Page 20 of The Dating Prohibition

it to go to someone who will do justice by it.”

“If I get that chance, I promise you that I will.”

“Alright.” The real estate agent walked back into the main building as BJ led her to the truck.

“Nothing can ever be easy, can it?” She smiled ruefully.

“If it were easy, then everybody would do it.” He started the car and maneuvered them toward H Street.

“I mean, I guess that’s true, but sheesh! Sometimes it would be nice if a little something could be easy.”

“I know, but it’s coming though, Kenny. Don’t give up.”

“Yeah.”

They stopped at a bar in Brookland that served wine and tapas. Over a glass of Tempranillo, Kendra’s head began to clear.

“Can I tell you something?” She took a big sip of her wine. Liquid courage . “I was afraid to come home.”

“Afraid of what?” His brows scrunched together. “What do you mean?”

“You know I’ve been living in my brother’s shadow since childhood. I don’t know how to step out into the light of my own volition.

I’ve been a C-suite-level executive making a quarter of a million dollars a year, and because that job didn’t pan out and

I decided I wanted something different, I think they assumed I lost my way. And maybe I had for a time,” she admitted. “But

I know what I want now. All of that travel and quality time with family did me good.”

BJ nodded thoughtfully. “I can see that. You seem far more determined than you ever did in data.”

“Right? I don’t know what the universe is trying to tell me, but it’s like I can’t have my own—I have to live in his basement and work in his restaurant,” she laughed nonsensically. “And I just can’t . . .”

“Don’t say can’t , because it is possible, Kenny. I need you to say that.”

She quirked her downturned mouth to one side and huffed. “It’s possible,” she droned.

“But I need for you to believe it. You need to believe it for you .”

“Okay fine. I admit I know that my dream is possible. I’m just starting to wonder if it’s actually attainable. Maybe I can’t—”

“The only thing that’s gonna limit you is you. I need you to believe in yourself and your ability to make it happen. You are

far more resourceful than you think you are.”

“In what way? What are you even talking about?”

“Listen, Kenny. Remember when we were kids—remember high school. You were always trying to come up with a way to get out of

the house with me and Logan.”

“Yeah, because otherwise I’d be stuck at home. My parents believed I should be there watching Saturday morning cartoons, because

neither of them wanted to admit that I was in high school with you guys.”

“Well, there’s always been the desire to watch out for you. Of course, your big brother, your parents—you’re the baby girl.

They only wanted to protect you.”

“Yeah, but they protected me so much that I left the country because I wanted to feel like I had agency. I did this data stuff because my parents thought tech was the right thing for me to do—it was the right thing to pursue at the time—because they wanted me to be financially independent. They don’t even ask me about dating anymore.

Maybe they think that ship has sailed since I’ve been single for so long.

I know my mom isn’t happy with what I’ve been up to, but I can’t live to please anyone but me.

“Even now. I’m in my late thirties and because I’m saving as much as I can, I’m not seen as self-sufficient. Maybe I am biting

off more than I can chew, and that’s why the family didn’t even support it. Does everyone look at me like I’m some kind of

fuckup?”

“There’s nothing wrong with relying on your family from time to time, Kenny,” BJ’s voice rumbled.

The server brought another round of wine.

“I’m sorry, could I have something stronger?” She angled her face upward to the server.

“Sure! What would you like?”

“What do you have with gin?” Kendra narrowed her eyes on the last word.

“Whoa,” BJ muttered, raising his eyebrows. “Gin?”

“What’s wrong with gin?”

“What are you trying to accomplish?”

“Honestly, I think I want some shots.”

“Well, you don’t want to shoot gin... do you?”

“I don’t want to shoot vodka... what do you suggest?”

“We could do tequila, whiskey, bourbon...”

“You and your brown liquor.” She cracked a smile.

“Well, I just feel like that’s what my stomach can handle, but maybe we should get a little bit of food too?”

“Okay.”

They ordered olive tapenade with crostini and agreed to split an order of albondigas and patatas bravas.

“Is that enough starch for you?” she teased. “Surely there’s enough here to soak up a few shots...”

“A few? Honestly, you could probably do with a little bit more, but let’s just see how this night goes. For now, it’s fine.”

“Good, because I’m not crazy hungry.”

“So about those shots,” the server coaxed with a smile.

“Right, sorry about that. I’m thinking tequila?”

The woman nodded. “Any preferences?”

“Anejo or reposado? Do you have a preference?” Kendra reached across to BJ to decide.

“Since you’re not wanting brown liquor, let’s avoid the extra aging and go for reposado.”

