Kerah vs. Eric vs. Kennedy

As we get closer to the Ladies’ Night Book Discussion, I’ll be popping in with some questions/topics. If you have any questions before the event, leave them in the comments and I’ll add them to our “itinerary.”

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I started back toward the bar but he reached out and grabbed my wrist. 

“Look, Eric, if you’re going to give me another sermon on my date—”

“I’m not. I actually wanted to ask you about,” his gaze darted to the bar’s open back doorway, “Kennedy. If you don’t mind.”

I smiled so bright, I almost blinded the man on the bicycle who swerved around me and Eric at the last moment. At least, that was the story I told myself.

“I don’t mind at all. What do you want to know?”

He was still holding my wrist. 

“Do you think she’s feeling me?”

My mouth fell open. “Are you serious? She’s hanging all over you.”

“I know, I know.” He released my wrist and scrubbed a hand over his short haircut. “Why is she single, though?”

“You mean why is one of the world’s most beautiful women unattached?”

He stared at me, blinked slowly, and nodded. “Yeah.”

“Kennedy’s careful,” I explained. “Cautious. I know I’m a little biased, being her sister and all, but she’s a prize. A gem. And the best gems aren’t the ones you find on the surface. You have to do some digging.”

His gaze lifted over my head. “She seems distant with me one time and then into me the next. I guess that’s just her being cautious? Feeling me out?”

“Exactly.”

“And what about you?” His hand swung forward, lightly tapping my wrist. “Notwithstanding your date with the asshole. Are you cautious too?”

“He’s not an . . . okay, so there’s more to Elias than what he shows.” There I was again, defending Elias like my name was Tammy Wynette. “He’s been going through some stuff. His father just died.”

Eric’s expression crumpled into one more apologetic. “Oh man, that’s right. He’s Elena’s uncle. She said her grandfather was sick for a while.”

“Yeah. Plus, he apologized.”

“You like him, you think?”

“I haven’t gotten that far.” 

I liked the version I was getting to know. That version was the one who made me reach for my phone with every notification or phantom vibration. That Elias was the one I couldn’t wait to see tomorrow. I even had my outfit already picked out, but I would have to go back and reevaluate. After all this alcohol and cheese, I might still be bloated hours from now which meant no form-fitting tops unless I was trying to get us an Expectant Mother parking spot.

“Kerah Moss, too good for us black dudes.” He poked me in the ribs. “She went and got her a Puerto Rican cat.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. He’s Cuban.”

“Isn’t Will Cuban?”

My heart stopped beating. “What?”

“Bardem. Where’s he from again?”

No one in the office knew about my past with William. At least, no one was supposed to know. The level of embarrassment I would have to deal with if they found out I was only in the position I was because I’d, essentially, slept my way there? I wouldn’t be able to deal with it.

“No, no he’s from Spain,” Eric said, correcting himself. “I’m on a whole different continent.”

Thankfully, he didn’t notice my near-death experience.

I headed toward the bar. “Let’s go back before Kennedy thinks I’m trying to put the moves on you.”

He mumbled a response.

“What was that?” I grinned up at him and cupped my ear. “I didn’t hear you.”

He rose his voice, smile dimpling his cheek. “I said, Kennedy has nothing to worry about.”

“Good.”

“Apparently.”

Do you think Kennedy should have been upset about Eric’s confession?

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Quick Note: I watched this, easily, at least fifty times to get inspiration to write Kennedy’s scenes at the bachelorette party and the fight at the end.