Page 56 of More To Us

Chapter Eleven

Austin

"Kira, this is—"

She turns and walks away before I can introduce her.

"I'll see you later," I say to Taylor.

"Yeah, bye!" She waves as I leave.

I go around the machines and catch up with Kira. I hold her arm, stopping her. "What are you doing? Why'd you run off like that?"

"You were busy," she says in an angry tone. "I didn't want to bother you."

"Bother me? What are you talking about? I was over there waiting for you. Why'd you get here so late? You said six. I was getting worried."

"Yeah, you look real worried." She yanks her arm from me.

"What's going on? Why are you pissed?"

She doesn't answer, her eyes on the cardio area. I follow her gaze and see her looking at Taylor.

"Hey." I put my hand on Kira's shoulder.

Her eyes return to mine. "What?"

"Are you jealous?"

"No," she says in an unconvincing tone.

I smile. "You are. You're jealous."

She huffs. "And why would I be jealous? I don't care if you talk to other girls."

"Then why are you acting this way?"

"I'm not—" She stops herself and takes a breath.

"Come here." I move off to the side, and when she's next to me, I say, "While I was waiting for you, Taylor asked me when the band would be playing next. We talked for a few minutes and then you showed up. There was nothing going on." I smile. "But I kind of like that you were jealous. Shows that you like me."

She half-smiles. "You know I like you."

"And I like YOU. A lot. So stop worrying about other girls."

She nods.

I hold her hand. "Kira, I mean it. When I'm dating a girl, it's only her. I don't cheat. Ask anyone. Ask my brothers. They know me better than anyone and they know I'd never cheat."

She sighs. "Sorry. I shouldn't have reacted that way. I never get jealous like that. I don't know why I did."

I keep hold of her hand and lean down, talking quietly. "Maybe because you want me all to yourself."

My lips brush her ear and she shivers. "Maybe."

I kiss her, but just once and keep it short. The manager would kick my ass if he saw me kissing a girl in the gym. "You ready to work out?"

"Yeah." She smiles, and I feel a jolt of happiness, or maybe it's adrenaline. Whatever it is, it feels good and gives me energy and makes me want more. And it's all from that smile of hers. Damn, this girl gets to me.

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