Page 55 of Hers to Kiss
“Keke,” his voice beckoned her. He turned her around. “Keke, what you said this morning… You were right.”
“Huh? What did I say?” She honestly couldn’t remember. She’d known she was short with him, and he was just trying to be a good friend.
He squeezed her arm. “You said I had to grow up.”
She inwardly groaned. “That…that’s not what I meant. I don’t even know why I said that. Youaregrown.”You definitely kiss like a grown man.
He shook his head. “I’ve been allowing everyone else to dictate my life.”
“Including me,” she said wryly. “Telling you how to get the girl.” And now he had her. He’d grown up and chosen Lea.Wonderful.She did that.
His other hand grasped her arm. “I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful. I’m not talking about you.”
“But you just said—”
“If I want something, then I should go for it.”
The intensity in his eyes silenced her. Her soul started humming again. Was he talking about…her? Breath caught in her throat, she waited.
“Keighly…ever since…” He shook his head. “Let me start over.” He blew out a breath and then met her eyes. “Keighly, I want you.”
It was exactly how she wanted to be told. Direct. No mincing words. Absolutely clear. She didn’t teach him that. Peter did that all on his own. Could she respect him any more than she did?
She knew what he was going to say, but that didn’t make the impact any less stunning. Little Petey—who wasn’t so little anymore—confidently stood before her and voiced his desires, his heart in his eyes but his gaze not wavering.
Seeing Mrs. Headley’s thin, strained smile and hearing Bertie’s voice of disapproval, Keke’s heart fractured.
“I…I can’t.”
His hands dropped.
“Peter—”
“It’s okay.” He held his hands up and out of reach. “It was a long shot.”
“No, you don’t understand.”
He backed away. “Yeah, I do. You see me as Bertie’s little brother. I’m not in your league. I have no right to even think or ask—”
Keke rushed forward. “That’s just it.” She succeeded in grabbing one hand. “It’s because of Bertie that I have to say no.”
His expression softened, his eyes circling. “So…you…”
Keke could only give a sad smile. “Petey… You’re probably going to Cornell and—”
He snatched his hand back. “I wish people would stop telling me what to do!” He stormed away and then halted and turned around. “I get to decide for me.”
Keke nodded.
The intensity in his eyes burned through the space between them, and with it, the bridge Keke had felt since they’d kissed. Before her eyes, Pete was morphing into the man she knew he’d become, but she couldn’t be with.
“And I don’t have to listen to any of you anymore,” he said quietly, his eyes still laser-focused on her. “Thank you for the lessons, I’m sure they’ll come in handy for the next girl and the one after that.”
Keke smarted but kept her mouth shut. For Bertie.
“You may think I’m too young, but I think it’s about common interests. We’re both driven, pursuing our goals, slightly misunderstood…” He got a funny look in his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t have to explain myself. See ya.”
He left her standing there, mute.
