Page 8 of Reviving Kendall

They do a crazy fist bump handshake thing, “What’s up bro?”

The stranger all but jumps up and down on his toes, “You ready to whoop some Eastern ass on Friday?”

Lucas grins, “You already know,”

“This is the year we go undefeated man. I feel it,” the stranger says, “Oh and after party is at Kelly’s lake house.”

He looks over and notices me for the first time, “Hi, I don’t think we’ve met. I’mHenry Edward the third. Most people just call me Eddie.”

I take his outstretched hand, “Kendall. Nice to meet you.”

He smiles, “Likewise. You should definitely come to the soirée Friday night. It’s going to be banging. Especially if our boys take us to state.”

Glancing up at Lucas, I see he’s watching me. Possibly waiting for the next break down. I have half a second to be thankful that the tears have stopped falling and I don’t have a bad after crier’s face, other than slightly puffy eyes. Trying to make my face relax, I smile and one side of his mouth quirks up. I turn back to Eddie, “Sounds like fun. I’ll be there.”

“Most excellent,” he says before fist bumping us and making his way back to his booth where several other people dressed the same wait.

Lucas’ hand finds my lower back and sends a kaleidoscope of butterflies straight through my belly as he leads us to a booth in the corner. He gives me a little nudge to sit with my back against the wall as he sits to face me.

“Sorry about that. You didn’t make any promises that you have to uphold or anything,” he says watching my face.

I shrug, “I’m actually off Friday night. Might be nice to do something different for a change.”

This earns me a full-on smile and I have to look away before I find myself falling into it, “So you guys are like some big football stars?”

He looks surprised, “Wow, are we that easy to guess?”

I roll my eyes, “I may be the weird girl from the trailer park, but I do like my football. Just not our team because they fucking suck. Not to mention the players are complete dicks.”

There’s a quick moment of silence before he bursts out laughing. It’s a head back kind of laugh that draws the attention of the people around us, including his schoolmates in the corner. The tiny blonde girl sitting with them gives me an appreciative nod. I’m not sure I understand why, but it’s nice to not be glared at for once. When my eyes move back to Lucas he’s smiling enough that the laugh lines are still there around his eyes.

The waitress chooses this moment to walk up, “How are you doing today Lucas? Where are the other three to the fantastic four?”

His smile turns respectful, “They all had detention after school. So, it’s just Kendall and I today, Judy.”

Her gaze flicks to me, “He being a proper gentleman?”

If it were Teagan or Maverick in front of me, I wouldn’t hesitate to get them in trouble. I’m just not going to do that to Lucas, so instead I answer, “Yes ma’am.”

“Oh, pretty and polite,” she says then moves her hand beside her mouth as she mock whispers to him, “This one’s a keeper.”

He grins at me again and I feel my face turn red from the attention.

Judy saves me, “Are we ordering the usual?”

“Yes please,” he replies, “And Kendall will have the same.”

He winks at me as she says, “Ok, be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”

“Did you just order for me?” I ask with mock horror.

The grin he shoots me could melt sugar, “I do believe that I just did.”

My eyebrow goes up in question, “What if I don’t like what you ordered?”

Shrugging he says, “I guess you’ll just have to trust me.”

This takes me aback. It’s been a long time since I trusted anyone other than Gramps. My spine straightens, and I lean back against my seat. I pick at a spot on the table with my fingernail.

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