Page 14 of Just Between Us

“Can’t believe you didn’t notice it.” Kai shakes his head with a smile. “This is funny.”

“What is?” Cole asks innocently.

“Just that I’m here, having dinner with you two. I just know a few people would be ridiculously jealous.”

This piques my interest. “How come?”

Kai’s eyebrows rise on his forehead. “You two must know?”

Oh, I know, I just want him to say it. I blink innocently. “Know what?”

“Just that you are the topic of so many conversations in the office.”

Cole’s eyes cut to mine and it’s almost like I can hear his thoughts and none of them should be repeated out loud in public. “Oh?” he turns back to Kai. “And what are those conversations about?”

Kai rubs the back of his neck. Somehow the casual air that existed between us a few seconds ago suddenly feels charged.The way Cole is watching Kai and keeping him in place without doing much almost makes me feel sorry for him.

Of course, I have an idea of what people say about Cole and I. My assistant has offered me all of the details during our morning catchups over tea, even the ones I’d prefer not to know.

Kai meets Cole’s eyes and offers a single-shouldered shrug. “Usually, it’s about how good you two must look together.”

How good you two must look fucking, he doesn’t say.

Cole grins, letting go of my knee and releasing Kai from his burning gaze. He tilts his head slightly as if weighing what to say next.

“You’re with us now, Kai,” he says. “Do we look good?”

Kai’s eyes meet mine briefly and he licks his lips. It’s quick and I can tell he didn’t mean to, but he doesn’t cower, instead, he just sits a little straighter, shifting his knees.

“Uh, yeah, you look good.”

It’s like the electricity in the room has been charged up several watts and we can all feel it. Around us, the restaurant fills with clinking glasses and a buzz of quiet chatter.

“Glad the office approves,” I say after a second, diffusing the palpable tension between us. I turn to Kai, a brilliant idea coming to me. “By the way, a friend of ours is having a birthday thing this coming Saturday. You should come.”

It’s Anant’s birthday in a few days and in usual Anant fashion, he has decided to throw a party everyone will remember for years. I don’t know why I’m asking Kai exactly, but he has me acting a little out of character. I meet Cole’s eyes, but he doesn’t seem bothered that I extended the invite.

“You can bring a friend if you’d like,” I add to make it less intimidating.

“Um…” Kai starts. The tips of his ears are a little red.

“No point in saying no to him,” Cole says. “He always gets his way.”

Kai opens his mouth and then closes it. “Okay, sure, I’ll come,” he says. “Can I bring Jenna?”

“Jenna?” I ask.

Is he seeing someone? He mentioned he didn’t have a partner at the Christmas party, but it’s been a few weeks now. Maybe he met someone. That would make sense. Still, the idea makes me shift in my seat uncomfortably.

“She’s my best friend and housemate. She’s dating Marie.” He looks at me when he mentions Marie and something inside me untangles. I grin. “Sure, she’s more than welcome. I’ll have my assistant send you the details.”

When Cole walks back into our room, his hair drips from the shower. A white towel hangs low from his hips and when he sees me watching him, he lifts his eyebrow, a half-smile dancing on his lips.

“See something you like?” he asks.

I cross my legs on the bed and adjust my glasses. I’ve been wearing them since I was four, but I usually wear my contact lenses during the day.

“Always,” I laugh.

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