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“This place is…” her favorite. “Amazing. How have I never been here before?”

“Clearly you’ve been living under a rock. This place has the best burgers and chocolate shakes.”

A waitress greeted us, smiling sweetly while she adjusted her faux cat-eyed glasses.

“Table for two?”

I nodded and we followed her to a booth right next to the window. She left us with menus and gave us a few minutes before coming back to take our order. I ordered burgers and fries and instead of two chocolate shakes, I ordered one chocolate and one strawberry. Kenzi preferred the strawberry.

Kenzi sat back and regarded me with open curiosity, her blue eyes boring into my green.

I rested my arms on the back of the booth and her gaze flickered to my chest.

“Still thinking I’m kidnapping you?”

“I’m not sure what to think.”

I sat forward and dropped my arms on the table. She mirrored my position.

“It’s just two people having lunch. I have no sinister motives, I promise.”

Not entirely true, but my motives weren’t nearly as sinister as I’m sure Kenzi thought.

The waitress appeared with our shakes, and I pushed the strawberry one in front of Kenzi. She put the straw in her mouth and sucked. “Mmmm…”

“Good?”

“So good. Strawberry happens to be my favorite. How’d you know?”

I smiled around my straw. “Lucky guess.”

She didn’t believe me. “Did Maddy tell you?”

I chuckled with a slight shake of my head. “No.”

Before our conversation could continue the waitress dropped our burgers off and I dived in. I was starving. I looked over at Kenzi and she was trying to cut the giant burger with a knife and fork. That was new. I snatched the utensils from her hands.

“Eat it like a normal person. I won’t tell anyone.” I was teasing her, and she wadded up her napkin and lobbed it at me.

“Smartass.”

After a few bites, she sat back. “How’s Daniel?”

I wiped my mouth. “He’s doing better. One more week and his cast will be taken off. Just in time for school too.”

“Has your Mom tried to contact you?”

“She’s called twice, but I told her not to call anymore. She didn’t even ask about Daniel. She just wanted money.”

I had yet to tell anyone about that.

“I’m sorry.”

I shrugged. “It is what it is you know? All I care about is that Daniel has a better life from here.”

“He’s lucky to have you.” Kenzi smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Nervous habit.

She went back to eating, and when I was done I pushed my plate away. I was stuffed.