Page 18 of Only When It Breaks

Me: Maybe. But with your help, I’ll be a changed man in no time.

There’s a delay this time. Longer than usual.

Little Rebel:Keep surprising people, Banks. You might actually turn out okay.

I stare at the screen for a second. Then type:

Me: You’re the only person I want to surprise.

But I don’t send it.

Instead, I toss the phone aside again and lie back on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

Because as much as I’m starting to like the girl behind the screen, I’m also beginning toreallylike the girl sitting next to me in the car too. And what if they aren’t the same person?

Chapter Seven

Emmie

“Emmie,” Mum calls up the stairs.

“IsaidI’m coming!” I yell back, grabbing my bag and stomping out of my room.

I’m halfway down the stairs when I freeze. Kai Banks is in my kitchen.Talkingto my mum. Smiling like he belongs there. I stare, wondering what his game is.

They both turn when I enter.“Morning,” Kai says, all bright and breezy. I just blink at him, waiting for him to explain why he’s here.

Mum clears her throat. “Kai said he’s giving you a ride to college.” My eyes narrow. “That’s nice, isn’t it?” she adds, way too cheerfully.

I huff and push past them, heading straight for the door. He’s hot on my heels. “Ava’s sick,” he says.

I spin around, and he nearly crashes into me. He stops just short,too close.His scent hits me.Spicy.Unfairly good. I clench my fists, resisting the urge to inhale.

“She tried to call you, but you didn’t answer,” he adds, shrugging. I glance at my phone and see the missed call. “And so I said I’d swing by and offer you a lift.”

“Why?”

He frowns. “Why?” he repeats.

“Why are you suddenly being nice? Is this part of the bet that your boys had? You couldn’t screw Ava over, so you chose me?”

He gives a laugh, then realises I’m serious, so it fades. “No, of course not. I just . . . I thought I’d be nice.”

“Where’s your friends?”

He straightens up, looking uncomfortable. “They didn’t like what I put online.” He groans. “Actually, I didn’t put it.” His honesty intrigues me, it’s unexpected, so I wait for him to continue. “Remember my phone was taken?” I nod. “Well, the person that has it, did that.”

“And now you’re taking all the credit.”

He scoffs. “Credit or blame, depending who’s side you’re on. Austin and the lads are pissed.”

“They shouldn’t have done what they did to Ava.”

He nods in agreement. “Exactly. And Ava’s alright,” he says with a slow smile. “She was nice to me at lunch yesterday, even though I didn’t deserve it.”

I feel another of my chinks melt away. “Fine, I’ll take the lift, but this doesn’t mean we’re friends.”

He grins, pulling out his keys. “Understood.”

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