Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 104869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
He pushed through the exit and left the building just as the last uncertain note left her lips and hovered above the crowd before fading into nothing.
Kenny’s shoulders slumped and her head dropped. Tina and the other women were all whooping and clapping. Kenny blinked rapidly before plastering a rigid smile on her lips and walking off stage toward her hollering group.
“Is there anything you’re not good at?” Tina asked, wrapping an arm around Kenny’s waist to give her a quick, affectionate hug. The move surprised Kenny, who stood there frozen, unsure if she should reciprocate or not. The hug was over before she could decide what to do.
“You have an amazing voice,” Tina continued, sounding impressed.
Kenny didn’t really, but her voice was just low enough to do that particular song justice. Anything from her in an even slightly higher register could only be described as caterwauling.
“Ooh, it’s our song,” Lia, Daff’s older sister, squealed. She took the mic from Kenny and dragged a protesting Daff and their giggling younger sister Daisy along with their sister-in-law, Charlie, up onto the stage.
“Oh my God, this is so embarrassing,” Charlie—a cute twenty-one-year-old home on vacation from college—groused. Her sisters ignored her.
Everybody laughed when they launched into an energetic, off-key version of “We Are Family.”
Tina turned to clap and egg on the trio, and Kenny looked around to see if Smith had rejoined his friends, happy to no longer be the source of Tina’s focus.
He was still gone.
“Tina,” she low-key yelled into the other woman’s ear. “I’m going to the ladies’ room.”
“Need me to come with you?” Tina asked, without looking away from the singing sisters.
“It’s safe, right?”
Tina turned to look at her.
“Yes. I know most of the people here. They’re decent folks. And Ralphie runs a tight ship. Any troublemakers are kicked out and banned. Also, our husbands are always keeping an eye out as well. Both Daisy and Lia’s husbands are former soldiers and ex-bodyguards. And have you seen the size of Daff’s husband?” She chuckled. “Nobody would ever dream of messing with us. Even though, y’know, the guys are not really here.” She rolled her eyes with a laugh and Kenny mustered up a smile.
Tina’s gaze sharpened. “Are you okay?”
Kenny nodded, adding a smile of reassurance to the gesture. Tina still looked concerned, but Kenny got up before the other woman could question her further.
She pushed her way through the crowd, careful to protect her injured foot in the process, and once there were enough people between Kenny and the rest of her group, she made a beeline for the exit.
Outside, she stood for a moment, relieved to be out of the stuffy atmosphere. It was lovely here. Cool, with a fresh sea breeze. She could smell and taste the brine in the air.
Pockets of people were gathered on the sidewalk, clutching drinks, having smoke breaks, and engaged in lively conversation. Kenny scanned every face, hoping Smith hadn’t simply left. She wasn’t sure why she’d followed him out here, a need to explain, maybe. To apologize yet again. But he didn’t seem to be out here.
And that was probably a good thing. She had to stay away from him. Why could she not do that?
A heavy hand closed around her shoulder and she jumped, whirling around defensively.
“God, Smith!” Her hand went to her chest in relief. “You scared the bejesus out of me. I thought I was going to have to fend off some drunken asshole.”
“Why are you out here alone?” he asked, voice dark.
“I’m not alone. I’m with you.”
Her sound logic did not impress him.
“I was about to leave. I didn’t realize that the guys were coming here tonight. Harris picked me up and this is where we wound up.”
That explained the lack of text from him.
“You don’t have to leave.”
His hand fell from her shoulder and she valiantly ignored the pang in her chest.
“Yeah. I do.”
“But…”
“You lied.” His voice was a whispered rasp and she took a step toward him in order to hear it better.
“About?”
“Not being a good singer.” He looked moody, brows furrowed, lips downturned.
Moody and resentful.
“Why that song, Kenna?”
“It’s the only one I knew I could sing,” she confessed, her own voice low now. And this time he was the one who stepped closer, head bent, his face mere inches from hers. “I used to hum it,” she admitted. “Over and over and over again after we first met. I was obsessed, learned the lyrics, downloaded the song. It was so perfect. So—”
She faltered, not sure where she was going with this. He was standing so close, his heat enveloped her. His delicious scent, clean with a hint of citrus and pine, familiar and comforting, infused her with a sense of well-being.
He smelled like home.
“Us.” He completed the abandoned sentence for her. “It was so us.”