Page 153 of Never You

My brows arch, my feet coming to an abrupt halt when my eyes lock with a set of baby blues that hit me in the chest like a damn arrow. Her chocolate brown hair shines from the sun glistening through the windows, while her beaming smile almost knocks me off my feet.

“Kayla?” I ask, confused.

My eyes move to the pastel pink suitcase standing beside her. “What are you doing here?”

She tilts her head with a thrown expression.

“Err, Rae said you offered me a job.”

Stunned, I blink. “I-I offered you... well, that’s one way to put it.”

I should’ve called in sick and stayed in bed like Jason suggested five hours ago when we came home wasted. Did the rum change the entire phone call in my head?

No, it didn’t.

Apparently Rae had a different conversation than I because, hangover or not, I’m positive I never saidshe can start tomorrow.

“I’m sorry. Were you not expecting me?” The disappointment washes her face, and I feel like an asshat. But no, I wasn’t expecting her.

In fact, I’d hope to be able to postpone this for a couple more weeks so I can figure out what the fuck I’m going to do with her.

And what’s with the fucking suitcase?

“Oh, damn. I’m going to kill her,” she mutters, her irises fierce and sexy as hell. “That lying little witch.”

I’m not religious but God, give me strength, because she has that look in her eyes that screams all the trouble I enjoy way too much.

“No, she didn’t lie.” I quickly stride forward, closing the distance between us while tucking my phone back into my pocket. “I told her you could work here.”

Her smile slides back in place. It’s a smile that lights up the room. A smile that has the ability to make the clouds disappear on a bad day and make you forget all about your sorrows. And that scent. It’s a mix between honey, bergamot and I don’t know. Something sweet and fucking addictive.

“Oh, so youwereexpecting me?”

When I get closer, another whiff of some floral aroma attacks my nose, making it hard for me to respond with words.

“Rae called meyesterday,” I explain with a brooding tone as I try to clear the fog in my head.

“Right.” She drags the word out, as if she’s not following.

Trust me, babe. Neither am I.

I sigh, my shoulders slumping and my head tilting toward her as I give her a critical look.

Why does she have to be so fucking pretty?

“I was thinking next week, next month, or something like, we’ll work out the details later. I wasn’t expecting you to be standing in my office with a suitcase first thing in the morning. When did you get to Atlanta, anyway?”

“This morning. First flight at five am.” When she notices my eyes growing wide, she shrugs her shoulders. “What? I had to leave those two. They were sucking face every single minute they were home. It was disgusting.”

She pulls a face, and a chuckle leaves my lips. I remember being on the road with them. The sexual tension was fucking intense. It doesn’t surprise me they live it out behind closed doors.

“Do they even know you’re here?”

“I left a note.” There is a carelessness in her voice that both annoys me and amuses me, loving how she still sees the world at nineteen.

Jason is gonna have a field day with this one when he finds out.

Last night, the bastard made it a sport to tell me I was fucked with each shot he brought to his lips. I fired back by telling him he was simping on his brother’s girlfriend, but two shots in and the bastard didn’t even deny it anymore.

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