Page 28 of Known By You
She giggled again. “I’m not sure I can resist. You have that best friend energy coming out your pores.”
He gasped. “Are you saying I have big pores? Not all of us can have flawless skin like Jack.”
Jack’s low chuckle would make a lesser woman tremble. Not me, because I was currently and inexplicably jealous of an eight-months-pregnant woman.
“They literally call you Barbie because you’re so pretty. I don’t think there’s any comparison.”
Kenny tsked. “They call me Barbie because my name is Kenny and they decided Ken would be too on-the-nose.”
Jack was already shaking his head slowly. “Your very own Jess Korbel-Rawlins told me it was at least in part because you’re so cheery, and I quote, ‘perfect-looking like a Ken doll.’”
Kenny’s lips twitched and Evie hid a laugh behind her hand.
“Fine.” His gaze snagged on me as I approached them,and his eyes held mine as he said, “But I would like to add the caveat that I am very muchunlikea Ken doll in certain places that shall not be named.”
Evie burst out laughing, and even Jack sounded truly amused. Kenny just winked at me like a little creep.
“This is the most fascinating conversation to come upon, I have to say.” I meant it. I wanted to know everything about Kenny and these little tidbits were absolute catnip to me.
“Too bad the mold was broken on the left hand.” He held up his hand complete with three fingers.
Evie’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, gosh. I’m sorry. Can I—is it okay to ask what happened?”
Kenny leaned his hands down on the counter. “Of course. It was a fireworks accident when I was a teenager showing off. So stupid.” He rolled his eyes and shrugged, then tossed back his coffee like a shot, and turned to me. “We ready to roll?”
Evie and Jack moved instantly, doubtless unsure what to say about the supposed firework incident and ready to get on the road. I’d have to ask Kenny about that story since it was markedly different from the one he’d told me about the deer last night. But for now, we moved toward the exit.
“Back exit is closed after an incident there with a K-pop group, so we’re stuck going out the front. How about you go get the car and bring it around and I’ll escort?” Kenny said.
Not ideal to use the front, but Jack had a hat pulled low on his head and Kenny now donned one, too, so they looked like college bros ready to bet on a horse race or something as long as you didn’t notice they were both extremely good-looking and well-dressed.
Well, at least Jack looked particularly stylish, but it wassubtle enough hopefully people wouldn’t notice in the low lights of the casino floor.
I moved quickly downstairs, using the main elevators, and retrieved the car. In another few minutes, I was parking and exiting the vehicle, a bellman waiting to help with luggage despite my statements that I didn’t need any.
As I waited for the group to come into view, I realized they were already standing just inside the pneumatic doors. When the panels pulled wide again, I saw Kenny hugging a kid.What?
When he pulled back, his face was blank.
My entire existence went on alert. That was not Kenny.
The man standing in front of a small group of people with Jack and Evie to the side was a ghost of himself. I hadn’t known him long, but I knew enough to see something was very wrong, so I moved. Jogging inside, I joined the group.
“Everything okay?” I asked them quietly.
Both gave me concerned looks.
“Kenny, are you?—”
“This someone you work with? Introduce us!”
A petite blond woman with a weathered, tanned face extended a hand. “I’m Mandee Carmichael and this is my husband, Glen. This is my oldest son, Glen Junior, and his son, also Glen.” She beamed at me.
Kenny stood stock-still.
I extended my hand. “Elizabeth.” I couldn’t say it was nice to meet them because I had no idea what was going on.
“Can you stay and have breakfast with us, Uncle Kenny? This buffet is the best one and my mom knows the chef so we get?—”
