Page 21 of Hers to Kiss
Kat genuinely smiled. Her eyes brimmed with moisture. “You’re really doing it. The last of the Kaye sisters is making something of herself. I really am proud of you, Keighly.”
Keke’s cheeks warmed, and she struggled for another place to look. She opted for the beautiful sight of the mini cupcakes. She couldn’t have any more or she’d have to start paying.
“Thanks,” she said. “I think I’ll get the part.”
“Of course you will! You’re an incredible dancer. They’d be lucky to have you. How are you enjoying summer camp? You must love seeing Bertie again.”
Keke hunted around for a spoon. “I do. Although…”
As though reading her sister’s mind, Kat handed Keke a spoon. Kat then took another and scooped some icing out of a large container and dumped it into a paper bowl. She handed the bowl to her sister. “We are trying to keep to the city’s health codes.”
Keke only smiled.
“I don’t know how you eat that by the way. It’s fine on a cupcake, but straight? All that sugar.”
Keke showed her teeth, knowing they were covered with blue icing. “Straight no cupcake chaser. And easy. I eat it one spoonful at a time. Honestly, Kat, I know you didn’t go to college, but you can at least try and remember basic third grade math,” Keke teased. She caught her sister’s slight frown and ignored it. “Speaking of college”—a strange feeling churned in Keke’s gut, becoming increasingly hard to ignore—“Bertie didn’t finish, which I’ll have to talk to her about.”
“College isn’t for everyone.”
“No, it isn’t.” Keke agreed and then left it at that. Kat never had a desire to go, only to bake. She took a few courses at culinary school, and Keke couldn’t remember if Kat had finished the program or not. Keke didn’t look down her nose at her sister and hoped Kat knew that.
Keke changed the subject. “But the real shock is Petey.”
“Peter Headley? What’s so shocking about him? Oh, wait, he got into Cornell. He’s such a bright guy. I’m really happy for him. His father came in here the other week and said Pete was finally going. I thought for sure he’d turn into one of those ‘failure to launch’ guys. Glad he’s got his act together.”
Failure to launch? Keke’s eyes went to the ceiling. “No. Have youseenhim lately?”
Kat nodded. She placed a tray of donuts into another oven. “Uh-huh. Comes in here weekly. Keeps us going with all the sweets he buys.”
“Then I have no idea how he does it.”
Kat chuckled softly. “Ah, I get it. He’s kind of like you. High metabolism. Great body.”
“A body he didn’t have before.That’swhat’s so interesting, Kat. Don’t you have eyes?”
Kat smiled over her shoulder. “I know. I just wanted to hear you say it out loud.”
“Um, why?”
Kat shrugged. “He had such a crush on you in school. I thought you might’ve had a little one yourself.”
“What?” Keke shouted. “Are you insane, Kat? I mean, literally…you must be insane.”
Kat held her gaze. “It’s not like you didn’t encourage him a little with all of your teasing.”
Keke felt slightly less dignified sitting on a stool with her hands on her hips. “He’s Bertie’s baby brother. It’s my right—and the law—to tease the younger siblings of your best friend. Especially if they’re the opposite sex and goofy nerds.”
Her raised brows mocked Keke. “Hmm. I think you might like a goofy nerd, if you put your mind to it.” She laughed.
“Hardy, har, har, har. You’re a regular riot.”
“I know.” Kat studied Keke’s face. “So you’re saying youdon’tlike him?” Her right index finger and thumb nearly touched as she squinted at them. “Not even a little bit?”
“No,” Keke said forcefully—enough to believe it herself. Pete’s face came into view, complete with the sloppy hair he frequently combed over to one side—that made him look like a rock star—and that scruffy, “I’m a lumberjack” beard. He was jacked all right. She shivered as a strange tingling slowly ascended her spine.
She remembered how their hands had gotten stuck in the marshmallow bag the night before. Her skin had goosebumps the moment his large, warm hand covered her arm. She wondered if he had felt them.
“Well, that was a pretty strong no.”
