Page 40 of The Dating Prohibition

be crushed if they feel like I’m the only one who knew.”

“No, you’re right.” Kendra’s parents had never given her a hard time for the closeness that she shared with Mack—they were

just happy that she felt like she had someone. She’d always been one to share things in her time and they’d always given her

the space to make her own decisions.

“They should be back to their Savannah house by now, but I am pretty sure they’re planning to make their way back to DC for

some event,” Auntie Mack said. “So, just give them a call.”

“I’ll do that. Thank you, Auntie.”

“Of course. I’ll talk to you soon. I love you.”

“I love you too. Bye.”

Kendra pulled out her laptop and shot off some emails to the real estate agent to decline the proposal for the DC property.

After, she picked up her phone to send a group text to Lani, Logan, Shonda, Stanley, her parents, and BJ to invite them to

a special Monday dinner at her place. She didn’t want to deal with a bunch of people griping at her for not inviting him,

but she also figured she could use her family as a buffer to avoid him.

The group thread pinged over and over with different people accepting. Noticeably, the one who didn’t respond was BJ.

Kendra finished chopping the last of the chives and parsley for various garnishes as she awaited her family. She brought

two table leaves out of the closet to extend her dining table so that there was enough space for everyone.

Her parents ultimately let her know that they weren’t able to make it back to DC from Savannah in time, so she had a separate

call with them to share her news. As she sprinkled parsley on top of the jambalaya, the doorbell rang. “It’s open,” Kendra

called.

“Hey, sis. You need any help in here? Everything smells good.” Shonda walked in first, followed by Logan and Lani. “We saw

BJ and Stanley. They’re both parking.”

“Okay, cool.” Kendra’s stomach flip-flopped at the thought of BJ being there. He never responded to her text, so she assumed

he wasn’t coming.

Logan stepped into the kitchen to eye the feast Kendra had prepared. “What’s the occasion?”

“I just wanted to have a family meal. There’s a lot that’s been going on and we haven’t been able to do this in a while. We

had these with more frequency when I lived here before.”

Shonda nodded. Before Kendra moved to Silicon Valley and then went off on her two-year trip, she would host elaborate supper

club dinners for them and their friends, putting together a special menu. Everybody would bring booze or contribute cash to

the fund to help support. She would think of different themes like a Sunday brunch or a holiday meal and tie the food to that

particular theme.

Shonda still raved about her spring-themed lamb chops, while Logan was partial to her lemon and blueberry Bundt cake.

Logan eyed the various dishes on the island and on the stove. “Wow, it’s like all of our family cultures in one meal.”

“Well, that’s what I was going for.” She grinned.

On the stove was a version of their mom’s jambalaya, though Kendra could never simply make a recipe of someone else’s—she

always had to make it her own, so she added some different touches to it that she hoped her brother would notice. On the island

were some freshly fried lumpia that she had rolled and frozen a month earlier. She’d also skewered and grilled moo yang and

made a mango sticky rice for dessert.

“I was tempted to make some lechon, but I figured that might be too much, given everything else. I did do some extra chicken

and sausages, since I know some folks like the added protein.”

“Knock, knock,” BJ called, leading the way as Stanley followed him. Both carried a bottle of wine in each hand, which Shonda

stepped forward to accept.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Kendra watched as Stanley wrapped his arms around Lani, her face turning bright red as he kissed her

temple.

“How are you , Stanley?” Kendra called, making it very clear that she was watching what was going on.

Logan chuckled next to her. “Have you talked to BJ?” he asked quietly.

“Not yet.” She looked away, wiping her hands with a paper towel. “It’s just, I haven’t had anything to say.”

“You’re gonna have to face him at some point.”

“I hear you,” Kendra replied with a nod. “Okay, folks, make a plate and come sit. Looks like we’ve got plenty of wine. I’ve

got spirits. Tell me if you want a cocktail—I can make something real quick. Anyway, I would love for us to just relax and

enjoy some food and company while we have the time.”

Everybody nodded and proceeded to help themselves to the feast. Shonda winked at Kendra. “I’ll take one of your dirty martinis.”

