Page 17 of Siren's Game

"Reading your message," he says with a shrug, like that's the most normal thing in the world. "So I know what to send Luca. Not my fault you're so easily scared."

"I wasn't scared, I was surprised," I grumble and clutch my sweatshirt right over my racing heart. I will it to calm down as I message Millie the restaurant name, then put my phone into my handbag without waiting for a reply.

Asher

DisdainisseepingfromKayla's every pore as we walk through the hallways of the stadium, her three feet in front of me, acting like we’re not walking together, demonstratively quickening her steps and looking away whenever we pass anyone.

It’s actually kind of nice to walk alongside her. I don’t have to slow down to accommodate short legs.

I chuckle, making her shoulders tense. I know I'm an asshole, but riling people up is just a hobby of mine, what can I say?

Plus, she makes it so easy. I only need to say a word and she becomes so damn angry.

I’m ninety-five percent it’s because of ‘the incident’ as I like to call our previous history. To be fair, if I were in her shoes, I probably wouldn't like me either.

I exhale a deep sigh. I'll have to find a moment where I can apologize properly. But blurting it out right now would be very random. Luca might have had a point when he mentioned the whole waiting for an opening thing. Not that I'd ever tell him that.

"We need to go to the left here, Sweetheart," I shout after Kayla when she turns right as the hallway splits. Her shoulders tense at the nickname, and I bite my lips when I see her force herself to take a deep breath.

With angry steps and a glare that could set the building on fire, she turns around and stomps in the right direction. "I really don't know why you're in such a hurry; we’ve got to give them a fifteen-minute head start, at the minimum."

"I know, but I need some fresh air," she huffs and picks up her pace, the sound of her high heels echoing against the bare walls. "And maybe a minute in silence, so it would be lovely if you could just . . . you know, shut up for a bit."

I make a zipping motion in front of my lips but she's not even looking in my direction. As we approach the exit, she suddenly stops, almost making me run into her. I only catch myself at the last second, my arms flailing as I’m trying to keep my balance.

Making a shushing sound in my direction, she creeps closer on her tiptoes, peeking around the corner to see if Millie and Luca are still in the parking lot. Her hand is outstretched to signal for me to stay behind her.

"I feel like a private detective," I whisper, and she shushes me again.

"They're still there. But they’re walking to a taxi," she whispers, sounding confused. "I called our driver, why aren't they waiting for him?"

"No idea," I whisper back, and she exhales a deep sigh. They’re way out of ear shot, why are we even whispering?

I hear a car door close and a vehicle drive off, and finally, Kayla walks outside.

“Do we have a ride?” she asks with a sigh and leans her back against the wall.

“I can drive.”

From the corner of my eyes, I can see her look me up and down before she shrugs.

“Alright.”

I’ve handed off my keys for a valet to park my car today, so I message Van and he assures me the car will be right out.

The next fifteen minutes pass slowly. She has no interest in keeping up a conversation and truth be told, I don't know what I'd talk to her about. That fucking interview I gave hangs in the air between us, thickening it like soup.

Much like for Luca the great moment to approach Millie didn't manifest itself out of thin air, the perfect moment for apologizing won't present itself on a silver platter, either. I guess it's best to just get it over with.

"Listen," I start, not yet sure how exactly to continue as she turns to me, eyebrow raised and apprehension written all over her beautiful face. Sweet caramel eyes meet mine for the first time today and my breath gets stuck in my throat.

I don't know how I haven't realized it yet, but she's striking. Her eyes are fucking beautiful, so full of expression, even if it’s disdain.

No, Asher. Focus. I clear my throat.

"I need to apologize to you.” I look down and shuffle my foot, kicking a tiny piece of gravel. “I was in a weird spot when I gave that interview. I really didn't mean to make it come across that hateful."

"Okay," she says and turns away, looking down at her phone demonstratively.

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