Page 93 of Kismet

“How’d you even find out? Did he tell you?”

“No.” I laugh half-heartedly. “I feel that would’ve been better to wrap my head around. I purposely finished my swim early so I could wait for the caffeine culprit, and imagine my fucking surprise when in waltzes the one man I can’t seem to fucking get over.”

Her head cocks slightly as her brows scrunch together. “Wait… why would it have been better if he told you?”

“Because!” I throw my hands in the air. “At least then it would’ve been clear he was doing it just to get my attention. He didn’t even want me to know. It was fucking selfless, and I can’t fucking handle that, Kylie!”

The bottle is brought back up to my lips, pouring another shot into my mouth. I’m fucking losing it. My world feels like it’s crumbling, and I can’t do anything to stop it. All my hard work trying to avoid him is fucking futile.

Just then, as I’m trying to fight off a goddamn panic attack, the sky rumbles and roars, reminding me of him even more. Stolen kisses in the dark, roaming hands, hard bodies, heavy breathing, whiskey.

Fuck!

“Why do you think this freaks you out so much more than if he was out in the open about it?” She’s speaking to me calmly, her voice soothing as her kind, gentle eyes watch me.

“Because he wasn’t trying to earn brownie points or win me over. He was genuinely trying to make my day better, and that means he actually cares about me.”

“Did you think he didn’t care?”

“I…” Groaning, I rub my forehead before raking my fingers through my hair. “I don’t know what I fucking thought, but this is too much. It’s fucking thoughtful and nice, and it makes me feel shit I don’t want to fucking feel, Ky.”

She watches me with a sympathetic expression painted on her face. Truthfully, I sound ridiculous, and she probably doesn’t know what to say. Not that I blame her.

“What did he say when you figured out it was him?”

“He said it wasn’t a big deal and that the coffee cart is in his line of sight from his office, so he knows I go there every morning. I still don’t know how he knew to find me at the pool, though. And why now? Two whole months after our last run-in together.”

I bring the bottle to my lips again. The vodka tingles on my tongue before it creates a warm trail from my throat to my gut. If only I could get drunk enough to forget all of this permanently.

I’m startled from my thoughts when thunder roars, vibrating the house, before the dark night is lit up by bolts of lightning. Rain patters against the window as it beats down unforgivingly and the wind whips around outside. The lights flicker and I bring my attention back to my phone when I hear Kylie talking.

“What are you going to do?” Her elbows are planted on the counter, palms cradling her chin, as she studies me.

“Fuck if I know.” As my fingers wrap around the icy cold neck of the bottle, a pounding sounds at the door.What the fuck?

“Are you expecting someone?” Kylie asks curiously.

“Nah.” I grab the phone off the counter before walking to the door. The sky booms once more as my hand reaches for the handle. When I pull the door open, lightning explodes in the sky as I take in the person in front of me. My lips part on a sharp inhale as my eyes widen and my stomach lurches to my throat.

Vaguely, I hear Kylie trying to get my attention on the phone, but all I can focus on is the deep, soul-searching, hazelnut eyes watching me with painful longing, rain-soaked onyx hair dripping onto the worn leather jacket, and the plush pink lips upturned slightly. My heart rages behind my ribcage.

“Ky, I gotta go. I’ll call you later.” I lift the phone into my line of sight and give her a look I’m hoping says everything I can’t before ending the call and turning my attention back to the man on my doorstep.

“Hi,” is all I manage to utter. My brain has clearly short-circuited, making speaking impossible.

“Hey. Can I come in?”

He stands there, like he has every right to be here, running his fingers through his drenched hair, looking like a fucking Greek god as lightning strikes behind him. I stare at him for all of five seconds before my brain catches up, and I step to the side.

“Yeah, sure.”

Why would he be here? And how does he know where I live?

He shuts the door softly behind him, then takes his shoes and coat off, hanging the latter up on the rack.Fuck me.The white t-shirt he has on underneath is tight, hugging his arms and broad shoulders in a way that my hands itch to do.

With my arms crossed over my chest, I rest my ass against the back of the couch. “What are you doing here, Stone?”

“I’m sorry for showing up unannounced like this, but I just need to talk to you.”

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