“You want gin or vodka?”

“Whatever you prefer.” Shonda shrugged.

Kendra smiled slyly. “Gin it is.”

“Same for me!” Lani chimed in.

“Logan?”

“I’m good with scotch.” He grabbed his bottle of choice as Stanley scoured the wine bottles.

“I actually have this really great sparkling sauvignon blanc from New Zealand,” Kendra offered.

Stanley tilted his head. “Huh. Never heard of that, but I’ll try it.”

“It’s tasty. I found it at this local wine bar.” She smiled as Stanley nodded.

“BJ, what will you have?”

“Just some bourbon. Neat, please.” His gravelly tone made her bite her lip.

She met his gaze and it pulled her in like a magnet—his eyes searching hers, sending messages, asking for time alone. His

heated stare dropped to her lips and roamed her face as if he studied each of its features. She hesitated before turning away.

“Let me get these drinks started.”

She mixed the martinis and skewered olives stuffed with garlic. After pouring BJ’s bourbon, she began to set drinks around

the plates. “I think I will have a glass of what Stanley’s having,” Kendra announced, and he poured the wine into matching

tulip glasses.

“Oh my god, you make the best lumpia,” Lani moaned, her mouth full. “And did you make this chili sauce? It’s different.” She dragged her half-eaten roll of fried goodness through the sauce and popped the rest of it in her mouth, giving a little shimmy of approval.

Kendra giggled. “Yeah, I wanted to do my own take on a sweet chili sauce, so I just changed it a little bit––it has a little

added lemon juice and a teeny bit of Sichuan peppercorn. I’m glad you like it.”

Logan sampled a bite. “It is nice.”

“This jambalaya is everything!” Shonda exclaimed. “I don’t know how you and your mom do it, but I can never get it quite right.”

“We all have secrets.” Kendra winked.

She sat at the head of the table while Logan was at the other end. As he ate, he watched her carefully, waiting. He knew her

well enough to know there was a reason for the dinner.

Stanley and Lani were in their own world, sitting next to each other, whispering and nudging each other as they sampled the

food. Shonda sat to Logan’s right and BJ sat between Shonda and Kendra.

“This is really good,” BJ agreed. “And thanks for making the extra proteins.”

I made those for you. Color built in her cheeks as she stared down at her plate. She’d been pushing a slice of julienned andouille back and forth

across her plate. “Of course,” she said quietly without looking up.

Logan set his fork down after a few bites. “Do you want to tell us what the occasion is?”

“Does there have to be an occasion for us all to get together?” Kendra countered.

“No, but I know you and I know there’s a reason tonight.”

Kendra’s shoulders slumped a little. She placed her hands on either side of her plate, steeling herself before making her announcement. “Okay, fine. Well, I’ve decided that I’m going to be relocating.”

“What?! Where?” Shonda asked. “You just got here. Why would you leave?”

“Yeah, but the business opportunities aren’t moving the way that I wanted them to, and I can’t keep waiting for something

to happen when I know this isn’t the right market for what I’m trying to do.”

“So, where are you going?” Logan asked, his eyes on his sister. He always had the best poker face, and as he sat there, he

observed her with an unreadable expression.

“I made an offer on a property in Charleston, and it’s already been accepted. So, I will be moving to South Carolina immediately.”

“When you say ‘immediately’ what do you mean?” Lani asked, her disapproval clear in the pinched skin between her brows.”

“Next week.”

Forks clanged on plates as five sets of eyes stared at her.

“That seems a little fast, Keke,” Stanley replied. As quiet as he was, he had been a part of their friend group for years.

He and Logan and BJ were especially close, and he was an avid supporter of everything that the family did. He went to BJ’s

lectures and he helped renovate the space for Logan and Shonda’s restaurant. He was very clearly smitten with Kendra’s cousin.

And he’d been supportive of Kendra’s pursuits, but they never got as close as everyone else had with him. “Are you sure about

this?” Stanley asked.

She sat up straight and nodded. “I’m sure, and paperwork has been signed, so it’s happening. I’m really excited about it.

