Page 133 of Faking Forever
Twenty-Five
Organizingher father’s birthday party in only two days really helped keep Kenny’s mind off her broken heart.
Beth and Fern had both called, offering to help, as had Gideon and Cade, but Kenny firmly and politely refused all offers.
As a result, she’d maybe gone a little overboard for what was—essentially—just a family gathering.
“The balloon arch is a bit much, right?” she murmured to Beth as she anxiously smoothed a palm down the silk skirt of her dress.
Beth and Gideon had been the first to arrive, and while Gideon disappeared into the kitchen to fetch them all some champagne, Beth ran an admiring eye around the candlelit living room.
“How the hell did you manage to organize all of this in two days? On aweekend?”
Kenny smiled.
“Money solves all problems,” she said, then cringed. “That sounded really arrogant, right? And a bit douchey.”
Beth laughed.
“You’ve never worried about that before.”
“Oh myGod, are you telling me that I’ve said cringey shit like that before? No wonder you didn’t like me.”
Beth turned to stare at Kenny, her eyes huge behind her glasses.
“Who says I didn’t,um, didn’t like you?”
“I mean…” Kenny shrugged self-consciously and picked at an imaginary thread on her flawless skirt. “I always assumed so, because you’re always so quiet and withdrawn around me.”
Beth laughed and shook her head.
“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry if I ever gave you that impression, Kenny. It’s just that you make me a little nervous. And when I’m nervous, I stammer. So I t-tend to just not speak. And the only reason I’m-I’m nervous is because I admire you so much. You’re one of the,um, the-the most accomplished and impressive people I know.”
Kenny flushed, embarrassed and uncomfortable with the woman’s praise.
“Well, then I’m sorry you’re nervous around me.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. Beth grinned.
“That’s ameproblem, not a you problem. It’s something I had to work out, and I mostly have. You always seemed soperfectthat I tended to kind of—and please don’t take this the wrong way—I kind of saw you as almost superhuman. After your camping trip with Smith, I recognized that I was being unfair. You have the same insecurities and flaws and fears as the rest of us. And you most definitely can have bad hair days.”
“Not only that,” Kenny leaned to gravely confide, “I suffer from the Mariko Aoki phenomenon.”
She wasn’t disappointed when Beth stared at her for a long moment before bursting into laughter. She knew her sister-in-law was extremely knowledgeable on a host of varied and diverse subjects, and would get it.
“Nooo,” Beth howled, laughing helplessly.
“It was hell during my college years,” Kenny confessed, completely pokerfaced. Beth’s happy laughter was a balm to her wounded soul. “Every time I went to the library, I immediately needed to poop.”
“Oh,stop,” Beth pleaded, bent double.
“And now you know my secret shame,” Kenny intoned. And Beth laughed again.
“If it makes you feel better, that phenomenon is more common than most people know, even if research is inconclusive.”
“And you callmeimpressive,” Kenny said with a smile. “You’re theonlyperson I know who can simply rattlea fact like that off about a something most people don’t even know exists. I’ve always admired that about you. That and your ability to get along with people.”
This time it was Beth’s turn to flush. The other woman shrugged before awkwardly reaching for Kenny’s hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Look at us, forming our own little mutual admiration society,” she half joked.
