Page 95 of Beyond The Break

“Oh my god,” Kairi gasps, her eyes widening, “did this happen on the boat getaway you two went on?”

I nod and she squeals again. “I helped him bring those candles on board! If I had known that was what we were setting up for I would’ve had him bring some rose petals too.”

I laugh. “It’s okay. I think the candles were perfect. The whole night was perfect.”

“Awww,” Maliah coos, smiling at me as she props her head on her hand, “well, I’m happy you two finally settled your shit. The animosity was annoying.”

“You’re one to talk,” Kairi mumbles before quickly wrapping her lips around her straw and drinking.

Maliah slowly turns her eyes to Kairi, smiling an extremely exaggerated and scary smile. “I thought we agreed to never bringhimup again.”

I snort, bringing her attention back to me. “Did you two sleep together the night of the bonfire?”

It’s a question that’s been taking up too much space in my mind since that night. Her jaw drops, almost like she’s offended, before she turns to look at Kairi whose cheeks have pinkened.

“I haven’t slept with anyone in the last year,” Mal says, “but I don’t think Kairi can say the same.”

I always wanted friends like them. I’m an only child and I can confirm it gets lonely but sitting here with them at a bar late at night, feels like I’ve found sisters instead.

“It was one time, and I was running on an adrenaline high,” Kairi says defensively.

“Wait, did I miss something? Who did you sleep with?”

Kairi sighs and shifts in her seat uncomfortably. “Well, atthe bonfire before Zale got shitface wasted, we snuck off into the forest and may have doneitagainst a tree.”

Who knew little Kairi was so freaky?

“And then?” Maliah presses.

There’s more!?

“And then back at the house, when I was taking care of Colton he kissed me.”

“And?” Maliah continues.

Kairi hangs her head to her chest. “And then we slept together,” she confesses, “multiple times throughout the night.”

My jaw drops open as I lower my glass back to the table. My head is reeling with this new information. It explains the long glances I noticed from Zale and Colton. “Do they know?”

She nods slowly. “Zale is pissed and isn’t really talking to me right now.”

“What about Colton?” I ask.

She shrugs. “I don’t really know what he wants, but at least he’s still acting normal.”

I sense her frustration and disappointment as she talks about them, so I scoot closer and wrap an arm around her shoulder and pull her in for a hug.

“Don’t beat yourself up about it, things will work out how they’re meant to.”

“How optimistic of you,” Mal says before downing the rest of her drink and placing the empty glass on the table. “Let’s go play darts. I bought a picture of what’s-his-face for target practice.”

She jumps out of her seat and starts walking toward the empty dart board, several pairs of eyes following her as she passes in her tight pink dress and white cowboy boots.

“Who is what’s-his-face?” I ask.

“Koa,” Kairi confirms before we slide out of the booth, finishing our drinks quickly, and following Mal.

The neon lightsof the bar bounce around my vision as we dance in the middle of the dance floor. It’s almost empty by now since the bar closes in a few minutes. I giggle and leave the girls on the dance floor as I walk towards a stool and pull my phone out of my purse. I dial Griffin’s number and hold the phone to my ear, waiting for him to answer.”

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