Page 47 of Caught Stealing

Fifteen

Holden

Guilt has been eating at me since the volleyball game a few days ago, and it’s making no sign of dissipating, either. It’s not an emotion I often feel as it is, seeing as guilt is so often paired with regret—and that is something I’ve rarely experienced.

But fuck if I don’t regret letting Kason kiss me in front of Phoenix.

Which is precisely why I’ve been sleeping on the couch in the living room ever since, only to sneak as quietly as possible into the bedroom we’ve been sharing in the early hours of the morning. Reason being, I don’t want it to happen again.

It sounds stupid, and I’m not even saying it out loud. Because I’m here withKason. He’sthe one I’m supposed to be unable to keep my eyes off. The one I should be lusting for and excited to kiss, rather than regretting it or trying to prevent it from happening again.

I do like the guy, don’t get me wrong. I’m just finding out I don’t like him inthatway. If I’m being honest, at some point, my interest in Kason became less about him in general and more about riling Phoenix up. Getting Phoenix to pay attention to me. Messing with him and crawling under his skin, just like he digs under mine, now more than ever.

It just became about Phoenix.

It became about him well before I ever found out about our elusive one-night-stand back in May.

So while it might not make any sense, the guilt and regret are there nevertheless.

And what might be even more confusing is now…I actually care about him. About hurting his feelings. About what he’s thinking. About where he is right now, because he sure isn’t present. He’s here physically, sitting across the table from me while we’re out at dinner. Mentally, though? He might as well be eating his crab legs on Mars.

Theo must’ve also noticed, because after we pay our bill and head to the cars, he grabs Phoenix by the shoulder and steers him away from the group.

My nosiness and newfound caring create a desire to follow them, to get some answers even. Yet a part of me knows I’d only make it worse, so instead, I keep my feet firmly planted and lean against the Jeep to watch them from a distance.

“Any idea what’s going on over there?” Luca asks from where he’s sitting on the hood of my Jeep.

“Ten bucks says Theo is telling him to get his head outta his ass and start having fun,” Noah says absently while he texts away on his phone.

Kason’s eyes flick to Noah. “You’ll have to give him a break. This wasn’t exactly the trip he thought we were gonna have.”

“So he’s gonna sulk about it the whole time?”

“Just leave it alone,” I find myself snapping at Noah, who looks to me with surprise. They all do, in fact, and I don’t blame them, seeing as I’ve made it my life’s mission since this trip started to be a thorn in Phoenix’s side. So I can see why they’d wonder what made me suddenly change my tune.

Shit.

Clearing my throat, I reroute as best I can. “If he’s gonna be pissy, let him. We shouldn’t let it ruin the time we have left here for the rest of us.”

There’s a murmuring between the guys before they come to the conclusion that I’m right, though from the look on Kason’s face, he’s torn and worrying about Phoenix still. A boat I also find myself in, as much as I wish differently.

I’m just grateful Theo is the one over with Phoenix, considering he’d be the asshole to see through my shit…and potentially call me out on it too.

The two of them head back toward us after a few minutes, and if possible, Phoenix looks more irritated than he did before. But he does make eye contact with me as they approach, so I guess that’s a plus.

Theo, on the other hand, has a bright smile on his face when he reaches the rest of us at the cars.

“We’re going out tonight,” Theo says, clapping his hands together. “There’s a club called The Wharf down just a little ways. I’m happy to drive so we don’t have to Uber, as long as someone else will man the Jeep.”

Theo’s eyes land right on me, and I return his insinuation with an arched brow and a snicker. “Me? Seriously? You wantmeto DD?”

“It’s your car.”

“Yeah,” Luca says slowly. “But if we ask Holden to DD, we’ll be stranded ‘til morning.”

I give Luca a winning smile and toss the keys in his direction, which he catches on instinct alone.

“What—”

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