Page 14 of Hers to Kiss
“Yup.”
“Then I guess that means you’re safe?” Bertie said with a perfunctory nod.
Keke raised a brow. “Are you giving me permission to—”
“Our code is still in effect,” Bertie said sternly.
Keke made the surrender gesture with her hands while chuckling. “Relax. Lover boy clearly has eyes for Lea. He needs help in that department.”
“So much help.”
“Mmm-hmm. I’m…”
Bertie’s eyes narrowed. A hand moved to her hips. “You’re…?”
Keke shrugged and grinned. “I’m helping him.”
“Uh, helping him how?”
“Really, Bertie. I’m giving him tips on how to get the girl.”
Bertie laughed out loud. “What tips? What could you possibly say that’ll get him to—”
“Bertie, geez. What a sister you are.” Keke smarted under Bertie’s howling laughter. A couple of years ago, she would’ve done the same—probably did about half an hour ago—but now that they had begun their lessons, Keke felt invested in Pete’s success.
“What? If anyone finds this more amusing than me, it’s you.”
“True, but—”
“Then what?” Bertie’s laughter died, and her face became serious. “Why can’t I laugh at my brother? We always did when we were kids.”
Right. When they were kids. Things changed. Pete, for instance, had clearly put on about fifty pounds of muscle. Keke felt a little strange—and guilty—laughing at him behind his back.
Keke moved closer and lowered her voice, in case Pete chose that exact moment to come into the kitchen. “He’s really shy and—did your father teach him anything?”
“It’s hard to teach a kid anything if he’s playing video games all day.”
“Point taken. Look, Pete is…” She angled her head to the right to meet the rise of that shoulder.
“Hot?” Bertie’s voice fell like a rock.
Keke’s eyes went to the ceiling. “Well, he’smuchimproved, let’s leave it at that. But he could get any girl. When he finally goes to college and graduates without ever having kissed anyone, it’ll be the saddest story I’ve ever heard!”
Bertie’s jaw dropped. “He hasn’t…?”
Keke shook his head. “Now do you feel sorry for him?”
Bertie’s lips twisted into a frown. “Okay, maybe a teensy-weensy bit of sympathy.”
“So, you’re okay with me giving him some pointers?”
“What kind of pointers?” she asked while crossing her arms.
“Nothing major. Conversation, maybe how to ask her out. Simple stuff to get him started.”
Bertie stared at Keke so long that her insides began to twist. She could read her best friend’s mind but kept quiet in case Bertie didn’t have the guts to ask it out loud.
“And kissing? You’re going to give him pointers about that?”
