Page 30 of Caught Stealing

“Dick.”

Ten

Phoenix

December

“We need to talk.”

My blood instantly turns to ice as Kason’s voice registers, and I glance up from where my laptop is strewn over my mattress to find him leaning against the doorway. There’s a slight frown to his lips and lines worrying his forehead, both of which set me on edge.

“Hey,” I say, my voice a little higher pitched than I’d like. “About what?”

But I’m pretty sure I knowexactlywhat Kason wants to discuss.

It’s been a week since I tricked Holden and left him handcuffed to his bed, and I’ve been walking around on eggshells, anxious about this exact moment happening. Where the guillotine drops, severing all the trust Kason and I have because of one stupid decision.

Now with it here, the anxiety rippling through me might cause me to burst at the seams.

Holden must’ve told him what happened—no doubt making it seem like I was seducing him for my own benefit—only for my best friend to be absolutely pissed.

Except, the expression on Kason’s face isn’t angry so much as…nervous?

“About our trip to Florida.”

Both relief and guilt flood me simultaneously as my brain registers his words. Especially if he still doesn’t know anything about my history with Holden. And as much as I hate keeping it from him, I know it’s better this way. Easier as well, because it’s far too late to suddenly bring up the real reason I consider Holden to be public enemy number one.

“Oh, okay,” I say, pushing my books aside for him to sit. He does, and I swear, he looks even more nervous after. “What’s going on?”

With the way things have been going lately—specifically him ditching me to spend time with Holden—I’m wondering if he’s planning to cancel on me yet again. And when he starts his explanation with, “Try not to be mad at me about this,” I’m fully prepared for my line of thinking to be correct.

“Okay.”

“I’m serious,” he insists. “You have to promise me you won’t revoke my friendship for this.”

Oh, hell.

“I’ll do my best to not be pissed,” I say slowly, keeping my temper in check. “Now, just spit it out, Kase.”

Reluctance still consumes his features while he looks at me. “Okay, I um…” He clears his throat twice, and then, “I invited Holden.”

This is not how I pictured this conversation going when I saw him in my doorway, but this probably is just as shitty of one. To the point where I might honestly prefer him finding out about my failed attempts to get Holden to run in the other direction, consequences be damned. Anything would be better than having to spend ten days with the two of them in one house—no matter how big it is.

My eyes sink closed, and I let out a long sigh. “And why the fuck would you do that?”

More guilt slides over his face. “He saw it on my calendar the other night when we were hanging out,” Kason explains.

“And invited himself?” I surmise, not bothering to keep the disdain from my tone. “Sounds pretty on brand, if you ask me.”

“No, didn’t you just hear me? I said I invited him.”

I take a deep breath through my nose and exhale. “Which brings us back towhy?”

“You said you wouldn’t get pissed.”

“I’m trying very hard not to,” I say through gritted teeth. “Now explain. In detail.”

Kason crosses the room, taking a seat on the edge of my bed. He starts fiddling with the stitching of my comforter, tracing the lines as if they’re the key to getting out of this conversation.

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