Page 4 of Tangled Ambition

“Drove. Well,” she backtracked, “my friend drove my car. She was on her way to Jersey, so she dropped me here, and then she was going to Uber the rest of the way.”

I waited patiently for the other half of the answer, my hand on my hip, and Kennedy shrank the tiniest bit under my scrutiny until she gave in.

“Can I stay at your place for a bit?”

“Kenny…”

She huffed. “What? Don’t get all…” She pulled a face. “I broke up with Jordan.”

“When?”

“Last week,” she said and stole my drink, downing the whole thing.

“Last week?” I barely refrained from raising my voice. “What have you been doing since then?”

She shrugged. “Couch surfing.”

“You’re too old to be couch surfing,” I told her, snagging my empty glass back to set on the bar.

After I gave a nod to Ace, he made me a refill. Kennedy followed my line of sight. “Ooh.”

“Nope.” I shook my head.

“You calling dibs?”

I released a low breath. “You don’t call dibs on people either.”

“Whatever.” She plucked at the sleeves of her tight velvet dress then folded her arms across her ample chest. While I took after the Novak side of our family, my little sister took after our mother and the Bellisarios. I was tall and straight. She was short, curvy, and the complete opposite of me. Younger by six years and flighty like our mother, constantly floating from one thing or another, one guy to the next.

“What happened?” I asked, accepting my new drink with a small smile to Ace.

Kennedy tossed her long hair behind her shoulder with a quiet, “Needed some time apart, that’s all.”

I didn’t like the way she wouldn’t meet my eyes, and I elbowed her. “You all right?”

Her gaze flitted to me and then away. “Yeah. I just need a place to stay.”

“You don’t even have to ask,” I said, leaning into her, and Kennedy briefly rested her head on my shoulder.

“Thanks, Titi.”

I gave in to a snort at the childhood nickname and nudged her off my shoulder. “Come on, let’s go see Nan.”

When I nodded at Ace, he winked in return, and I ignored the flutter in my belly. He was tall, skinny, and unpolished. Exactly my type. There was something about guys who worked in the food industry; they knew how to fuck and didn’t bother worrying about emotions. Usually too busy complaining about their next shift and lack of cigarettes.

Kennedy linked her arm with mine as we made our way across the floor. Uncle Kevin spotted us first, his eyes lighting up at the sight of my sister. “Kenny! Where have you been?”

“Poconos,” she replied, though it was muffled by his suit jacket. He passed her off to our grandmother, who kissed both of her cheeks.

“You look wonderful, as always,” Nan said, stroking her fingers over Kennedy’s face, and my sister held on to her wrist.

“So do you.”

“My hair could use a little…” Nan toggled her head, and Kennedy nodded happily.

“A little zhuzhing? I can take care of that.”

“Thank you, honey. That would be great.” Then she tugged me to her side, slipping her thin arm around my waist. “My two girls. I love when I have you both in the same spot.”

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