Page 111 of Underground Prince

Swiping the phone open, I saw it wasn’t Verily, but Kai.

Kai: I’m not sure if you hate me? I really hope not. I can explain everything this aft. You’re on call for tonight but thought you’d want to play a bit first. Msg back.

I answered and threw the phone on the bed, zipped out of my dress, and headed to the shower, wiping under my eyes with both hands as I went.

Me: I’m in.

24

SEPARATE STONE

An hour and one subway later, I was at Kai’s door.

He swept it open, his expression openly ashamed as he ushered me in.

“Scarlet, I’m—”

“You don’t have to say it again,” I said. “Because you don’t have to be sorry.”

He appeared ready to argue, but hesitated. “Are you okay?”

“Sure,” I said. I wandered around him and dropped onto his couch.

I thought I’d covered my wear and tear with heavier makeup and straightened hair that shaded my face, and for once spent time on my outfit, choosing skinny jeans, a loose peach blouse and a leather jacket. But appearances could only veil so much.

“You look…” He followed me to the couch. “Concerning. Because, you know, most people use their faces to emit emotion.”

“What happened last night?” I asked.

He sank down into the cushions. Nothing like reminding a person of their guilt to completely throw them off their current pursuit. “I was completely off my game. I thought Sax was asking for you and wanted some time alone. More time alone, since you guys already disappeared together once.”

I propped a leg underneath me. “To be honest, I was hoping it was Sax, too.”

“But as soon as I saw Sax at his seat, targeting our table, that tornado stare of his had me peeing my pants. I knew then you weren’t supposed to be missing, and we both sprang up.”

“Kai.” I found his hand. “Thank you.”

“Why would you thank me for that? I let you go.”

“Yeah, when you were as clueless as me. And as soon as you figured it out, you scoured the hotel. You led Theo to me. You didn’t have to do any of it.”

His brows creased in the middle as he glanced down at his thighs, where our hands were. “Scarlet, you’re my friend. Of course I would.”

There was a bump-bump in my chest, a double tap beat. In a spurt of emotion, I hugged him. “I think you’re pretty cool, too.”

“Ah, all right. C’mon, we’re tougher than this.” He pushed me away, but gave my hand one last squeeze to make up for it. “I despise Care Bear moments.”

I laughed. “Me, too.”

He smiled at me, but I found there was a second of grief in it, quickly glossed over by him clapping his hands.

“So. You ready for tonight? I have just the place to take you to, right by where you’re working.”

“Yeah, but I wasn’t given any outfit instruction,” I said.

“That’s because Sax has you at one of the mid-level game rooms tonight. Less showy, more background, but not as invisible as the high end.”

“What does that mean?”

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