Page 7 of Only When It Breaks

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Mum had said. “You never get invited to these things. It’ll be great to go and make new friends.”

I was mortified. In fact, that word doesn’t cut it. Horrified. I’d stared for a good few seconds, lost for words, dying inside my own head, and then Joel had grinned wide. “Excellent. It starts about seven. I’ll have Kai come pick you both up at six-thirty, then we’ll go straight out for drinks and dinner.”

So now, as I run a brush through my wild hair, I feel sick. And I tried everything to get out of it. Mum was having none of it. I even had the pleasure of a lecture about how she’d found it so hard to date again after everything, and me making the effort with Kai meant so much to her.Eugh.

“Girls, are you ready?” Mum calls, interrupting my thoughts.

Ava is practically bouncing with excitement as we gather our bags and shoes and head down to the hall where Mum is waiting. “You both look amazing,” she gushes, and I glance down at my wide-legged jeans and band t-shirt. Ava opted to follow the crowd with her short denim cut-offs and a cropped top.

Joel is heading up the path when we step out. He kisses Mum on the cheek. “I thought it made more sense to go from your place,” he tells her. “You’re closer to the town centre.” He turns to me. “Kai is waiting in the car.”

The engine revs on the black golf, and I roll my eyes as we slide into the back seat. Kai keeps his eyes fixed forward, and the second Ava closes the door, he pulls away.

“I’m good if you have other plans,” he eventually says. “I can drop you off.”

I narrow my eyes, catching a glimpse of Ava’s disappointed face. “Worried we’ll actually make your party fun?” I ask.

His eyes meet mine in the mirror, and I think I see the hint of a smirk. “Fine, if you want a night of hell with Bella and Luna.”

“Or you could just tell them to lay off,” I snap. “You know, do something useful with the power you hold over them.”

He scoffs. “Power? I don’t have any power.”

“Please. We all know Bella would do anything for you.” Ava is watching the exchange with surprise. “And if we’re going to be brother and sister-”

“We really aren’t,” he snaps, his knuckles turning white as he grips the steering wheel. “Stay the hell out of my way tonight or else.”

I cross my arms over my chest and slump back in the seat. I was planning on it.

Kai’s house is just what I was expecting. Big, modern and expensive looking. His kitchen is three times the size of the entire downstairs of my house, and just for extra wow, he has an indoor and outdoor pool.

“Oh my God,” Ava whispers, her head practically doing a three-sixty as she takes it all in. “This place is amazing.”

“It’s too big,” I mutter.

Kai hears me and smirks. “I can find you a tiny cupboard, so you’ll feel more at home?” And then he heads off toward the stairs, leaving us alone.

I pull out my phone, silencing it before opening a new text message. “What are you doing?” hisses Ava.

“I got a new sim card. He won’t know it’s me.”

“Just stop this already. You’re gonna blow our chance at being normal.”

I scoff. “We are the normal ones, Ava.”

Me: How are you coping without your phone? Are you missing taking selfies yet?

A second later, my phone buzzes in my hand, and I grin.

Kai: You went quiet, I was worried you’d forgotten about me.

Me: How could I. I’ve been keeping busy with all those gym shots.

Kai: Oh yeah? You like what you see?

Me: Probably not as much as you. Anyway, aren’t you dating Bella?

Kai: I don’t date.

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