Page 50 of Bonding with the Beta

“Haven’t really had the time.” Her shoulders sink.

I hold out my hand. “Give me your keys. I’ll take a look whilst you two catch up.”

“Really?” Kayleigh’s eyes light up.

“I’m no car expert, but I can try to see what the problem is. It’s Sunday. I doubt any garages will be open right now, though we can take it first thing tomorrow. I’m not having you drive back if it’s still making that noise.”

She shakes her head in protest. “I have class in the afternoon.”

“We’ll work around it,” I tell her. “But I don’t want you taking any chances.”

Kayleigh chews on the inside of her lip. “Okay. Thank you.”

She places her keys into my palm, and I close my fingers over hers before she has the chance to pull away.

“Come on,” Ava places a hand on her shoulder. “I’m excited to see all our old school stuff.”

Kayleigh’s eyes linger on me for a moment before she turns around and walks into the kitchen with Ava. I stare down at her keys and then make my way outside to see what I can do about her deathtrap of a car before the meeting.

15

KAYLEIGH

“Oh, my.” Ava chuckles as she points to a photo of us when we were barely teenagers. “What were we thinking with the neon pink legwarmers?”

I grin. “We were fashionable as hell, Ava. Don’t forget it.”

She snorts. “Honestly, that outfit should be a crime.”

“Yeah, they’re pretty tragic.”

“Thanks for bringing these over.” She smiles as her eyes wander the pages of a scrapbook we made in school. “It’s nice to see these again.”

I rest my chin on my fist. “We had fun times.”

The sound of knocking on the doorway to the living room pulls me away from the coffee table. I glance over at Kayden as he leans on the door and holds out my keys.

I stand from the sofa and walk towards him. “So…what’s the verdict?”

“Yeah, you can’t drive this thing, Kayleigh. I think the brakes are fucked, and there is no way you’re driving back to university with broken brakes.”

“But—”

“Don’t even try it.” He shakes his head. “We’ll get your car in the garage first thing, but you’re not driving this home today.”

I slump. Of course, I don’t want to drive if it’s broken. I don’t want to put anyone at risk as much as myself. I’ve got class to attend, and because I’m committed to doing better this term, I can’t miss it.

“Okay, fine,” I huff. “Thank you.”

Kayden nods once before leaving the room and placing my keys down on the side. I walk back towards Ava and perch beside her as her eyes burn lasers into the side of my head.

“What’s going on between you guys?”

“Nothing,” I say. “We’re just being friendly.”

Ava’s brows hit her hairline. “Friendly, huh? Looks and sounds like it.”

My eyes roll. “What do you mean?”

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