Chapter 45 #2
Red splotches explode across Luke’s puffing cheeks. His watering eyes blink fast to the point where the poor boy looks like he’s on the verge of crying.
“I’m gonna seduce the backstabber,” Luke rasps. “G-Got it.”
He pops a thumbs up, making Wallace frown.
“What about Emilie?”
Luke gulps down a swig of water and avoids looking at the boys in the eyes.
“We’re done,” he says. “Let’s move on.”
The dark warning underlying his voice stops them from pushing about it further. They simply sink back in their seats and exchange nervous looks.
“Hold on,” Stella interjects. “If Sophia is coming in with three other girls, we still need two other boys to distract them while Diana and I take her phone.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and let out a breath.
Whether or not I like the idea, Stella is right.
“I suppose Kai and Rowan will be the ones distracting the other girls.”
Rowan nods. “Sounds good.”
“Don’t worry, Di.” Kai smirks. “I’ll make sure Row and I do a good job.”
My fingers start to twitch. I just want everyone to disappear, so I can mount him and make sure he remembers no other girl’s name except mine—
Oh my god.
I can’t keep letting my jealousy flare out of control like this. Not with everything going on right now.
I force a smile onto my face. “Great. I appreciate your enthusiasm, Kai.”
“Bet you can’t wait to see that enthusiasm in action.”
My nostrils flare. Kai’s smirk widens.
He’s taking a little too much pleasure in riling me up and I don’t know why.
Wallace claps his hands, reining our attention back to him. “The doors open at eight, so make sure you guys show up by then. That’s the only way you can reserve a table for Sophia and her friends.”
Kai pulls out his phone. “I’ll create a group chat to keep us updated on what happens.”
When the group chat is made, the last thing we need to consider is costumes.
“Oh! We can all dress under the same theme!” Stella chirps. “You know, since we’re all scheming together?”
“You want us to be Greek goddesses?” I ask.
Stella claps her hands. “It’s such a cute idea. I can be Hera to Rowan’s Zeus, and you can be Persephone to Kai’s Hades.”
“But we’re not a couple,” Rowan protests.
Stella huffs and rolls her eyes. “I know that. It’s just for the aesthetic.”
A strong ache suddenly pierces my skull. From pissing off Simon Valdis, breaking down in a corner, meeting Stella, spiraling in her office, and dealing with Kai’s unnecessary provoking, I just want to be in my bed.
“Rowan, it’s one night,” I placate. “We’ll be in and out of our costumes before we know it. We’re going as Hera and Persephone and that’s final.”
I don’t leave any more room for discussion. I simply sling my bag over my shoulder and stand up to leave. It’s almost ten, and I still have to finish up some heavy research about fertilizers for one of my news stories for class.
Luke and Rowan walk Stella to the door, while Wallace cleans up the table.
On my way towards the door, Kai comes up beside me and nudges his elbow with mine. “You alright?”
My brow arches. “I think I should be asking you that question. You had quite an appetite for words today.”
“You were doubting my abilities to pick up girls. I had to defend myself.”
I burst out laughing and grind to a halt. “Defend? Is that what you were doing?”
Kai props his arm against the wall, drawing us just a little bit closer. “What did you think I was doing, princess?”
I think you liked seeing me jealous. I don’t know why that matters and I’m scared to delve into the reason why.
I swallow hard, mustering up the most playful response I can. “Clearly, the Grouse Grind didn’t beat you down that badly if you’re still able to quip back at me like this.”
“It was the phone call.” Kai shrugs and raises his hands up. “I swear, it made the entire hike easier since I couldn’t stop laughing about snotty-nosed Diana’s kindergarten photo.”
“You—”
I smack his chest.
Kai bursts out laughing.
I can feel the blush rise onto my cheeks. I peer down at my socks, nudging my toe against the carpeted floor. “You know, if you need to destress like you did last night…you can always call me again.”
In the corner of my eye, I can see Kai perk up. “I can?”
“Yes.” I smile up at him. “I’d like it if you did.”
Kai’s throat bobs as he takes me in. Something unreadable smolders like a steady, burning flame on his face.
“I’ll call you tonight,” he promises.
Stella’s laugh suddenly breaks us apart.
I avoid making any more suspicious eye contact with Kai as I head towards the doorway to put my shoes on.
Rowan cracks open the door for us. When I cross the threshold, Stella suddenly whirls back around with her finger up.
“Oh! Before I forget, can you be more careful with my poke bowl next time?”
“Uh-huh.” Rowan begins to close the door on her.
Stella persists even as she backs further out into the hallway. “I’m only asking because the salmon cubes always slosh to the side when they arrive—”
“Got it—”
“—If you hold the container with two hands–”
“—Drive safe, stalker.”
Rowan cracks a ghost of a smile before he shuts the door in her face.
Stella groans.
I faintly hear Rowan’s laugh behind the door.
Stella rolls her eyes and sticks out her tongue.
Before I can ask about it, she’s smoothing down her ponytail and hooking her arm through mine to guide us down the hallway.
The gesture is so innocent and playful, it brings me back to a time I never got to live out as a little girl.
“So, what did you think of the boys?”
“They’re cool!” Stella chirps. Then, a mischievous smile sneaks across her lips as she nudges me. “So, how long have you and Kai been banging?”