Page 37 of Knight

“What?” I meet his gaze, reaching for the napkin. “Sauce on my face?”

He rubs at his chin before he speaks, “You have the sexiest laugh.” There’s a hint of red in his tanned cheek when he says this, the smoothness of his words contradicting it. I can’t tell if he’s putting on the Christian Casanova moves or if he’s being sincere. My brows furrow and he catches it, replying before I even say anything, “I mean it.” He leans in closer. “And I don’t know if I like you better in King’s uniform or out of it. You reminded him who’s boss.”

“Well if you won’t, I will.” I nudge his shoulder with mine.

“It’s complicated,” he says, glancing at his plate for a moment before those greens land back on me. “But things between us don’t have to be. You’re something else, Jo and if I had the chance to make you mine I …” He’s leaning in, my heart beating against my chest. My eyes land on his lips. Thick and luscious. The closer he gets, the more I realize he’s about to kiss me. Right here in Emilio’s for all the breakfast clients to see.

Okay, they’re all older folks with pearls and canes made out of shiny wood but still. Chrisitan Perez is about to kiss me and it’s not with any strings. It’s not because he’s trying to thwart his power. This feels normal. So why am I hesitating?

That roaring voice floats into my head.

You’ll always be mine, Rowland.

He’s why.

Like Christian reads my mind, he asks, “Are you and Damien over?” The question makes me freeze. I don’t know how to answer it, but with Christian this close to my face, the pressure’s on.

“Hey!” Allie’s voice makes me jump a little, Christian lingering when I pull back. Allie’s quick to our table, tote bag on her shoulder. “Got your message and if you guys get to skip, I’m skipping too. Finals giving you the heebie-jeebies? These grades mean everything as seniors.”

“Uh, yeah,” I nod. I’m relieved Allie’s here. Especially when I find my sass, “Not like your money can’t buy your way out of it.”

“Ha.” Her laugh drips with sarcasm as she plops down in the spot next to me, hands already in her brother’s fries. She moves a purple strand out of her eye, popping a fry in her mouth. “Nate and Carlos are coming too.”

Christian sighs, leaning back. He just got the memo that this private breakfast is over. “Oh, good.” Sarcasm is something that runs in the family.

Allie pauses, glancing between us, “Wait, am I interrupting?”

“No,” I’m quick to answer.

“Emilio’s does breakfast?” Nate’s voice is next through the dining room.

Christian tosses his napkin on the table. “Didn’t know this was a party,” he says, poking his fork into his steak.

“It is now!” Carlos sits beside Allie, kissing her on her cheek while Nate sits on the other side of Christian.

Nate looks between us, “Or it might have been a private party for two.” He arches an eyebrow my way and I give him an eye roll. “Still playing in the kingdom are we, Jo?”

My cheeks grow warm as I sit up in my seat. “I’m thanking Christian for taking care of Willow.” That is the truth.

“What do you mean?” Allie asks. “Do we finally get to know what happened last night?”

“Yeah, Scandal.” Nate looks my way again. “What happened last night?”

As they settle in, I spill what happened with Willow and Jasper. I know Christian’s itching to hear more about what happened with Damien after he left, but I’m still digesting it. He can wait.

“The jocks at this school are fucking gross,” Allie says, fists slamming on the table. “And the school keeps funding their bullshit.”

“Hey!” Chrisitan pipes.

Allie continues, “ I can’t imagine how many girls they’ve taken up to King’s roof.”

“… and boys,” Carlos chimes in, signalling for a server.

“I’m not even surprised,” Allie scoffs again. “Bunch of insecure pricks.”

“Hey, I’m right here!” Christian pipes up again, throwing a fry at her head.

“Well, if you’re going to keep hanging with us, you can expect us to bash you,” Allie says. “I’m not apologizing because you want to rub up on my girl.”

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