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As the surprise of his sneak attack hug fades, my smile turns genuine. Kenny and I had been friends long ago. In fact, there was a time when I’d thought he was my person, the one I would marry.
But Kenny hadn’t seemed too interested in a romantic relationship with me back then, and had been so focused on his career and philanthropy. After high school, he’d moved away.
“I just came home to see Mom and Dad,” he tells me, stuffing his hands into his pocket, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “You look amazing.”
What girl doesn’t like to hear that from the boy she’d once thought she was in love with?
Feeling my cheeks grow warm, I say, “Thanks. You too.”
He takes a step closer. “Listen, I uh… I was actually hoping I would run into you this week. My mom said you were working at the Moose Knuckle, so I was going to stop by there tonight.”
I blink, taking a moment to try to understand that. “To see me?”
A pink hue creeps up past the collar of his shirt, right to the tips of his ears. “Uh…” He clears his throat. “Yeah. I, uh… I’ve kinda been keeping tabs on you. Ya know, like on social media and stuff?”
I don’t know how to respond to that, so I just gape at him as he fumbles to explain himself.
“I’ve always kinda regretted the way we left things. I thought maybe you and I could like, I don’t know, go out to dinner or something?”
“My momma’s having dinner with me and Jonas,” Harrison tells him, marching between us clutching a ridiculously large stuffed armadillo as he glares up at Kenny.
It takes him a moment to recover, but I have to give Kenny credit when he crouches down to talk to my son. “Hi, I’m Kenny, an old friend of your mom’s.”
Harrison narrows his eyes, and it’s at that moment I feel the tension in the air. A quick glance over my shoulder, I see TK mere inches away, his eyes narrowed at Kenny.
“My momma has enough friends. She doesn’t need old ones.”
“Harrison,” I scold. “Be polite.”
“It’s all right. I…”
His voice trails off as he takes in the pissed off biker at my back.
Sighing, I turn to the side and wave my hand toward TK. “Kenny, this is TK. TK, this is my friend Kenny.”
Neither of them say a word, only barely containing their sneers while managing chin lifts in the other’s direction.Men.
But I’m glad TK and Harrison had interrupted. It’s odd to think about, but years ago, I would have given anything for Kenny to confess he thought about me and cyber-stalked my social media. A dinner date with him would’ve been a dream come true for high school Cora. But grown-up Cora likes things a little more… manly.
“Thank you for the offer, Kenny,” I say, taking Harrison’s hand. “I do have plans tonight. But it was so wonderful to see you.”
Taking another look at TK, he presses his lips together and nods. “Take care of yourself, Cora.”
“You too,” I say to his retreating back.
Watching him leave, I marvel at how much things can change in just a few years.
“Who was that?” TK asks, stepping around to face me.
“Just an old friend.”
TK’s eyes narrow as he watches Kenny disappear into the crowd. “That hug looked super friendly,” he points out. His tone is light, but the possessive glint in his eye makes my belly flutter with desire. And that just pisses me off.
“What do you care, anyway?” I snap.
Raising his brows, he tilts his head to the side. “Cora…”
I look down at Harrison, but he’s paying us no attention. He’s busy deciding which game he can play next to win another stuffed animal.
