Page 3 of Hers to Kiss
Keke snorted. “Do you hear yourself?”
Bertie blasted a breath and stared at Keke. Her familiar searching stare always made Keke feel exposed. Bertie read her so well.
“Keke, I know you.”
Too well.
“Yes, you do.” Keke slammed her car door, annoyed she’d been momentarily so beguiled by the “new guy” that she had left it open. Now a fine layer of dust covered the seat and a few bags she hauled from her school dorm.Oh, well.She’d clean it out some other time. Kids would be here soon, and she still hadn’t put her stuff in her bunk. She opened the trunk.
“And I know how you like to charm guys.”
“You make it sound like I’m some kind of huntress looking for my next prey.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“Well, you’re wrong,” Keke said defiantly. “I’m a changed woman.”
Bertie laughed. “Since when?”
Keke hauled her giant duffel bag out of the trunk and slammed the door. “Since I graduated from college. I’m off to Hollywood soon. I’m going to be an actress. I need to be serious or people won’t take me seriously.”
Bertie cocked her head to one side. “That’s the first wise thing I’ve ever heard you say. Who are you and what have you done to my Keighly?”
Keke playfully shoved Bertie’s shoulder and marched past her. “I had fun in school, but now the real work begins. I already have an audition the day after camp ends. I’ll be on the first plane to L.A.”
“Keke that’s amazing! What’s the part for?” Bertie followed her up the steps to the large wood cabin main office.
“A dancer. For a remake ofStaying Alive, but don’t tell anyone. It’s not supposed to get out.”
“I’m sure you’ll get it. You’re a wonderful dancer.”
“Well, it’s second to my love for acting.”
“Didn’t you double major?”
“Yes. In theater and dance—just in case. I can always find a dance job or open a studio somewhere.”
“Somewhere like here?” Bertie’s voice was hopeful.
Keke paused before opening the office door. “Why would I want to stay here? ThesecondI had my diploma in hand, I left for college.”
“Yeah, I watched you sprint off that stage so fast…”
“I don’t want to spend a second longer in this town than I have to.” Springfield didn’t hold many good memories for her. Home wasn’t supposed to be like that, but it was for her.
Bertie’s eyes moistened, and she frowned. “Then what are you doing here?”
Keke placed a hand on Bertie’s shoulder. “You needed a favor, and I’m your best friend. Besides, this is probably the last time we’ll see each other for a while. I have stuff I can leave at my sister Katrina’s before I go to California.”
“Have you been home since you got back?”
Keke shook her head. It was too soon for that. She’d have to work her way up to seeing her mother. “I’ll stay with my sister, Kat, while I’m here.”
Thankfully, Bertie said nothing more. They entered the office. Keke’s eyes found Pete, who snatched a set of keys hanging from the wall behind his desk and made his way to the back door.
Keke dragged her eyes off Pete. Boy, had he hit puberty good. But shewasa different girl. She’d prove it. Besides, Petey was too young, anyway at nineteen. She was a college grad.
And she had never broken a single rule in the honor code, and she wasn’t about to start now.
