“I do. I don’t like my man looking at other women, though,” she says as her eyes roam over him.
“It was before we even met, babe.”
“So?” Kenzie throws back.
Calvin lets out a deep sigh. “You’re right. That’s on me, I should have known you were out here waiting for me.”
For a moment, I’m shocked because they can’t be for real,right? Then I see a playful smirk at the corner of Kenzie’s mouth and realize she’s just fucking with him.
“Better.” She smiles, lifting her head a little higher as Calvin kisses her shoulder affectionately like the simp he is.
At least he’s a happy simp. If it works, it works.
“Are you into football?” I ask Courtney.
She shrugs. “I mean, I live in Crusaders country. The entire city practically shuts down on game day, but I’ve never been a die-hard fan or anything. Little too busy?—”
She stops abruptly, her casual smile dropping in an instant before she looks out towards the swaying trees and clears her throat. I don’t pry, it’s not who I am, but something about the way she’s so guarded tells me there’s way more to her than she lets on. She tries to front this rock-hard exterior, like she doesn’t let anything or anyone bother her, but I see straight through it. She’s broken inside, or at least she was. Something inside me is itching to crack her shell open and figure out how all of her little broken pieces fit together.
When Courtney looks back at me, I realize I’ve been staring at her like a fucking creep. Looking away abruptly, I find Kenzie and Calvin full-on making out before he pulls her into his lap. She grinds against him, and they both moan before he stands them up. She wraps her legs around his waist, and Calvin climbs out of the hot tub and carries her somewhere a little more private.
“Bye!” Courtney waves dramatically as I do the same.
“Have fun, kids.”
Courtney and I both chuckle before looking at each other. Slowly, her smile softens, and once again, I find myself lost in how complex her eyes are. Little flecks of green and gold shine in them with just the right amount of light. Light molten chocolate melted over jewels.
“Who’s Lily?”
The question comes out before I even think about it. So muchfor not prying. It’s been in the back of my mind ever since she slipped up, though, and part of me is curious if she’ll answer at all.
She looks taken aback at first, and then her expression turns conflicted. I watch as her gaze moves to the bubbling water and she appears to almost get lost in it. I don’t rush her or push for more. Instead, I wait quietly.
When she lifts her gaze back up, there’s a rawness like I’ve never seen splashed across her face.
“M-my sister,” she says, her voice slightly raspy, like the words were difficult to choke out.
I nod and don’t plan to ask anything else when she offers up more information.
“She’s fifteen.”
I nod. “So, basically, she’s a little shit?”
Courtney lets out a slightly amused laugh as she shakes her head. “No, quite the opposite. She’s… she’s a really, really good kid.”
There’s sadness in her tone, and understanding dawns on me. “So, are your parents in the picture at all, or is it just you two?”
Her brows pull together in confusion. “Wait, how did you know?—”
“I’ve lived in enough foster homes to know what it looks like when someone got the shit end of the stick in the parental department. You talk about her like she’s your kid, not your sister.”
Courtney tilts her head to the side. “Ah, foster kid, huh?”
Shit. I said that part out loud, didn’t I? Well, no going back now.
I shrug and don’t elaborate.
“It’s all coming into focus,” she says. “The ‘bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks’ vibe you give off. How you came in here perfectly content to be the loner. How you nonstop picked fights with me when I did nothing?—”
