Page 114 of Until We Burn
“Don’t worry, Di.” Kai smirks. “I’ll make sure Row and I do a good job.”
My fingers start to twitch. I just want everyone to disappear, so I can mount him and make sure he remembers no other girl’s name except mine?—
Oh my god.
I can’t keep letting my jealousy flare out of control like this. Not with everything going on right now.
I force a smile onto my face. “Great. I appreciate your enthusiasm, Kai.”
“Bet you can’t wait to see that enthusiasm in action.”
My nostrils flare. Kai’s smirk widens.
He’s taking a little too much pleasure in riling me up and I don’t know why.
Wallace claps his hands, reining our attention back to him. “The doors open at eight, so make sure you guys show up by then. That’s the only way you can reserve a table for Sophia and her friends.”
Kai pulls out his phone. “I’ll create a group chat to keep us updated on what happens.”
When the group chat is made, the last thing we need to consider is costumes.
“Oh! We can all dress under the same theme!” Stella chirps. “You know, since we’re all scheming together?”
“You want us to be Greek goddesses?” I ask.
Stella claps her hands. “It’s such a cute idea.Ican be Hera to Rowan’s Zeus, andyoucan be Persephone to Kai’s Hades.”
“But we’re not a couple,” Rowan protests.
Stella huffs and rolls her eyes. “I know that. It’s just for the aesthetic.”
A strong ache suddenly pierces my skull. From pissing off Simon Valdis, breaking down in a corner, meeting Stella, spiraling in her office, and dealing with Kai’s unnecessary provoking, I just want to be in my bed.
“Rowan, it’s one night,” I placate. “We’ll be in and out of our costumes before we know it. We’re going as Hera and Persephone and that’s final.”
I don’t leave any more room for discussion. I simply sling my bag over my shoulder and stand up to leave. It’s almost ten, and I still have to finish up some heavy research about fertilizers for one of my news stories for class.
Luke and Rowan walk Stella to the door, while Wallace cleans up the table.
On my way towards the door, Kai comes up beside me and nudges his elbow with mine. “You alright?”
My brow arches. “I think I should be askingyouthat question. You had quite an appetite for words today.”
“You were doubting my abilities to pick up girls. I had to defend myself.”
I burst out laughing and grind to a halt. “Defend? Is that what you were doing?”
Kai props his arm against the wall, drawing us just a little bit closer. “What did you think I was doing, princess?”
I think you liked seeing me jealous. I don’t know why that matters and I’m scared to delve into the reason why.
I swallow hard, mustering up the most playful response I can. “Clearly, the Grouse Grind didn’t beat you down that badly if you’re still able to quip back at me like this.”
“It was the phone call.” Kai shrugs and raises his hands up. “I swear, it made the entire hike easier since I couldn’t stop laughing about snotty-nosed Diana’s kindergarten photo.”
“You—”
I smack his chest.
