Page 37 of Barefoot Chaos
While Mr. Brown dismissed the students, I saw Kai and the woman jump up and make their way through the crowd. Before I could run from the gym, they intercepted me.
"Hessa!" Kai caught my arm, bringing me to a halt, forcing me to acknowledge the woman I hated on sight. She was tall with curly brown hair, artfully tossed up in an up-do, leaving her classically beautiful face on display for all to admire. For cripes sake, she looked like Wonder Woman in a pantsuit, basically, the opposite of everything I was. I felt fatter and frumpier by the second next to this elegant, stunning woman. It didn't help that Kai seemed to know her well, based on his hand on her back as they stood together. As if this day couldn't get any shittier.
I pasted a wide smile on my face, determined not to let my true feelings bleed through and embarrass me entirely. No reason to look like a sad sap. I stuck my hand out, ready to get this introduction out of the way. "Hi, I'm Hessa Woodland."
She grabbed my hand in a firm shake. "Lovely to meet you. I'm Fiona, a reporter for the HB Republic. Mind if we find a more private spot to chat?"
Oh sure, just what I wanted. To hang with her and Kai in a private spot, just the three of us. Like a third wheel. Like an awkward three-legged stool. I could see which one of us was losing in this love triangle.
Instead of turning tail and running away like every fiber of my being wanted to do, I kept that smile going, promising my cheeks some extra ice cream tonight if they just held it together a bit longer. I led us over to the corner of the gym where we wouldn't be interrupted.
I nearly jumped out of my heels when I felt Kai's hand come to rest on my back, just grazing my booty with each step I took. I shot him a look, but he wasn't looking at me, oblivious to my distress.
What was his game? Come with one woman, leave with another? For all I knew, maybe I was the interloper. He may have already been dating Fiona and just kept me a secret this weekend. But before I could come up with any other scenarios to explain his behavior, we'd reached the corner and Fiona pulled a notebook out of her bag.
"I hope you don't mind. Kai called me up and said there was a story here that needed to be covered and I have to agree. Can you first tell me about the Care Dare program?" Fiona didn't waste any time getting down to business, which I appreciated. The sooner I could leave and organize my thoughts in private, the better for all parties present.
I ignored Kai and told her all about the program. Then I told her about the online dares that had been happening, ending with Gabe's accident and the Principal's decision to shut down the program.
"Kai also told me that you were personally dared. Is that right?" Fiona was furiously scribbling on her notepad. I glanced over to Kai, who stood there looking at me with a tender smile, like things weren't awkward between us at all.
Then he quirked an eyebrow and his eyes heated. The exact expression I'd seen right before he climbed between my legs Saturday night took over his face, completely derailing my train of thought. My face began to blush, remembering all that had happened that night.
"Hessa?" Fiona was looking at me like I'd lost the plot. Her pen was hovering over her notebook, waiting for me to answer her questions.
"Pardon?" My voice came out breathless. Damn Kai and his sex looks.
Fiona asked again patiently. "Tell me about your own dare."
I focused on her entirely, pretending Kai wasn't there, and told her the whole story.
"Kai also gave me a quote about the happenings at the beach. Do you mind if I include in my article an invitation to your fundraiser next month?" Fiona asked innocently.
That sounded like my worst nightmare. More people to watch me humiliate myself? Sure, why not? Let's bus 'em in from surrounding cities while we were at it.
Kai finally spoke up. "Hessa, Fiona thinks this article, along with your fundraiser, will draw a lot of attention to the good things you're doing here with the Care Dare program. I think we may even be able to get it reinstated next year once the public sees it has nothing to do with the online dares." Then he reached out and held my hand, dropping his voice. "I know you're scared to do it, but this could be a really good thing for your program. And think of all the money raised for Gabe."
I sighed. Dammit, he knew how to get me to agree. "Fine. It can go in the paper, but if I have to move cities to escape the humiliation, you're helping me pack up all my things."
Kai chuckled before pulling me in and kissing my forehead. "For you? Anything," he whispered.
Fiona chucked her notebook back in her bag and shook my hand again. "You've got a good one here. His idea to get this in the paper was brilliant. Plus, I get a feel good story. Win-win. See ya' around, Hessa."
I watched her walk off, mouth agape. I spun back to Kai.
"I'm confused. What just happened?"
Kai still had my hand hostage, so he pulled me close and kissed me quickly. "I'm supporting you. Jack called me last night after he talked to your Principal about today's assembly and cancelling the program. I know your students are a priority for you, so I thought publicly highlighting what you're doing here would not only raise more money for Gabe's recovery, but also give you a chance at saving your Care Dare program. If enough people get behind it, they'll complain that it's being cancelled. Your Principal will be forced to bring it back. Fiona wrote an article awhile back about Esa's shop and her stalker. I figured she'd like your story too."
That was brilliant, just like Fiona said. And really damn sweet. It actually seemed exactly like something Kai would do, so I'm not sure why I was surprised. Or why I was pushing him away.
"I gotta get back to work, so I'll call you tonight." Kai kissed me again and walked off, leaving me alone with my scattered thoughts.
14
Hessa
All week, Kai called and texted me, acting like we were together. A couple.
