It took several minutes for her to continue walking along the trail, and she didn’t stop until she’d sequestered herself within the empty office. She leaned against a wall and hugged herself, unable to stop his words from looping over and over in her mind.
Everything he’d said was true.
She did think he was too young. Yet, when they were together, his age never crossed her mind—other than when she was giving him lessons. He was articulate and smart, and wasn’t afraid of her…anymore. Even if he hadn’t lifted a few weights to fill out his thin frame, and ditched the glasses, his company was a calming influence. He was safe, yet intriguing.
A man she could trust when the father she had always wanted never appeared.
He was also right about the girls. Once his app dropped and he became a gazillionaire, girls upon girls would line up to walk with him or be seen in VIP rooms at the hottest clubs. Pete wasn’t the club type, but he’d settle into the lifestyle because she had rejected him. When did she have this much power?
She may eventually run into him, if he ever visited L.A. And she’d remember he was her perfect kiss. Would he remember?
Bertie came into the office with a worried expression on her face. “My brother looks like he’s going to beat someone up. He’sneverlooked this extreme. What happened?”
Keke shrugged. “Dunno,” she lied. “Did you tell him about your mom?”
Bertie rolled her eyes. “Of course not.”
That angered Keke. The one person who had the power to change everything could only see things one way. “Youhaveto tell him. Youandyour mother. He’s going to find out, and I doubt he’ll be happy that you two kept that big a secret from him.”
“He can’t handle—”
“Bertie, give me a break. You’re wrong. He’s an adult. Even if hecouldn’thandle it, it’s the perfect time for him to learn how. I mean, do we everhandlelosing a parent? No. You grieve, and you get through it.”
Bertie snorted. “You couldn’t even return for your own father’s funeral. You’re still bitter over what he said and did. Holding on to it as though you need it to fuel your own success. How’s that working for you?” Bertie peered into Keke’s eyes. “How areyouhandling it? Are you grieving? Getting through it?”
Bertie stomped past her and went out the other office door.
Keke sighed and collapsed against the desk. No. She wasn’t handling it. She was outright avoiding it. Grieving? She was in the anger stage, so that was a…yes?
Coming home was supposed to be a quick drive through. A week of s’mores and campfire songs, and then out to L.A. She never expected her entire life to be upended this much and so quickly.
The Headleys…
