Page 33 of Hers to Kiss
He offered her a small smile. “Thanks. I feel good—about that. I just had a run-in with Dad. He said some things…” His smile quickly faded, his dark eyes clouded.
She placed a hand back on his arm. “Did you tell him about the app?”
“I tried to, and then he went on a rant about how his life could’ve been different had he made other choices like not having kids.”
Keke gasped. She put her hands over her mouth. Her eyes shot to Bertie, who was laughing and eating with her section. Did Bertie know her dad felt this way? Did that have something to do with why she didn’t finish school?
“He said that?” she whispered fiercely. “What a complete…” She shut her mouth. Titus entered the cafeteria then, hands on hips, gaze roaming around, observing.
Pete stared at his father while simultaneously sliding pizza onto kids’ plates. “Not those exact words. But he didn’t deny it.”
“Petey… Oh, I’m sorry, you hate that.”
Pete shook his head. “No. Not really. I like the way you say it.”
Their gazes locked, and Keke’s stomach warmed. A much more pleasant feeling than what she’d experienced earlier. And suddenly, she wanted to reach up and brush aside the lock of hair that had fallen over his eye. Wanted to take away all the pain his father had caused him, if only to see him smile again.
“Hey! We want pizza!” a couple of kids chanted.
Pete severed their connection first. Silently, he served the kids. They didn’t speak again before moving back to their respective tables to eat with the children.
After all the kids were seated and enjoying food, Lea had the bright idea to flick something at Pete. Keke watched as red jello bounced off his face, onto his shoulder, and then into his lap. Lea grinned victoriously. Pete raised a brow and lifted a chicken wing.
Keke closed her eyes. She did not want to be in the middle of a food fight. It would mean picking food out of her hair, washing it, and going through the whole routine of twisting it so it wouldn’t be a frizzy fro the next morning. And at the same time, she’d have to make sure the kids had their showers before s’mores…
Keke opened her eyes to food flying everywhere. She plugged her ears against the high-pitched squeals and screams. She took her slice of pizza and walked over to Pete. She tapped him on the shoulder and smeared his face with pizza when he turned around.
That’s what he gets for starting this fight, she thought to herself. He didn’t have to respond to Lea’s taunt. It could’ve ended with just him being smeared with jello. Only his ego would’ve been damaged. Now everyone’s clothes and—
A hot wing hit Keke in the head. She refused to retaliate.
Pete opened one dark eye that seemed to both look glaring and gleeful at the same time. He caught her arm as she tried to dart away. Hot wings were tossed, and one managed to find its way down her shirt. She groaned and jumped up and down like a five-year-old having a tantrum. Pete laughed hysterically.
And it was music to her ears. She’d never heard him laugh so hard nor so loud. A deep rumbling that sounded like it came from his soul.
After the counselors were finally able to get the kids to calm down, Keke surveyed the mess around them. Titus, looking like a grumpy bear but with a slice of pizza on his head, ordered everyone to start cleaning. Kids and counselors groaned.
Keke appreciated the manual labor. It gave her a chance to get lost in her thoughts, specifically what Pete had said earlier about the owner of Headley Campground. What Pete’s father had said reminded her of her own father. A man harsh and unrelenting in his opinions and cruel behavior. Someone who didn’t believe in mincing his words. Words were a weapon, which he had wielded with expert precision. She was glad he was dead. A weight off her shoulders…if not her mind.
