Page 33 of The Kat Bunglar

“Everything okay?” He cocked his head slightly.

“Yes! Great!” Laila’s voice came out too fast. She winced. “Just... you know. An email I forgot about.”

Jay nodded, easy and warm, his expression full of understanding.

Understanding she had no business receiving.

“How about Jamaica?” Laila blurted out suddenly. “You always wanted to go in college. Remember your Rastafari phase? The dreadlocks?”

Jay laughed, the tension between them easing ever so slightly.

“I think we should ‘go to Jamaica and feel alright,’” he sang, grinning as the wind tousled his hair.

Laila exhaled, her relief so sharp it was almost painful.

She could fix this.

She could win back her husband.

She could convince him she wasn’t losing her mind.

And the distance would help tamp down those feelings for Gabriel.

It was going to be okay.

It had to be.

Present Day

July 10th

Chicago

Kat Kar

This was not okay. Nothing was going to be okay ever again. Kat immediately regretted opening the door and tried to slam it shut.

“Who are you?” the man demanded, shoving his foot between the door and the frame.

Kat’s stomach clenched. She glanced behind her, making sure he couldn’t see Christian—or their oversized suitcases.

“Who are you?” she shot back, her voice equally hostile.

She had done her research on Laila Malik. And this man was nowhere on her LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or even ol’ school Facebook. And if he wasn’t on her socials? He wasn’t important.

“I’m her friend,” he said, his voice edged with frustration. “Gabriel. Look, is she here with you? I need to speak with her.”

“Um... I’m her cousin,” Kat blurted. “Kat—Kathmandu.”

Gabriel frowned.

“She went to...get some supplies. For the, um, mask-masquerade party tonight,” Kat rambled. “But I’ll let her know you stopped by. Great meeting you, frieeeeeeeend.” She dragged out the last word deliberately, signaling this conversation is over.

Gabriel didn’t budge. His sharp gaze raked over her hair, her mask, her outfit—assessing.

“She never mentioned a cousin named Kathmandu.”

Before Kat could respond, he shoved the door open with alarming force.

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