Page 31 of Reviving Kendall

I raise my eyebrow and he says, “What? I’ve already seen everything now. What’s the point in turning around?”

My heart pounds almost out my chest and I don’t know what makes me say it, but I do, “Not everything.”

I can’t help the laugh that springs from my chest at the look on his face, and I yank the shirt over my head.

His expression quickly turns to disgust as he sees the name of my school on the front, “Yeah, we’re going to have to get you a new shirt.”

I can’t help where I go to school, so I just shrug. He walks around the small space of my room, checking out what little there is to see. There are only a few pictures of Nana, Gramps and me. Plus the one of me and the VanPelt brothers before the accident. Goose doesn’t comment on that one, though. The rest are ones I took a while ago when my camera still worked. “Gramps would shit bricks if he saw you in here right now,” I tell him.

He ignores me as he leans over to examine my water collage, “Did you take all of these?”

“Yep,” I confirm. “A long time ago.”

“Are there any recent ones?” he asks.

I shake my head, “My camera broke a few years ago, and I just haven’t had a chance to get it fixed or replaced yet.”

“Hmm,” he says. “You’ve really got an eye for detail. Are you going to major in photography in college?”

I laugh, “You’re kidding right?” When he just looks at me in confusion, I throw my arms out, “I’m not going to college. I’ll be right here working and taking care of Gramps.” I’m not bitter about it, not really. I’ve always known what my fate would be, and the best I can hope for is to make good grades, get a small scholarship or loan through financial aid, and take a few night classes at the community college.

He doesn’t say anything for a long while, and even though he’s not looking at me, it makes me anxious, “Are you ready to go?”

After nodding, he leads the way to the door. I check on Gramps before we leave, and find him asleep. Once we get outside, my steps falter. Sitting in our driveway is an old Ford truck, completely restored down to its teeth.

“Holy shit, that’s a nice truck,” I tell him.

“You like it?” he asks. “I don’t know if you know this yet or not, but Lucas is from a family of mechanics. He and his four older brothers restore cars in their spare time. For fun.” He says the last like it’s the most horrid thing someone could do with free time. “But anyways, they finished this one last year and I bought it off of them.”

It’s a cherry red in color and it shines in the sun. “Did they do the paint too?” I ask reaching to run my finger down the side.

He shakes his head, “Nah, they paid someone for that.”

“Well, she’s beautiful,” I say still in awe, not just over the truck, but to find out that Lucas works on cars. I could picture Goose doing it and possibly even Maverick, but not sweet Lucas.

Goose comes around me and opens the door as he gestures for me to get in. I smile in thanks, and get one in return that makes my heart skip about three beats before it picks back up again.

Life Isn’t Fair

Goose is nice enough to swing by the restaurant to let me talk to Charles before we head over to his house. I am hoping that he’ll let me pick up an extra shift during the day since I won’t be at school, but I’m disappointed to find out that not only will he not give me the shift but he won’t let me work while suspended from school, either. Something about state laws for school kids, even if I am eighteen. He doesn’t want to get in any trouble and I get that. I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do with myself for the next two days.

When I get back in the truck, Goose notices that my mood has deflated a little, “Everything go ok?”

I shrug, “Charles says he can’t work me if I’m suspended from school, which I understand. Just sucks.”

“At least you get some free time now,” he says with a smile.

I take a second to appreciate how attractive he is. Standing in the quad, he may have a tendency to get overlooked. Yeah, definitely calling them the quad from now on. But, between Maverick and Teagan’s strong personalities, and Lucas taking on the nice guy role, Goose doesn’t really stand out at first glance. That face makes up for it. He’s what I’ve always called a pretty boy. Everything about his face is perfect, from the green eyes framed with long, light brown lashes, to a full set of lips, and on to a squarish jawline. All of the guys are on the bigger side to be in high school, but Goose seems even a little bigger yet. That might be because he’s taller than the rest. I’m five-five and he probably clears six foot four, easy.

“Is there something on my face?” he asks, as he catches me staring.

“Nope,” I say, scrambling trying to cover up my weirdness. “I was just wondering what your real name is.”

He laughs, “How do you know Goose isn’t my real name?”

I tick the numbers off on my hand, “Ok, for one, your parents would really have to hate you to name you Goose, and, two, I’m not too savvy with movies, but I’ve seen bits and pieces of some of them.”

Putting his hand to his heart, he says, “Now, that just hurts me right here. How can you not like movies?”

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