The building is perfect.” She folded her hands in her lap and tried to smile, though her emotions were scattered, swirling

around the man seated next to her.

“I just wish you could have done it here.” Shonda wrung her hands. “Maybe if we’d had more time . . . You’re gonna be so far away.”

“It’s not that far. And we have family there,” Kendra offered. “You know, you guys could come and see me and Auntie Mack.

We’ll both be there, and that’s Lani’s mom, so she’s got to come to town.”

“That’s true. Actually, I’ll probably drive down with you if you’re okay with that.” Lani reached a hand to her cousin. “I

want to come help.”

Kendra breathed a sigh of relief. “Of course, I would love that.”

“Kendra,” Logan said quietly. Everybody’s eyes turned to him. “I need to talk to you. Can we go outside for a quick sec?”

She’d been waiting for that. She nodded and stood from the table.

“Hurry back, you don’t want your food to get cold,” Shonda called.

“We’ll just be a minute.” Logan smiled stiffly, his lips pressed together tightly.

They stepped out front and walked around to sit in the rocking chairs on the front porch.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know for sure until yesterday that I was going to do this. It just felt right. And I had come to talk to you about this as well as another opportunity that was here in DC to make sure that I was making the right

choice, but that was the night with you and BJ talking about what to do with me.”

He steepled his hands and stared out at the street. “I know you wanted to be here so that we could support each other.”

“I did want that and I still want to support you. I still want us to support each other. But honestly, things are better for you here, and I can’t afford to do what I want to do in DC. I just have a better opportunity in Charleston and I owe it to myself to try.

“If I stay here, I’m going to have to settle. I will have to either give up a part of the business that I want to do or the

type of space that I want, or prioritize other people’s businesses and ideas over my own plans. And I know that you want to

help, and you’re the best brother, but sometimes I feel like I’m living in your shadow.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but stopped himself.

Kendra leaned forward and put her hand on her brother’s arm. “You’re so good at everything. You’ve got this business getting

rave reviews, and the place is busy every night. You have a brilliant wife, you have this beautiful home, and I’m just this

shadow that follows you around, helping with your stuff, living in your house, and I need my own. I have a shot at that in Charleston. I don’t think I have a shot at that here.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Logan stared at the front lawn, rocking slowly, his head bobbing as his hand covered

hers. “I hear you, but you’ve never been in my shadow, Kendra. Ever. You have your own light, and you do things your own way.

And—”

“No, but I haven’t. I followed you into tech when I always wanted to go into the restaurant business. And that restaurant

business wasn’t even your dream first. It was mine. But you did it and you did it better than I could have and faster. And

I have to be somewhere where I am standing on my own two feet.”

“Well, it’s not like when you go, we’re not going to be in contact. You can still bounce ideas off of us.”

“Yeah. But my point is, like, I want to be your sister. I don’t want you to be my adviser. I need to do this for me,” she

pleaded.

“Okay. I hear you and I support you. I wish that we could come down and help you prepare because—and I know you know this—but this is going to be a lot of work. And you were here to help us.”

“Yes, I know. But I’m ready. And Auntie Mack is there. Lani’s going to come down with me. You know, hopefully your team will

be able to handle things so that you guys can come down when we open in a couple months. But I’m really excited.”

“And Mom and Dad know?”

“Yeah, I FaceTimed them earlier. They’re really excited too. They want to drive up from Savannah in a couple weeks to help

out a little bit here and there. But you know how they are.”

“Their form of helping is basically watching and directing someone else,” Logan replied and grinned.

“Ain’t that the truth,” Kendra laughed, her hand slipping into her brother’s and he gave her a reassuring squeeze. “Are you

really okay with this?”

“Listen, I support you no matter what. That’s never a question. Do I want you to be closer? Of course. But, you’re right.

You have to do what’s best for you.”

Kendra nodded. “Thank you.”

“Always.”

“Ready to go back inside?”

“Of course I am. You said mango sticky rice, and you know that’s my weakness.”

She giggled. “I may have made your favorite for that exact reason.”

Logan narrowed his eyes as he stood. “Sneaky.”