AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Roxy, please.” Kenya adorably hides her face in her hands while I share a grin with the chatty owner.
“Please what? Pretend like I don’t have eyes? Like you aren’t visually well matched? Ooh, will you start dressing up in couple’s costumes when you go to those conferences you love so much?”
“Costumes?” I grate past the enthusiasm choking me, my eyes glued to Kenya’s form. Hope rises in my chest. Maybe Kenya in pigtails is a possibility in my near future.
“Roxy, I—”
“Yes, our Kiwi goes all out. You know those”—Roxy snaps her fingers while rotating her wrist—“cartoons with the Japanese characters that don’t look Japanese?”
“I know them well,” I admit though I won’t share how far my appreciation for the medium goes. Confessions about hentai require a safe space, and a small-town diner doesn’t fit that bill.
“She dresses up like them. Hair, makeup, clothes, you name it, she does it. Some of those costumes be a little on the skimpy side if you know what I’m saying.” Roxy nudges Kenya with her elbow while a stockpile of images starring Kenya in all manner of dress form in my mind.
Kenya twists her face toward Roxy and avoids catching my eye, proving my efforts to draw her attention useless. She whispers, “Why would you tell him that?”
“Was I not supposed to? It’s not like you cosplaying is a huge secret. Even Mayor Salas mentioned it when he told everybody you were heading up the Founder’s Day planning committee. Something about wondering if you’ll make it one of the events leading up to the big day.”
Kenya raises her head, alarm shooting from her bulging eyes. “Heading? Who said I was heading anything up? He asked me to join and I technically never agre—”
Roxy shrugs. “Join. Head. All the same. Ain’t nothing different about what you’ll be doing for the town.”
Kenya goes back to hiding her face in her hands. “When did he speak to you?”
“Two days ago.”
“Two?” She raises her head to see Roxy’s nod. “That means I still have time before this gets out to too many people. Glamma and G-mama can’t find out.”
Roxy pats Kenya’s shoulder, offering her sympathy though I’m at a loss as to what all this means. “Oh, sweetie, it’s already too late. Didn’t you read yesterday’s Escondido Examiner? You made the front page, right above Cheryl Lee’s weekly ad for Mayor Salas’ affections. Come to think of it, there’s no way Ms. Onyx doesn’t know. What with her and Cheryl Lee coming to near blows over their Mayor Salas rivalry, she would have heard that you took her job.”
“I didn’t ta—Roxy, it looks like I need to do some damage control. Can you keep Cameron company while I handle this mess?” Kenya rises with palpable urgency.
I grab her hand to stall her from acting too fast. “First, off,” I pipe in, less alarmed that my day with Kenya will be cut short and more concerned with the renewed tension in her body. We don’t know each other well yet, but if I can be useful in any way, I want to make myself available to be used by her. “I’m not some divorced parent’s kid who watches while their mom and dad play handoff like it’s somebody else’s weekend. I go where you go.”
Kenya opens her mouth, a protest on her lips.
“Secondly, damage control can wait until after we’ve eaten. Too many families have been destroyed by arguing on an empty stomach. Sit. Eat. Then we’ll see about Onyx, the mayor, and this Cheryl Lee woman.”
“You’re only saying that because you don’t know about Glamma Onyx.” Despite her objection, Kenya drops into the chair. “Can you get us my usual, Roxy? And make it fast?”
“Sure thing.” Roxy disappears to put in the order.
Although Roxy has a nice enough personality, I’m not disappointed to see her go. Now I can ask Kenya about—
“You know, Kiwi has a point about Ms. Onyx.” Roxy returns, sliding across from me with an eager grin. Her face glows with the need to spill more information so I swallow my frustration. “Don’t nobody come between Ms. Onyx and Mayor Salas and walk away unscathed. I don’t know if being family is enough to save our girl.” Roxy gasps and slams her hand on the tabletop. “Do you think the mayor purposely chose you because no one else can stand up to your glamma? He has been resisting her charms for a while. Maybe he’s looking for you to save him from her advances.”
“I hope not. I’m no superhero and have never stood up to Glamma for anything bigger than my favorite sweet.” Kenya sighs and rests her head against the seat’s back cushion. “Roxy, pray for me. If I survive to the end of the day, it’ll be a miracle.”
I stretch to enclose her hand in mine, imbuing as much strength as I can. I don’t know all the details, but there’s one thing I’m certain of, I want to be the one by Kenya’s side no matter what troubles she faces.
CHAPTERNINE
Kenya
Cameron and I walk toward Town Hall after having a quick lunch at Roxy’s; a nice, slow stroll toward my demise. My previous desire to rush has passed and avoiding whatever my glamma has to say to me becomes my most fervent wish. Predicting Onyx’s reactions is an exercise in futility. Anything from anger, hurt, accusations, or even the cold shoulder might be in my future. And I’ve never been equipped to handle any of them when coming from my family.
Anxiety roils inside my stomach. It’s a familiar feeling that has lived with me since my parents’ passing, never too far from the surface but one I’ve always managed by steadfastly following rules. And despite not acting out, here I am, about to face consequences that shouldn’t be mine.
Mayor Salas’ face flashes in my head. Along with his smiling face rising to mock me is the desire to punch him until he’s missing a few of his pretty, straight, white teeth.
