Page 23 of Worthy of Sunsets and Second Chances

We make our way downstairs and back into the kitchen. Wren starts to fuss, telling me that she is almost ready for another bottle.

“There’s a coffee and some Sugar Cube cookies on the counter for you.” I point to the offering.

“That wasn’t necessary but thank you. I will never say no to their cookies. And I need the coffee boost today to help me get things ready for the party.”

As she bites into a cookie I am distracted by the sugar crystals left on her lips and the way her pink tongue darts out to lick them up. My dick jumps in my pants, reminding me that we know exactly what that mouth tastes like, what it feels like to have her wrapped around me, sucking me deep into her warm throat.

“Did you hear me?” Kendra’s question snaps me out of my treacherous memories that I normally try to avoid, but it’s becoming more and more difficult with her always around.

“Sorry, I didn’t. Distracted.” I clear my throat and press up against the kitchen island so Kendra can’t see my hard-on. “Thinking . . . about the meeting.”

“Hmm. What are the next steps?” Kendra sighs, as if she is upset at herself for even asking, allowing herself to be interested.

“I have to have CPS come here and do a home inspection, go to court and have a judge sign off to put me on her official birth certificate.”

“Well, hopefully that will be soon.” She sips the coffee, eyebrows lifting, bright eyes locking in on me with surprise.

“You remembered how I like my coffee?”

“Well, I wasn’t sure if you still took it the same, but I decided to make a gamble and just order it the way I used to. Guess it paid off.” I can’t help but give her a cocky smirk.

Her words about trying to remember as little as possible about me echo between us silently.

Wren snaps the tension with a pitiful cry. Hangry. Impatient.

“Okay! I’m on it, sorry.” I whirl through the process of making the bottle and ask, “What time does your party start tonight?”

“We are all meeting at Sutton’s at five thirty for appetizers, then taking a party bus to dinner and a couple different bars in Norfolk, then dancing.” Kendra lays out the plan, bouncing and trying to soothe Wren.

“Busy night. Want to come into the living room with your coffee and the rest of that while I feed her?” I ask, crossing my fingers she will say yes. I don’t want her to leave yet for some inexplicable reason.

“Uhhh”—she checks the time—“I guess so.”

I walk up to her, set the warm bottle down, and take Wren from Kendra. “Come here, my little jelly bean.” I smile down at her very cranky face, grab the bottle again, and pop it into her mouth. Immediately silence and greedy gulps fill the kitchen.

I start to walk to the family room with Wren but turn to see Kendra, stiff and frozen to the same spot.

“Coming?” I ask.

“W-what did you just call her?” She bobs her head toward Wren.

“Oh.” I laugh. “I’m just trying a few different nicknames out, seeing what feels right for her. First I tried ‘little bird,’ ya know, because of her name. Then baby girl, but both of those are too obvious.” Kendra is just staring at me so I keep going, thinking I must sound like an idiot. “A few others are cute. Little lady, ladybug. Nugget, but she’s too small for that one. That makes me think of a chunky baby. I think peanut is the winner that is going to stick, but just now I tried jelly bean.”

Kendra’s chest rises and falls quickly, like she can’t catch her breath. The lightness, the curious woman that was just about to follow me, has vanished.

“I’m sorry, I—I need to go. I, yeah, I have too much I need to get ready for the party. But thank you for the coffee, and the cookies.” She spins, rushes out the back door toward her house . . . leaving the unfinished coffee and cookies behind.

Somehow I just fucked up and upset Kendra all over again. But this time, I really have no idea what I did.

19

Kendra

NINETEEN YEARS OLD

“Ilove you,” I whisper to him in the dark, my heart pounding so hard in my chest I feel like it’s going to fly right out of my body. I have never been more sure of anything in my life, nor have I ever been so afraid to speak.

Anyone that knows me would not say that I lack in confidence or word count when it comes to talking. But this is totally different. This could change everything. I need Eli to know how I feel before he goes back to school and I go back to my own existence outside of the bubble that I jump into when I’m in Fox Grove every summer.