Page 79 of Play It Sinful

I let out a heavy sigh. “Part of me wants to believe that, but... I guess I’m still waiting for the other shoe to drop, you know?”

She tilts her head. “What do you mean?”

I shrug. “It’s hard to explain. Sean has been perfect in the past two months, but my cynical brain is beginning to wonder if it’s real.”

“Tell your stupid brain to shut up and tell him how you feel. Maybe it can be your Christmas gift to him.”

“Oh come on. I got him a gift.”

“Is it you wearing nothing but a giant bow?” She wiggles her eyebrows up and down.

“Oh my God. You’re the worst!”

She shakes her head. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”

“Please, no salacious jokes. What if Mom or your dad overhear you?”

Kenzie grows serious. “Have you and Sean talked about coming clean to them?”

I sigh. “Not really. We’re avoiding the subject.”

“Oh God. Sometimes the brightest people make the stupidest choices.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You should know.”

She winces. “Man, I was wondering when you’d use that against me. I regret that fuck up big-time, okay? Don’t be like me. How long are you going to wait to tell Dad and Marnie?”

“I don’t know. I suppose long enough for them to know we’re serious about each other.”

“Shit. You’re going to make me carry your secret for that long? I’m beginning to understand how Joey felt when he found out about Monica and Chandler.”

Guilt enters my chest. On one side, it’s a relief I don’t need to lie to Kenzie, and we can talk about it. But we’re asking a lot of her. “I’m sorry. I know it sucks.”

“Well... maybe you can make it up to me.”

“How?”

“I don’t wanna go to college, and I need your support when I tell Dad.”

“Why don’t you want to go to college?”

“I want to focus on my music, and the band is doing really well. We have a bunch of gigs lined up already.”

“That’s great, but going to college doesn’t mean you have to give up your band. You can do both.”

She frowns. “I don’t want to do both, Ash. I’m not a booklover like you. I hate school, and the idea of wasting four years of my life pursuing a degree I don’t need makes me sick.”

I have so many arguments on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t voice them out loud. I think she’s making a mistake, but how can I convince her of that without coming across as unsupportive?

“Are you going to be on my side when I tell Dad or not?” she asks.

“Yes, of course. But you know he’ll fight you on this until the end, right?”

“I do. But he can’t force me to attend college.”

Chris might be her father, but I’ve lived with the man longer. I know how persuasive he can be when it comes to his kids’ education. Kenzie doesn’t know what kind of war she’s starting.

CHAPTER 34

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