Lori glared at her friend. “I’m not being rude. I’m being honest. Up until tonight, we were the only young people from church who’ve socialized with him. But that’ll change, and he probably wants it to. I mean, why wouldn’t he want to hang out with the guys or make lots of friends?”
Jase cleared his throat. “Well, since you’re being honest, I’ll be honest, too.”
The scent of pepperoni on his breath drifted from the back seat. She filled her lungs with air and braced herself for the rejection to come.
“I hope you won’t exclude me just because I’ve met the others. Y’all are my first friends at Beech Street, and I’d kinda like to keep seeing you.” He scooted across the seat and opened the door. “Kenzie, I hope you’re still thinking about sharing your testimony with the youth sometime. Lemme know when you decide, huh? Oh. Keep listening for answers.”
Lori frowned. Did intimacy tinge his lowered tone on that last comment?
“And, Lori? Thanks again for the ride. Y’all have a good rest of the evening.” He got out, closed the door, and crossed beneath the streetlamps to his vehicle.
Lori’s breath whooshed out, and she slumped forward until her forehead met the steering wheel. “Are you getting out, too, Kenz?”
“I thought you’d want to come in. Your clothes are in there. Or do you want me to bring them to the fabric shop tomorrow?”
“Bring ’em tomorrow.” Lori needed to leave. To find something to eat.
“I can do that, but I have to say…I’m surprised at you. I thought you liked Brother Jase, but you weren’t very kind just now.”
Lori sat up. “Neither were you earlier.”
Confusion marred Kenzie’s face. “What?”
“You know I like Jase, but you were holding his hand on your sofa.” The hurt billowed in Lori’s chest. If she couldn’t trust Kenzie, she couldn’t trust anyone. “Then, at the bowling alley when we got ready to pray, you tried to do it again.”
Kenzie’s mouth fell open. “We were standing next to each other. It could have been anybody standing there and I would’ve reached for them.”
Lori squinted her eyes. “What about on your sofa? There wasn’t anybody else around then.”
“We weren’t holding hands on my sofa.”
Lori snorted.
“He was praying for me.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve been struggling with something, not knowing whether I should do it or even if I could, and I asked his advice.” Kenzie shrugged, holding out her hands. “He’s a minister. I figured he’d know what I should do.”
Lori cocked her head. “You haven’t said anything to me about a struggle.”
“I will talk to you about it, but not tonight.” Kenzie reached for the door handle. “It’s getting late, and we’re both on the morning schedule tomorrow, so let’s wait for another time, okay?”
“Don’t keep secrets with Jase.” Lori barked the order as gruffly as any command her dad had given her.
Kenzie’s eyes widened. “I won’t.” She cupped her hand over Lori’s wrist. “I’m not.”
Shame washed through Lori. What was she doing, attacking Kenzie? Her emotions were running amok. Between feeling guilty for her feeding frenzy and wishing she could change her looks to be worthy of Jase’s affection, she was all mixed up. She should apologize. She licked her lips, seeking courage.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Drive careful, okay?” Kenzie left the car and ran for her apartment, her shiny blond hair bouncing on her shoulders as she went.
Lori did the right thing. She stayed put, not leaving until she saw Kenzie close herself in her apartment. But when she pulled onto the street, she turned in the direction of a late-night ready-made pizza vendor. She had a hunger that needed to be filled, and a pepperoni pizza with extra cheese would help. For a while.
Bradleyville
Jase
On his third Wednesday of teaching the youth, Jase congratulated himself for correctly greeting all the members by name as they arrived. Sure, it was a small group, only twelve in all, but recalling names had never been his strong suit, and he was proud of himself for remembering them. Now to learn the names of the guests Emma, Charmaine, and Jennifer each brought.
While the kids enjoyed the supper provided by the kitchen team, Jase sought Sister Kraft. Neither Lori nor Kenzie had shown up for church last Sunday. He’d heard the vacuum cleaner’s hum in the sanctuary yesterday, proof Lori was in the building, but she hadn’t come to his office. At least not when he was in it. He’d found a