Page 40 of Ink & Stardust

“Have you been outside?” I drop my phone and wallet onto my desk. “It’s crazy warm.”

“Why are you smiling?” Her suspicion grows.

“I am?” I reach up and touch my mouth, but that only makes me smile wider because it feels slightly swollen from Kai’s kiss.

“Why are you acting so weird? It’s almost like you...” Her mouth drops open. “You didn’t?” She looks seconds away from launching herself out of her bunk. “Did you hook up with someone?”

“What?” My voice breaks. “Of course I didn’t. I was with my brother.”

“Not this whole time, you weren’t.”

I don’t know how she knows, but she definitely knows, almost like she can see right through me.

“Who were you really with, Lyric?” She throws her legs over the side of her bunk and jumps to the ground with ease, her height making the descent not nearly as daunting as it would be for me, hence why Ialwaysuse the ladder because I’d break an ankle otherwise.

I look around the room, thankful that Maisie isn’t here to hear what I’m about to confess. Much to my surprise, she was up early this morning, headed to the track for a run. Who runs with the type of hangover she was sporting, you ask? Well, I didn’t realize anyone did, but apparently, she does.

“Kai,” I softly admit, almost hoping she doesn’t hear me because I immediately want to take back the confession.

“Kai?” She moves toward me. “As in Kai Elliot?”

I nod, biting down hard on my bottom lip in an attempt to keep my expression neutral.

“I knew it!” she squeals, taking both of my hands in hers. “I knew something was going on between the two of you.”

“What do you mean? Nothing has been going on... Well, until today.”

“Please.” She rolls her eyes at me. “He’s always lurking around, watching you. And well, after what your brother and I interrupted last night... I’d venture to say whatever this is has been going on a lot longer than just today. Maybe this is the first time anything physical has happened, but that man has been eye fucking you for weeks.”

“What do you mean, lurking around watching me?” My forehead crinkles in confusion. Out of everything she said, this is the thing I cling on to.

“Don’t pretend like you haven’t noticed that everywhere you are, he seems to be. You can’t think that’s coincidence.” She shakes her head, drawing my attention to the paint that still sticks to the ends of her hair.

“No, he isn’t,” I argue, even though I know she’s not entirely wrong. Because yes, I have noticed. Though I honestly didn’t think anything of it, or at least I tried not to think anything of it.

“Um, okay.” She rolls her eyes a second time. “So what happened? Tell me everything.”

“We just kissed.” Heat slides up my cheeks, though I have no idea why I’m embarrassed.

“For now.” She grins.

“I don’t know how to do this,” I admit.

“Do what?”

“Casual.”

“Yeah, no offense, but I don’t know if casual is your thing.”

“I can do casual,” I argue. “I mean, I think I can. After everything I went through with my last boyfriend, I definitely don’t want another anytime soon.”

“Amen, sister. And there’s nothing wrong with a casual fling, so long as you can keep your heart out of the equation.” She gives me a pointed look, like I’m somehow incapable of such a feat. “Kai isn’t exactly the settle-down type.”

“I have no delusions where Kai Elliot is concerned. I know he isn’t boyfriend material. I think, in part, that’s what draws me to him. Right now I just want something easy. Simple. Exciting,” I admit, a smile touching my lips. “Do me a favor, though, and don’t mention this to Maisie yet. She grew up with Kai and I don’t want things to be weird. I’ll tell her when there’s something to actually tell.”

“I won’t say a word. Sometimes it’s nice to have something just for yourself, or in this casesomeone.” She smiles, lifting her eyebrows up and down suggestively.

“Yeah, I guess it is,” I agree.

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