Page 52 of Beneficial Misfortune

Kat and Addison’s heads snap up at his call, so lost in their game that they didn’t even realize the line had moved. Addison lets out a squeal of delight before taking off toward Vince, who scoops her up so that she can look at the menu.

I have to fight the urge to go to Kat and offer to help her up. Thankfully, my father is there the next second to do it, because I’m not sure I would have been able to stop myself had someone else not done it.

The others move to the window, but I stay back. I don’t love sweets the way they do, and I need a moment to collect myself. Something about Kat is harder to resist than it should be. It’s not as if she’s flaunting anything. Hell, some of the women Alex and Des had brought around years ago had all but pushed themselves onto my lap and caused less of a reaction.

So why is she different?

I’m lost in thought, looking off toward the sea lion pool, mindlessly watching them prep for the show as I try to puzzle it out. For the most part, nobody ever bothers me because I’m not them. I’ll get looks here and there, but nobody ever throws themselves at me, asking if they can have my babies the way they do my Father, Des, and Nate.

I don’t expect today to be any different. Don’t expect anyone to approach me, which is why when a soft hand rests on my arm, I’m taken by surprise.

I half expect to find someone who wants to ask me about the others. It happens from time to time. Women approach me and ask if I can help them get a picture with them, give them their number, or even introduce them. Obviously, I never do, but that doesn’t stop them from trying.

Instead, I find Kat. Her hair is a bit frizzy from the heat, and her cheeks are slightly red. I find myself wondering if she’s burnt or just flushed. Had she applied sunscreen today? With her fair skin, I have no doubt she would burn up in the sun.

Shaking the thought from my head, I tell myself that’s not my concern and try to focus on what she’s saying. Her lips move. But now that I’m focused on them, that’s all I can think about.

Shit, bad idea. It’s bad enough she’s so close as it is. I don’t catch a word of what she said, and when her lips press closed once again, they curve up into a hint of a smile, and she cocks her head to the side.

I take a step back, physically removing myself from her grip, and blink hard against the image my mind just conjured of my lips pressed to hers.

“I’m sorry, what?”

She doesn’t follow me; instead, she lets her hand drop, but the smile remains on her face. Strange. Most of the time, people don’t know the meaning of personal space, and more than once, I’ve been crowded or gotten rude looks for keeping my distance. Kat doesn’t seem at all affected by it, though.

“I said, this is for you,” she tells me, holding her hand out and offering me a bottle of water.

I should take it. It’s boiling hot out, and I should stay hydrated, but even knowing that I don’t.

“I didn’t ask for anything,” I tell her, cutting my gaze back to the others who sit at a table with Addison as she happily eats her ice cream. I half expect to find my father or Des with a shit-eating grin, them having sent her over here to me. Instead, I find them watching her with questioning looks, and it’s enough to tell me they had nothing to do with this.

“I know, but it’s too hot out here not to at least have some water.” Turning my attention back to her, I find her smiling up at me, the water still held out in offering. “Addison tried to convince Nathan you needed ice cream like the rest of us, but I was able to convince her you would like water better. Alex said you don’t much care for sweets.”

He’s right, of course, but I’m almost unsure what’s more impressive, the fact that she convinced Addison I would like water more or the fact that she cared enough to even try. Usually, I just take the ice cream to make her happy. I eat a little bit and toss it when she’s not paying attention. It’s not that I don’t like sweets; I just don’t crave them the same way she does, but being only five, she doesn’t seem to understand how anyone could not want ice cream all the time.

“Thank you.” I make myself say, reaching out to take the offered bottle from her.

“Kitten, your ice cream is melting!” Des calls, and I watch as his words roll over her. Her eyes go wide before she quickly ducks her head, but it’s not fast enough to hide the deep shade of red her face has turned.

I look up, finding his gaze, and give him an unamused look, but he isn’t phased. He throws his head back and laughs.

With a deep breath, she turns around and heads back to them. I watch her go, unable to look away.

I don't want to want her. I don’t want to want anyone, but as I watch her sit beside Des with a deep blush on her cheeks and take the ice cream from his hands before promptly turning away to give him her back, I get the feeling she’s going to be hard to resist.

It’s not like I want to be alone. I don’t think anyone really does, but it’s easier this way.

I’m not like them. I’m not covered in tattoos, ripped, or a silver fox. I don’t drive a motorcycle, I’m not smooth, and I don’t enjoy fucking just for the sake of it. No, I like numbers and order; I wear glasses and like to read. I’m under no delusion that I’m any girl's fantasy.

Once, I thought I could be desired, but it was a lie, one that almost tore our family apart. Des was mad at me for a long time after Nate kicked her out, but he’d believed me, eventually.

I don’t want to think Kat’s like that, like her, but I’d been blindsided before, and I wouldn’t go through that again. I couldn’t. It’s easier just to stay away.

Cracking the water bottle open, I make my way to the table everyone sits at, but I keep to myself, lost in thoughts of the past.

“Oliver.”

The sound of my name pulls me back to the present, and I could kick myself when I realize I’d zoned out again. Even more so when I find myself once again looking into her beautiful green eyes.

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