She was glancing through the menu and I could tell she was struggling with what to pick. Honestly it all sounded good to me. As hungry as I was right then I could have eaten one of everything and two of each dessert. “I don’t know,”
“I’m going to get the chili cheese fries, the foot-long slaw dog, and the all American burger.” I glanced at the appetizers. “And we might as well get some fried mozzarella sticks and potato skins to start.” Dallas raised a brow at me, amazed that I wanted all of that to eat. “What? I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since breakfast. That was nearly twenty-four hours ago, baby.”
“You two are really cute together,” Kenzie surprised me by commenting. “It’s nice to watch you like this.”
Dallas’s eyes widened but I couldn’t help but grin as I tightened my arms around her. “Thanks, sunshine. It comes easy when you have what we have.”
An older woman suddenly appeared with our drinks on a tray. She looked like someone’s grandmother, but she seemed to find the job amusing. Her grin was warm and welcoming as she stood over us with her order pad in hand. Dallas and I gave her our orders but Kenzie was still struggling with her decision.
I reached for her hand, her thin fingers trembling on the menu. “Whatever you want is fine, Kenzie. I promise. If you want two things or three things, hell if you want the whole damn menu, it is fine with me. Okay, sunshine?”
Her chin trembled for a moment before she bit her lip hard. Swallowing, she gave the waitress her order of grilled cheese, chili, and a chili cheese hot dog. As small as she was, I wasn’t sure if should could hold all of that, but she sure did look like she needed that much. Beside me I felt Dallas stiffening and she sat up, giving Kenzie a closer look.
“Kenzie, when was the last time you ate?”
Kenzie’s chin trembled again and Dallas moved from our side of the booth to take a place next to the girl. She grabbed Kenzie’s chin, her eyes examining her closely. “Sweetness, you’re seriously malnourished. What’s been going on?”
My stomach seemed to bottom out as Kenzie’s trembling chin was suddenly followed by two fat tears falling from her eyes. “I’m okay,” she whispered.
“No, baby cakes. You damn well aren’t okay. Talk to me,” Dallas urged as she brushed a few locks of Kenzie’s hair back from her face. “Tell me what’s been going on at home.”
“H-home?” Her voice seemed to shake more than her chin if that was possible. “I don’t h-h-have a h-home. My parents d-d-died when I was six. After that I was pushed from one f-f-family member to the next, because no one w-wanted me. S-s-o I ended up in foster care, and then when my a-aunt f-f-finally relinquished her custodial rights I was sent to the orphanage where I’ve been for the last four years.”
Everything inside me clenched at her confession. Earlier I had thought she reminded me of Emmie. I couldn’t have imagined that I was right in more ways than one. Only when Kenzie had become an orphan she hadn’t had four Demons willing and waiting to care for her. My hands balled into fists under the table and I clenched my jaw as I turned my gaze to the window.
“I’m so sorry, sweetness,” Dallas murmured as she pulled Kenzie against her.
“I-it’s okay. I’ve learned to a-accept that my life isn’t all s-s-sunshine and daisies.”
“Why haven’t you been getting enough to eat, Kenzie?” I surprised myself by asking. My voice was low, so that I wouldn’t scare her with all the emotions churning inside of me.
She wiped her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. “I’m nearly eighteen, so Miss Rhodes says I can get my own food. I have a job after school so that I can pay for my own food. But…” She broke off and swallowed hard. “But when I heard that OtherWorld was doing a meet and greet after the concert, I started saving my paychecks so that I could meet you and the band.” Her chin started trembling again. “My last happy memories are of my parents. They were amazing parents. I was so lucky back then. They loved me…so much. They were also big rocker fans. They loved OtherWorld the most, and were fans from your first album and never looked back. I can remember them saying that they would take me to see one of your concerts one day. It would be a new experience for all of us, because they had never been to one either.” Kenzie shrugged again. “I just wanted to honor them by seeing you guys. Just once.”
I leaned forward in the booth and grasped both of her hands in mine. “I’m really glad you came tonight, Kenzie. I think your parents would be beyond honored that you worked so hard and sacrificed so much to see us. You’re a brave girl, and I sincerely admire you for that.” Her cheeks filled with pink and I gave her a small smile. “Things are gonna get better, sunshine. I promise you that much.”
Dallas wrapped her arm around Kenzie’s shoulders again. The kid leaned back, laying her head on Dallas’s shoulder. My mind was filled with all kinds of crazy thoughts that I needed to get straight, but right then, looking into Dallas’s eyes, I saw her love shining back for a moment before she looked away. Tonight was going to be a night all three of us would remember for the rest of our lives.
I called Emmie as soon as we dropped Kenzie off at her house. The orphanage had been just a two-story house with an old swing in the front yard and a sign that said it was Miss Rhodes Orphanage for children ten years and older. I wanted to knock on the door and demand to know how the bitch that ran the place slept at night. She was responsible for feeding Kenzie, for her wellbeing and all her needs until she turned eighteen. Miss Rhodes should have done her job and made sure that Kenzie was eating. That she was healthy.
I hated the woman and I hadn’t even met her yet.
On the taxi ride back to our hotel, Dallas fell asleep against my chest while I made my call. The phone rang a handful of times before a grumpy sounding Emmie finally picked up.
“Ax, it’s two in the morning here. I’m gonna kick you in the balls the next time I see you. And if this is about Devlin and Zander, I already know. I’ll fly out tomorrow. But for now, my pregnant ass is going back to sleep.”
My eyes narrowed at the mention of my bandmates. “What the fuck happened between Dev and Z this time?” They had been keeping their distance for the last week or so.
“Don’t get me started. I’m too tired and more than pissed. Nik is going to the UK in two days so he can’t come with me. I’m seven months pregnant, hormonal and mad as hell.” She sighed. “But obviously that isn’t why you called. So, what’s up?”