Page 53 of Blue Moon Love

He nodded. “Will do.”

As we headed out, I couldn’t help but glance one more time at Kenna. She was dancing with Jonah. Laughing at something he said. The sight hit me like a sucker punch in the gut from the Incredible Hulk.

“Sorry, son. I didn’t mean to be a party pooper,” Witty apologized as we walked out of the community center.

“You weren’t,” I answered honestly.

I would rather get impacted wisdom teeth extracted without any Novocain than watch Kenna and Jonah together. Witty had unwittingly saved me from a night of pure torture.

23

KENNA

“If ya wanna make an omlette, ya gotta break a few eggs.” ~ Archie “Witty” Whitlock

“So, how are things going with…” Taylor’s words trailed off as she bounced her shoulders up and down.

“We’re just friends,” I stated out of habit. It was a Pavlovian response at this point whenever I was asked about Sam.

It had never been an outright lie before. But after last night, it felt like it might be. Although, people had friends with benefits. Was that what we were? Or was it just friends with benefit, no s, not plural?

Taylor’s face scrunched in confusion. “Isn’t this the third date you’ve been on?”

“Oh, sorry, I thought…never mind.” Even though I’d accidentally answered the question, thinking she was talking about Sam, my answer didn’t change. Except with Jonah, it was actually true. He was an amazing guy, and I thought he was attractive, but I wasn’t attracted to him. We were definitely in the friend zone. Tonight, had sealed the deal on that. I was hoping that seeing him tonight would get my mind off of Sam, but if anything, spending time with Jonah only emphasized what I felt about Sam and what I lacked with Jonah. “The fourth date, actually, but I think that this will be the last one.”

It was frustrating that I didn’t feel a spark with him. My life would be so much easier if I did. Jonah had every quality I wanted in a partner except one: he wasn’t Sam. But if that was the make-or-break criteria, then I was going to be single for the rest of my life.

That thought made me want to drink. I grabbed a bottle of wine from the table, popped the cork out, and filled two glasses.

“None for me,” Taylor waved her hand as I poured the second.

“Do you have to work later?” I asked, thinking that was why she was sticking to water.

“No.” She leaned forward and whispered. “Actually, I’m…pregnant.”

“Pregnant?” I whispered back.

She nodded and pulled a ring from her pocket. “We’re getting married in two weeks.”

“Married? Two weeks?” I parroted again.

“I have three days off between Christmas and New Year’s,” she explained. “It’s going to be small. Well, as small as it can be in Wishing Well. Kane is going to walk me down the aisle and be Remi’s best man. And I was wondering if you would be my maid of honor.”

“Oh my gosh! Yes. Congratulations!” I whisper-yelled as I threw my arms around Taylor and felt her stiffen. She hated any form of PDA, but she was just going to have to deal with it. I was so ridiculously happy for her.

“Don’t say anything to anyone,” she whispered into my ear before pulling away from me. “I don’t want anything to take away from your parents’ night. I’m going to tell everyone in the next few days.”

“Got it,” I assured her as I saw Jonah approach us out of the corner of my eye.

“Hi.” He smiled at both me and my cousin.

“I’m gonna go find my daughter. Last I saw, she was raiding the dessert table,” Taylor excused herself.

When she left, Jonah reached out his hand. “Would you like to dance?”

“Sure.” I nodded and placed my fingers in his palm.

The touch did nothing for me. No zip. No a. No dee. No doo. No dah. All Sam had to do was look at me and my entire body zip-a-dee-doo-dah’ed and zip-a-dee-a’ed. And it was sure a wonderful day.

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