“Okay,” Kendra agreed and turned to the server. “Two each, please?”

The server nodded. “Lime and salt?”

They both bobbed their heads in response.

“Great, I’ll have those for you momentarily.” She sped off and within moments, jamón and manchego croquetas were laid on the

table as an amuse-bouche, compliments of the chef.

“These smell so good,” Kendra murmured, snatching her phone to take a quick photo of the presentation before it was destroyed.

The round croquetas each sat on a shallow mound of smoked pimiento aioli. She picked one up carefully, the contents of the

fried ball hot against her fingertips. “Be careful, these are piping hot.”

BJ followed her lead but pulled back as if the croqueta had singed his skin. “You say that as you handle something straight

out of the deep fryer.” He pressed the pads of his thumb and forefinger against the condensation hugging the outside of his

water glass.

“Poor baby,” she teased with baby talk, widening her eyes as she mocked him. “Did the little hot treat give you an ouchie?”

BJ glared at her while she took her first bite.

She had to blow out a breath with half of the croqueta in her mouth because the ham and cheese mixture was so hot.

The crunchy outer coating slathered in the aioli added a creamy savoriness to the experience of flavor exploding on her tongue. “Oh my god, so good,” she breathed.

“Mmm-hmm, you gonna kiss it and make it better?” BJ retorted.

Kendra’s eyes bugged as she choked on the half-chewed morsel, her hand flying to her chest as she coughed, her mind shooting

thoughts and images to the forefront of her mind. Her eyes teared up as she reached for her glass of water, picturing herself

kissing his fingers before taking them into her mouth. She chugged the cool liquid to quell the thirst building between her

thighs. “Sorry, you caught me off guard there.”

“Apparently,” he smirked.

The server returned with their shots. The glasses were rimmed with flaky salt and wedges of lime were laid across the tops.

They each grabbed their first glass.

“So what should we toast to?” BJ asked.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure that there’s really anything to toast. Don’t you toast when you’re celebrating?”

“Well, then, let’s say that we’re toasting to you being another step closer to realizing your dreams. You’re going after it,

and it takes guts to take the leap and try. Some people never get past that dream stage.”

“Hmm. You really believe that?” Her breath caught in her throat.

“Of course I do. Don’t cry, Kenny. Listen, this was a minor setback, but your major comeback is right around the corner. One

no doesn’t close every door.”

“I’m not gonna cry, I’m not gonna cry...” She blew out a breath, looking to the ceiling as she fanned her eyes. “I just—

You really believe that?”

He nodded.

She inhaled deeply, nodding as she dabbed the corners of her eyes. “Okay, well, then . . . cheers!” She smiled brightly, pushing her fears aside.

BJ shook his head as his lips pulled upward. “Salud.”

They clinked their glasses together. Kendra ran her tongue along the side of the glass collecting salt on her taste buds before

downing the shot and biting into the lime wedge.

“Well, that was smooth.” She nodded, noticing that BJ had taken his tequila straight—the salt and lime untouched. She immediately

reached for the second glass.

“Whoa, you don’t want to slow down a little bit?” Concern etched BJ’s face as he leaned forward.

Kendra bit her lip. “I—I need this tonight.”

He searched her eyes before sitting back in his seat. “Okay, well, bottoms up.”

They shot their second glasses and BJ’s eye twitched slightly as they both swallowed the spicy liquid.

“Doesn’t burn it too bad, right?” She crooked a brow.

“No. Do you have work tomorrow?”

“No. You?”

“Uh, professorial work? No. Well, I’m on sabbatical, so I’m good. I’m not helping at the restaurant tomorrow.”

Kendra nodded, a pleasant buzz beginning to brew. “Okay, well, then, let’s get another round.”

BJ regarded her for a moment before nodding. “Fuck it, let’s do it. I’ll come back for the car in the morning.”

As the rest of the food reached the table, the edges of Kendra’s mind grew fuzzy and some of the worry fell away as she and

BJ continued their meal.

“You know, when we were younger, I think I had a crush on you.”

“Me? Oh yeah?” The side of his mouth turned upward slightly as he studied her face. “When was this?”

“Probably when you were getting ready to graduate high school, I guess.”

He stared at her with an unreadable expression. “You never said anything.”

“How could I say anything? You’re my brother’s best friend, and though you were always my confidant, I just didn’t think you

could see me that way.”

“But still, you never said anything... I never knew that.”

“Well, I just figured you thought I was his dorky little sister,” she half laughed, sipping her water.

“I’ve never thought that about you, Kenny.”