The Enemy - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,14
I know—until now, I guess. He comes toward me with his hand outstretched.
“You must be Cade. I'm Kensington, but you can just call me Ken.”
Kensington? What kind of rich-prick name is Kensington?
My mom gives me a look, and I remember I've yet to shake his hand. Honestly, I'd rather not, but I know it will only cause problems if I don't. His hand wraps around my own firmly, as if he's trying to silently assert his dominance—or maybe it's just a habit from being in the business world.
“Your mother has told me so much about you.”
I scoff. “I wish I could say the same.”
My mom scowls at me, but I couldn't help it. I didn't even know this guy existed until last week, and I found out at the same time I was being told my parents were splitting up. Forgive me if I'm not the most warm and welcoming.
Ken maintains his composure and shoots my mom a comforting grin. “That's okay. We have all the time in the world to change that.”
He leads us out of his office and into the living room. Molly is sitting on the floor, playing a game with a blonde-headed girl. I can only see the back of her, but I can tell she's much older than my ten-year-old sister.
“This is my daughter,” Ken tells me, and the girl turns around at the sound of his voice. “Lennon, sweetheart. Come meet Cade, Nora's son.”
As her turquoise eyes meet mine, I'm blasted back into last night.
The girl in the water.
My board snapping in half.
The way she looked as if she wanted to throw down right then and there.
Of course this chick is his daughter. She looks as spoiled and stuck-up as I expected, especially after seeing the size of this house.
I watch the realization dawn on her that she’s met me before. Something that looks awfully close to sorrow is there for a second, before it's covered with a mask like I've never seen. She plasters on a sickeningly sweet smile and puts out her hand.
“I'm Lennon. It's nice to meet you.”
All eyes are on me, giving me no choice but to be equally as kind, and equally as fake.
“Cade.”
THE REST OF THE day is spent with the most uncomfortable “family time” I've ever had the displeasure of sitting through. Lennon tries to act polite and involved in the get-to-know-each-other game our parents have us playing, but I can tell she would rather be literally anywhere else.
By the grace of God, we're all excused until dinner, and I use the time alone to check on Molly. Her room is right down the hall from mine, and decorated exactly the way she has always described her dream bedroom, with tie-dye everything and her favorite posters on the wall. There is even an aquarium in the corner. Overall, she looks happy.
“Knock, knock,” I say, without actually knocking. “Can I come in?”
She nods, flopping herself onto her new bed.
“I just wanted to make sure you're doing okay.”
Molly sits up and sighs. “I miss Dad. I like the house and all, but I miss our old house and having our family together.”
The pain in her voice twists up my insides. “I'm sorry, Molz. I tried to get them to change their minds.”
“I know you did, but they wouldn't listen. I wish we could have made them listen.”
“Me too, kid.” I pull her into me. “Me too.”
After spending a little more time comforting my sister, since our mother is too busy acting like a lovesick trophy wife to realize her own daughter is hurting, I head back to my new room. To my surprise, Lennon is already in there waiting for me.
“What are you doing in here?”
She runs her fingers through her hair. “I just wanted to, uh, thank you, for not mentioning the bonfire last night to my dad.”
If I'm being honest, I hadn't realized I wasn't supposed to, but she doesn't know that. “Yeah, well, now you owe me.”
“Owe you?”
I cross my arms over my chest and smirk. “Yep.”
It's been all of two minutes, and it's clear she's already done with my shit. “And what exactly do I owe you?”
Stepping closer, I hover in her space. The smell of her perfume infiltrates my senses but I force myself to stay focused. She swallows harshly as I glare down at her.
“Stay the fuck out of my room, and out of my way.”
I shove past her while she stays in place, and for a second, I wonder why she's still