Page 52 of Dirty Pucking Tease

"I need to go too," I said, sliding off the stool. "I'm meeting Cam at the rink this morning."

"Actually, Kai," Linda said. "We were hoping to talk to you for a minute this morning."

"To me?" I asked, my chest tightening. I wasn't opposed to telling them about Jax and me, but I didn't want to do it alone.

"Yes." My dad smiled. "Sit, please. Give us a few minutes before you leave."

Swallowing hard, I slid back onto the stool facing my dad and Linda as my chest rose and fell with long, deep breaths.

"Your dad and I were thinking maybe you would like to visit Australia with us."

"What?" My face twisted with confusion. That wasn't what I was expecting them to say. "I mean..." I paused. Did I want to go to Australia with them? I shook my head. No. Going to Australia sounded fun, but not with just my parents. Maybe if Jax, Syn, and Harlow were going, but they weren't because they all had school. "I have work."

"Quit," my dad suggested. "Or put in for vacation or a leave or something." He hated that I worked at that bar probably more than Jax and Trystan did.

"I..." I trailed off. I hadn't planned to tell him I was skating again yet. I don't know why. I knew he'd be excited. Maybe that was why. I didn't want to disappoint him if it didn't work out, but I didn't have a choice now. "I'm actually skating again. I have a new partner and a new coach."

"Kai, that's great," Linda said.

"We just started, and we are still working everything out."

"Maybe we can come see you skate this morning," my dad said.

"No." I shook my head. "Not yet. Maybe when you get back from Australia." I slid off the stool. "I really have to go through."

"Family dinner tonight," Linda said. "Six o'clock." I nodded, then bolted out of the house and into the garage to find Jax's car already gone.

He left me.

We rode to the rink every morning, but he freaked out again this morning and left me. Sighing, I rolled my eyes. Giving him time to work this out on his own was annoying.

My phone buzzed, and I jerked it out of my pocket, thinking it might be Jax explaining why he left me, but it was an unknown number.

Unknown number: Is this the pretty girl from the Cages?

Kaia: Maybe. Who's asking?

I knew who it was. I'd only given my number to one person that night, but I didn't want him to know that.

Unknown number: Alex, the man who saved you from being trampled on.

Alex: She told me her name was Kaia.

Kaia: That's me.

Alex: Can I take you out tonight?

A smile spread across my face. Even though I'd agreed to be Jax's, it still felt nice to be asked.

Kaia: Sorry, can't. Family dinner, and then I have to work.

Alex: You work at the East Side bar, don't you?

How did he know that?

Kaia: Well, that's creepy.

Alex: I was there a few nights before the fight and thought you were the prettiest girl I'd ever seen.

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