Page 66 of Something So Strong

JESSE: How ominous… Have your ass in the kitchen in ten minutes.

ROMEO: Whatever.

Rolling out of bed and onto a pile of dirty clothes that never made it to the hamper, I spot a piece of paper shoved under my door. Scurrying towards it on all fours, I clench it tightly in my hands for several long moments before daring to open it.

Grinning like a fool, I stare at Kai’s handwriting—existing in the moment like evil, and pain, and grief don’t exist.

By the time the lift doors open on the ground level, Romeo is exiting the stairwell.

“Mornin’,” he greets me with a jerk of his chin. “It feels like I haven’t seen you lads in ages.”

“Maw,” I joke, slinging an arm over his shoulders. “Are you going through withdrawals?”

“Not the kind you can help me with, mate,” he chuckles dryly, weaving his arm between us, grabbing a fistful of my hair, and yanking my head back before darting away from me and into the kitchen. By the time I find him amidst the breakfast rush, he’s a meter away from Kai. “How’s it goin’, fruitcake?” he asks cooly, pulling up a seat across the table from him.

“All the better now you’re here,” Kai smolders, and for the first time, I see the mask. It may as well be a flashing sign above his head. Or one of those cartoon arrows jolting back and forth for how obvious it is. For how easy it is to spot how uncomfortable he is in his body language. Jittery feet below the table. The hand in his lap balled into a tight fist. I should have noticed earlier, but just like everyone else, he had my attention transfixed elsewhere.

Kai looks towards where I’m still standing awkwardly between him and Romeo. And like an Instagram filter being switched off, the charismatic stare he offered Romeo, dulls.

It wasn’t my plan to run into him this morning.

If I’d seen him before Romeo did, I’d have made an excuse to leave.

If dealing with Saxon for fourteen years has taught me anything, it’s that some people need time and space. And after what we both experienced last night, I don’t have any idea what to say to him.

“Just take a fucking seat, sweet thing,” Kai croons, but I can hear how forced it is.

“Sorry. You know how nervous I get around you,” I flirt back, my face falling into apology mode as soon as Romeo is looking away.

“What ya got there?” Romeo asks him, studying Kai’s plate.

“Leftovers from last night. But there’s scrambled eggs and bacon today.”

With an overly salacious grin, Romeo taps me on the shoulder. “C’mon, Jess. You made me come, so let’s go.”

Bypassing the regular fare, we gaze at the Bain Marie’s of mass-prepared breakfast food like its three Michelin star fine dining.

“This almost makes up for their lack of decent tea.” I step forward. “I’ll have some of that, that, and that,” I tell Romeo, and leave him to get us something to drink.

Shoving one of those tiny mini-bar-sized bottles of orange juice under my arm, I head to the coffee station. Like it’s some secret staff Christmas I don’t know about, there’s a full basket of pods beside the coffee maker instead of the ‘dishwater special’ being the only option.

Selecting a ristretto capsule for Romeo and popping it in the machine, I turn back to Kai.

Sullen is the only way I can describe how he looks sitting there, defeated.

Searching through the pods, I select a medium espresso and make—as much as one can make something that is totally automated—a coffee for Kai as well.

“Sorry about this,” I apologize and present my caffeine peace offering. “I don’t know if you feel like company, but Romi wanted you, and who am I to pull him away?”

“The guy has good taste,” he says dryly as I sit.

Relaxing into my chair, I lock eyes with him in the hopes they will brighten, but the look I get back is shallow at best. “He’s not the only one with good taste,” I tell him as gently as I can while still getting my point across.

“Look who’s being bold this morning.”

“It’s normally your job.”

With his elbows still on the table, Kai lifts his hands to shrug. “I’m on break.”

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