Page 13 of Tempting Bo
She shoots me a grin and pats me on the shoulder as she rounds the counter, ignoring my flustered chuckle.
“Hang on,” I say before she makes it to the stairs. “What do you meanyears?”
“Oh, come on.” Maggie rolls her eyes patronizingly, scoffing at my confusion. “We all knew you two would get together, it was just a matter of when. I'm honestly surprised it took you guys so long.”
She leaves me with that, making her way back up the stairs as I sit with a stupid grin on my face.
“Oh, take her to that new steakhouse,” Maggie shouts from the top of the stairs. “Oakley said she and Jamie went and it was great.”
I guess that’s sorted, then. I'll have to call and make reservations.
It's funny to hear that my family has been expecting this for so long, especially since I kind of let romance fall to the wayside. I always knew I liked Kenzie, but she never seemed interested in me. Everyone I went out with, I wound up comparing to her, and they all fell short. In recent years, I haven't even bothered to go out on dates. It's not like I'm lonely—my friends are great, and I get to see my family all the time.
Now that Kenzie’s back, she’s all I can think about. Could I really have had this the whole time? If I had just asked her sooner…
There's no use beating myself up over missed opportunities. All I can do now is give her the best I have to offer. Kenziedeserves perfection, and I’m definitely not that, but I can try to get as close as I can to it.
I'll have to sort everything out with Savannah soon, convince her to get over whatever insanity is going on in her head this time. It's bad enough that my sister is hearing about it, but I don't want Kenzie to have to worry about such a baseless lie. I said it to distract Maggie, but I was being honest—I’d never do that to Kenzie.
Just the thought of Savannah is enough to put a damper on my mood.
Hasn't she done enough already? First Oakley, now me. I wish she'd just leave our family alone. Pick up a new hobby, knitting or tennis or something, whatever will keep her busy.
Regardless, even if she wants to spread horrible rumors, I know it can't be true. I'd remember sleeping with her.
I would.
Besides, I’d never let myself do something like that, drunk or otherwise.
I've got more important things to do than worry about Savannah Ward spreading ridiculous, immature rumors. I have work to do, and I have to figure out what I'm going to wear on my date tonight.
Jesus, I haven't dressed up in forever. I might have to ask for Mom’s advice on this one.
After all, I need to look good if I'm going to take my dream girl out on the best date of her life.
Chapter Seven
KENZIE
I’m dreaming.
I have to be. It’s the only thing that makes sense.
How else do I explain the fact that I’m sitting across from Bo at a fancy steakhouse, on adate? We’re both dressed up and blushing, and it simultaneously feels incredibly awkward, like we’ve been doing this forever.
“We actually hang out these days,” Bo says with a laugh. “Now that Dad and Greg got over their shit, they’re like two peas in a pod.”
I shake my head in mirth as I sip my soda. Oakley filled me in on the whole deal with Chuckles when I called her the other morning, and she was thrilled to hear that Bo and I were going on a date. She seems to be under the impression that everyone but the two of us knew this would happen.
“It’s still weird to think about y’all actuallylikingJamie,” I tease. “I still remember when you’d glare at him from across the table at the diner.”
“I take my role as a big brother very seriously.”
Bo and I both burst into laughter, quiet snickers filling the air. The lighting in the restaurant is low, but I can still see every flicker of amusement in his eyes. He showed up to my apartment in a dark green button down and a leather jacket I recognize from our high school days. I hardly managed to tell him he looked good because I was so busy trying to convince myself it’s real.
I feel a little underdressed in comparison in a sweater dress and boots, but Bo seems to like it. If the way his pupils blew wide when he first saw me is any indication, hereallylikes it.
I never thought Bo would look at me like that.
