Page 41 of Faking Forever
“I can’t stay here.” Kenny finally found her voice and they turned to stare at her, as if only now remembering that she was there. And had an opinion in the matter. “It wouldn’t be fair. Smith came here to be with you. You’re his family. And I’m intruding.”
“You’re family too.” Tina’s sweet, simple response stole Kenny’s breath away. In those three words, she finally heard the acceptance she’d always assumed would never be hers. Not from Tina. Or Beth. Or even Fern.
“Thank you.” The words were choked out on a sob, and she clapped a horrified hand over her mouth as she realized how close to tears she truly was. She took a moment to compose herself before clearing her throat and continuing. “I know I’mnot the most…likeableperson.” She ignored Tina’s gasp. “So I want you to know that it means so much to me to hear you say that.”
“Who told you that?” Tina asked in dismay. “Kenny, why would you say that?”
Kenny slanted a helpless look toward Smith, who looked more than a little guilty.
“No specific reason,” she said, wanting this all to be over. It was time for her to go home and lick her wounds in private. “I’m aware of my shortcomings. I’m sorry we never got to know each other better, Tina. I-I…I really wanted to. I just wasn’t sure…”
She shook her head. This was all moot.
“I’m sorry, I’m tired. I think I’ll make my calls and take a nap.” She struggled to her feet, ignoring Smith’s outstretched hand.
Tina also stood up, still distressed, and before Kenny knew what was happening, the much shorter woman gave her fierce hug.
“Kenny,” she said as she stepped back, her hands loosely clasped around Kenny’s forearms. “I’ve never been great with people either. In fact, before moving here I had only one friend and a truckload of baggage. So, trust me, I’m the last person to judge anyone for being socially awkward. I’m truly sorry if I ever made you feel like I didn’t like you. I just thought you…” She laughed, but it sounded like a sob. “Well, honestly, one trust fund kid to another, I thought you were a massive snob.”
The confession dragged a laugh out of Kenny.
“I get that a lot. Which probably means it’s true,” she said and was gratified when her dry comment surprised another, happier, laugh from Tina. “Goodbye, Tina. Please give the babies hugs from me.”
Tina looked like she was about to cry and Kenny really couldn’t handle that. Not right now. She gave her soon-to-beex-sister-in-law a small smile and left the porch as quickly as her toe would allow.
“The soonest they can get a driver out to me is tomorrow morning,” Kenny told Smith when he finally came inside half an hour later. He and Tina had spent that entire time talking on the patio.
The conversation had been muffled, their tones subdued, and Kenny had deliberately sought to tune them out, not wanting to eavesdrop on whatever they were talking about. She was almost certain it was about her, and she really wasn’t in the mood to hear any more of Smith’s negative opinions about her.
He didn’t say anything in response to her words and strode to the kitchen to grab some water from the fridge.
“I know it’s an inconvenience, but I hope it’s okay if I stay another night?”
He turned to face her, leaned against the fridge and took a thirsty drink from the water bottle, not breaking eye contact until he was done.
“Do I have a choice?” He swiped the back of his forearm over his mouth and capped the bottle again.
“You always have a choice,” she whispered.
“None that don’t make me look like a massive dickhead.”
“Maybe Tina wouldn’t mind if…”
“Stay the fuck away from my sister!” The viciousness in the snarled words took her aback and she recoiled in shock.
“What?”
“You don’t get to make the effort now. Here. At the end of everything. What would be the point of that? Stay away from my family. I won’t allow you to fuck them up too.”
There was only so much venom a person could withstandbefore it overwhelmed their system and for Kenny, this was the lethal dose.
She struggled to her feet, ignoring his instinctive reach toward her.
“You’ve made it clear that you think I’m an awful person. Cold. Unfeeling. Lacking in both substance and emotion. That about cover it?” she asked, swaying a little beneath the weight of exhaustion and pain.
“You never let me in,” he repeated. “Yesterday was the first time I ever really felt like you needed me.”
“I’m so sorry I’m not some damsel in distress who can’t tie her shoelaces without needing your help.”
