Page 16 of I Married Kayog
“Well, well. Someone isn’t a goodie-two-shoes, like Benedict loves to say. For some reason, I expected you to be the type to avoid making waves. So I’m quite pleased to see you’re an assertive female and a go-getter, who knows exactly what she wants and takes the steps to achieve her goals.”
“I try,” she retorted with a smug and coquettish expression that had me chuckling.
With the dryers having completed their task, I picked up my canoe and brought it to its reserved rack before locking it. I glanced at Linsea, her emotions broadcasting the same hesitation I felt. We weren’t ready to part ways but didn’t quite know how to take the next step.
“Do you want to have breakfast?” Linsea suddenly asked.
Despite the casual way in which she spoke those words, and her relaxed demeanor, every fiber of her being was tense, bracing for a rejection. The silly female didn’t realize that I was already hers.
“I would love to, but I would need a few minutes to take a quick shower,” I said in a sheepish tone. “I’m musty.”
“Oh! No problem at all. I can wait... Unless you have other plans?” she asked carefully.
“None. I’ll be quick,” I said with a smile, before frowning. “Hmmm, maybe we should avoid the cafeteria?”
She slightly recoiled at this unexpected request. “Why?”
I shifted on my talons, feeling a little self-conscious. “Not to brag, but if we’re seen together, people will probably start bothering you.”
Linsea’s face closed off. Although most people would deem it a neutral expression, her emotions screamed loudly her blossoming suspicion. It made me chuckle again. A part of me felt guilty as she had no idea that every Temern’s innate ability to block their emotions from others didn’t work with me. She was an open book to me, while I was entirely closed to her...
... for her own sake.
“I’m not hiding a secret girlfriend, if that’s what thought is currently crossing your mind,” I said teasingly. “This is genuinely to protect you as people can be quite invasive. I’m used to people ogling me nonstop, and it no longer bothers me. As you said, it’s the price of fame. But if you’re fine with it, then it’s no problem.”
“I’m fine with it,” she replied firmly.
“Then the cafeteria it is,” I replied with a smile. “I’ll be right back.”
Obviously, that wouldn’t have been my choice. At least, it was early enough that there wouldn’t be too many people present, which would make the crowd bearable, or at least manageable. I turned to leave, but before I could get even five steps in, Linsea called out to me.
“Actually, wait! You make a good point about your groupies being fairly hardcore. Let’s go somewhere private so that we caneat in peace. Come to think of it, having people staring at me while trying to enjoy my meal would be rather awkward,” she said, making a face.
I laughed. “I can promise you that it is. But like I said, we can do whatever you wish.”
“Private it is. By the way, I could go get food for us while you shower,” Linsea offered.
“Sure!” I said, thrilled at the idea not to have to expose myself to the masses earlier than necessary.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“I would love the athlete’s breakfast number two,” I replied while reaching for my bracer on my left forearm to transfer her some credits.
Moving at surprisingly fast speed, Linsea grabbed my wrist, stopping me, before frowning at me with a somewhat outraged expression.
“No! I got it,” she said.
“What the fuck?!” I exclaimed, with an even more offended expression, too stunned to even properly enjoy the wondrous feel of her hand on me.
She released my wrist, and I almost whimpered at the loss of her contact.
“You can buy me breakfast another time,” she said dismissively.
I almost argued. However, beyond her stern look warning me not to, her offer pretty much guaranteed a second date. Only an idiot would pass up that opportunity.
“Fine, but it is dinner that I will buy you,” I said in a slightly grumpy tone.
She immediately relaxed and chuckled. “Or that works, too.”
