voice. “I never knew Derek had a drinking problem and never would have guessed it, either.”
“Because it’s not your business, Kelly, and that’s not my life, it’s his.” I put my focus on her, and by her shocked expression, it was clear I’d hurt her feelings. She dropped her eyes to avoid mine, and I sighed, taking a step toward her. “He’s my best friend,” I said, a little softer. I sometimes forgot how sensitive she was. “I’m just—I’m not sure what all you expect me to say about it. It’s not really a problem, it’s just…he’s aggressive when he drinks. He’s not an alcoholic or anything. He knows when to stop, he just doesn’t do well after a few hard ones, is all.”
“I understand,” she murmured, but she truly didn’t, and she probably never would. Her thick eyelashes fluttered as she put her focus on me again. She closed the gap between us by taking three simple steps, and then her sun-kissed arms were wrapped around my neck, her lips on my jawline. “Why do I get the feeling that’s the reason you didn’t want me to come? Because you didn’t want your perfect friend Derek to rear his ugly head.”
That wasn’t why, but she could believe whatever she wanted for now. “I never said I didn’t want you to come. I just wasn’t sure how they’d feel about you coming without asking first, but they’re fine. They always get through it.” I sighed. “Everyone seems to be warming up to you.”
“Yeah…” Her smile disappeared, her eyes a little more serious. “Everyone but Kandy.” She huffed and pulled back.
I kept my expression casual as I asked, “What do you mean by that?
“She’s so…cold to me. She gives me this grim look sometimes like she wishes I wasn’t around. And I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m pretty sure she likes you, Quinton—and I get it. I’ve had a lot of crushes on guys who were older than me. Some of my dad’s friends were really hot, and it didn’t help that they visited our house so often. It’s just a girl thing, I guess. I just…I mean it’s been that way since I first met her. I always get this distant, icy vibe from her. I’m trying to get her to warm up to me as much as I can, but she is not having it.”
I turned so I wouldn’t have to look at her and was glad she didn’t notice.
“I thought she’d be way past that now, but hopefully she gets over the crush she has on you soon. Mindy said she’s noticed a little distance happening with her too—that Kandy used to tell her everything, but now she’s kind of keeping to herself, or locking herself away in her room. Or hanging out at Frankie’s more. She also said Kandy called it quits with some football player she was talking to? I’m wondering if maybe that’s why she’s been acting like that.”
Shit. She really did it. No wonder she was pissed. I’d told her to end it with him, got her hopes up, only to crush them by bringing Kelly along with me.
“She’ll get over it—the distance, I mean,” I said. “She’s still young and has a lot to learn.” I turned and grabbed Kelly by the waist, reeling her in and kissing her lips. I wanted her to stop talking about Kandy. The mere mention of her name made my cock ache.
“I just want her to like me, you know?” She whined. She was doing it again. The whiny thing she did when she wanted something to go her way. It was a terrible mindset to want everyone to like you. It just wasn’t realistic. “I’m going to be around for a long time, don’t you think?”
I pressed my lips. “Yeah. I hope so.”
“We’ll be like family soon. She’s a good girl—I see it. She kind of reminds me of a little sister. Maybe right now we’re just feuding like sisters do.” She gave me a peck on the lips. “Maybe I can warm her up by taking her and Frankie shopping in the morning. Buy her whatever she wants. Derek is so strict with her about what she wears. As a young woman, she deserves to explore her options. Mindy said she had to sneak Kandy to a lingerie store for one of her birthdays because she was begging to go for their annual sale. Can you believe that? She shouldn’t have to beg or sneak to a store created for women. There’s nothing wrong with expressing interest in those things.”
I sighed. I knew Kandy was going to hate the idea of shopping with Kelly, but I had to pretend Kandy was just my best friend’s daughter. In Kelly’s mind, I was like an uncle to Kandy, which meant she wanted to be like the aunt. “I think they’ll enjoy that,” I told her. “Just…don’t push too hard, okay? Kandy has a mouth on her, and she isn’t afraid to use it when she’s fed up.”