“Because the cat had a fur ball? No.”
“About other stuff. What I said before. When we went riding.”
Oh. That. Lexi didn’t know what to say. “I understand why you act the way you do. I wish you weren’t so mean about it.”
More tears filled Kendra’s eyes. “I know. I’m awful. I don’t want to be that way. The words just come out. I get scared and…I don’t know.”
“I know a little about what you’re feeling,” Lexi said, knowing she had to tread carefully. “The dad thing is complicated.”
Kendra sank onto her bed. “I’m fine with my dad.” She kept her face buried in the kitten’s fur. “Nothing needs to change.”
Lexi pulled up the desk chair and sat. “My dad is a pretty successful businessman. He was raised in that big house you saw. Glory’s Gate. But he wanted more and he grew the family fortune until he had everything he wanted. Everywhere he went, people knew who he was. Women were constantly trying to catch him and men wanted to be his best friend. It was really tough for a kid to compete with that.”
Lexi let the past flow over her, so she could remember how it had all felt. “I remember being lonely the most. My parents split and my mom left me with my dad. I never knew why.”
Kendra looked at her. “Your mom didn’t keep you?”
Lexi shook her head. “I had nannies, but they never stayed long. Then my dad remarried and Pru, his new wife, was nice. I liked her. She had Skye and Izzy and I wasn’t alone anymore. But none of it was enough. I wanted more. I wanted my dad to notice me.”
“Did he?”
“No. And I’m still trying. I’m almost thirty and I want my dad to approve of me. It doesn’t go away. Those feelings. We all have them. When you’re here, you have to deal with your dad and that’s not comfortable. I’m here because of him, so I’m an easy target.”
Kendra brushed her cheeks. “Don’t be nice to me,” she said. “It doesn’t help.”
“I’d like us to be friends.”
“Grown-ups don’t stay friends with teens.”
“We could try.”
“Why would you want to? I’ve been mean to you.”
“You haven’t been so bad.”
Kendra swallowed. “Okay. We could do something. You know, for fun.”
“What about getting pedicures? I happen to own a day spa that’s a pretty cool place. Want to go this weekend?”
Kendra smiled. “That would be good.”
“Then I’ll make the appointment.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“YOU KNOW I HATE this kind of stuff,” Dana complained. “But then you stick me with a trainee?”
The young woman who had just picked up Dana’s right foot glanced up, obviously startled by the remark. “I’ll be very careful,” she said, looking terrified. “I’m nearly ready to graduate.”
Dana gave her a tight smile. “Sorry. That wasn’t about you. You’re, um, fine.” She glared at Lexi. “You are so in trouble.”
Lexi leaned back in the comfortable massage chair. “Five extra people on a Saturday morning is a strain. I solved it by calling in more help.”
Skye smiled at Dana. “This is good for you. You need more girly stuff in your life.”
Izzy lifted up her eye gel-pack. “She’s right. Come on, Dana. Would it kill you to get a little polish on your toes?”
“No guy is worth the trouble,” Dana grumbled.
“You need a better class of guys,” Skye said. “Some of them are very much worth the trouble. Look at Lexi. What wouldn’t she do for Cruz?”
Lexi thought about how lonely her bed had been for the past couple of weeks. She and Cruz were barely speaking. She didn’t approve of his lack of relationship with his daughter, and he thought she should just stay out of it.
“Cruz is special,” she said, knowing in some ways it was true.
“Ick factor alert,” Kendra said. “I’m sitting right here and you’re talking about my dad. Try to remember that.”
“Sorry,” Skye said, smiling at the teen.
They sat in the pedicure room at Venus Envy. Kendra and Dana had glasses of soda next to them while the sisters enjoyed herbal tea. The music was soothing, the company fun and Lexi was determined to have a good time with absolutely no tension or awkward conversations.
“How’s Martin?” Izzy asked, then she adjusted her eye patch. “Kendra, Martin is Dana’s boyfriend. I use the term loosely because he’s a nerd, and not in a good way. She continues to date the same kind of guy. A wimp she can push around until she gets bored and leaves. You can learn from her example. If you find yourself having the same problems over and over with different guys, it’s not them. It’s you.”
“Why did I leave my gun in the car?” Dana asked.
“Were you planning to shoot her or yourself?” Lexi asked.
“I’m not sure.” Dana glared at Izzy. “Martin is perfectly fine.”
“But he’s getting boring, right?” Skye asked. “You’re so predictable. You need someone challenging. Someone slightly dangerous and sexy. Someone like Cruz.”
“Ick factor alert,” Kendra said.
“Sorry.” Skye smiled at her. “But your dad is hot.”
Lexi leaned over and patted Kendra’s arm. “You just have to let it go. Pretend he’s not your dad.”
“That’s really hard.” Kendra turned to Dana. “What’s wrong with Martin?”
“Nothing. He’s very nice. A computer programmer. He’s a gentleman.”
“Are you scared of strong men so you date the ones who aren’t?” All four of them stared at her. Kendra shrank back in her chair. “What did I say?”
“You were very insightful,” Lexi said.
“Someone’s watching a little too much Dr. Phil,” Dana muttered. “I’m not interested in a serious relationship. I just want to get…” She paused, as if remembering there was a fifteen-year-old in the room. “I just want someone nice.”
“You want a boyfriend,” Kendra said with a sigh. “Me, too. There’s this guy I like, but he’s only interested in cheerleaders. I thought about trying out, but I’m not really into that.”
“If the boy in question only likes cheerleaders, then he’s pretty shallow,” Skye said. “He wouldn’t be a good boyfriend. You want someone who likes you for who you are.”
“Do you want a foot massage?” Dana’s technician asked tentatively.
“Of course she would,” Lexi said, holding in a grin.
Dana narrowed her gaze. “You want to play dirty? Fine. Gee, Kendra, did you know that Lexi tried out for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders?”
“Seriously?” Kendra’s voice was a squeal. “You did? What happened?”
Lexi writhed in her chair. “That’s so unfair.”
“But true,” Dana said.
“She was great,” Skye said. “I went with her. They should have picked her.”
Kendra looked impressed. “What happened?”
“I didn’t make it. I got to training camp but was let go the first week. I couldn’t keep up with the dancing. I didn’t have enough training and I couldn’t learn the routines fast enough. I was still in college, so I went back to
