“I think I’m kind of used to being alone. God,” She rested her chin in her hands. “This whole thing is so messy. I can’t undo any of it. And I don’t want to. The damage is done.”
“Because you love me,” I said, flashing her my cockiest grin.
“Oh, shut up, Matt.” She tossed her napkin at me.
And it was like I was having a flashback. It flew so close to the candles and I couldn’t help it… A high-pitched scream filled the dining room. I knew it was me. But it still surprised me when I heard it.
Kennedy burst out laughing when the napkin didn’t set on fire and hit me in the chest. “What was that?”
“You know what happened to me!”
She started laughing harder.
I tossed the napkin on the table and walked over to her. I grabbed her and pulled her to her feet, cradling her face in my hands.
“Maybe we’re not a perfect match, Kennedy” I said. “Maybe we’re an imperfect one. But it’s the imperfect things in life that make it memorable, right?” I didn’t wait for her to respond. I leaned down and kissed her.
And she didn’t push me away this time. She kissed me back.
My nose brushed against hers as she slowly pulled back.
“Well, this night has certainly been memorable,” she said.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nigel pick up a bottle of champagne from a nearby table. But he didn’t seem interested in the champagne, because he just tossed it over his shoulder and picked up the ice bucket that it had been in.What is he doing?
Kennedy must have seen me watching him, because she turned to look at him just as he tossed the ice right in our faces.
Yup, I was going to kill him.
But Kennedy was laughing so hard.
“Nigel, what the fuck?” I said, but I was laughing too. I wiped the water out of my eyes.
“I thought you were on fire. And the name is Francois!”
I started laughing harder. “Cut it out, Nigel.” I reached out and tore his fake mustache off.
He screamed at the top of his lungs. “My mustache! What have you done?! You’ve ruined Francois’ signature style!”
“The jig is up, Nigel,” Tanner said and removed his beret. “We’ve been caught.”
I just laughed because it was all I could do. “Is anyone else craving pizza?”
“Yeah, let’s get out of here,” Kennedy said through her laughter.
“Us too?” Nigel asked.
“Oh, the night has barely even begun,” Kennedy said and grabbed the discarded bottle of champagne. It was a miracle that it hadn’t shattered.
She wanted to hang out with all of us instead of eating in this stuffy restaurant with the terrible service. Even though she knew Tanner didn’t believe in our relationship. And that Nigel was a crazy person. But it didn’t matter, because they were my friends, and she got that.
Tanner sighed. “Why does she have to be so lovely?”
She really was. Kennedy fit in my life. And I wasn’t letting her go.
Homecoming - Chapter 18
Wednesday
