Page 20 of Strip Bare

"Yeah," I said slowly, "she just kept us back. She wanted to see if I'd help Harley study for our final."

I hadn't even realized that the air had felt tense until it dissipated. Kit took half a step closer to me on the opposite side to Harley, his hand brushing mine.

"That's nice of you."

"It really is," Harley said, a kind of mischief in his eyes that was going straight over my head as he stared at Kit. "I don't know how I'll repay him."

"It's not a big deal," I said, glancing between the two of them and shooting a look of pure bewilderment at my sister as she fought a grin.

"Well, I have a shift to get to," Harley said as he took a step back from us and handed me a slip of paper I hadn't even noticed him holding. "Text me when you want to see me. I'll be waiting."

I nodded and slipped it into my pocket as he walked away. "He was friendly," I remarked as Saylor laughed.

"Don't ever change, Lee-Lee."

I pushed her away as she attempted to ruffle my hair. "Don't call me that."

Kit had been quiet for too long and it was starting to unnerve me. Was this about yesterday? "What's wrong with you?" I said, a little more bluntly than I'd intended. "I mean, are you okay?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

My sister snorted at Kit's response and I clenched my jaw until my teeth creaked. Sometimes it was frustrating feeling like everyone else was in on some joke that I didn't get. I wasn't unintelligent, some things just passed me by no matter how hard I tried to understand them or learn the cues.

"Whatever," I muttered, walking on and trying to enjoy the breeze rustling the trees as it offered a respite from the oppressive heat that seemed to have kicked up a notch the past few days.

"Hey," Kit caught my hand and Saylor continued walking, giving us a moment of privacy. "I'm sorry. I just didn't like how... friendly he was being with you."

I blinked. "You think he was interested in me? As in, hitting on me?" I snorted but let the smile fade away as Kit nodded. "For the record, I think that's ridiculous. But I get why you acted so weird."

"You do?"

"Of course, Saylor was standing right there. If Harley was flirting with me then it would be strange for my boyfriend not to be a little jealous, right?"

"Right," he said after a moment's hesitation. "Let's just get back home. Your mom said something about going bowling?"

I groaned and the sound sent a little heat flaring in Kit's eyes. "Ugh. I didn't even know we had bowling around here. She's like a bloodhound, sniffing out any lane within a hundred feet."

Saylor laughed as we caught up to her. "You heard about bowling then? Leo's just upset because Mom always wins."

"You're a sore loser?" Kit grinned and the sight knocked the breath out of me for a moment. "How did I not know that about you?"

"Because I never lose," I said coolly and Kit leaned in close, a smirk playing on his lips.

"I'll remember you said that." There was an unmistakable note of want in his voice that made me shiver as my mind whirled, thinking about all the different ways we could compete.

"I'll remind you whenever necessary," I said with more confidence than I felt and when he licked his lips in response I fought to keep my expression blank even as my dick twitched.

"Let's go bowling," Kit said with a raised eyebrow and Saylor looked between us with a knowing look on her face, softening her eyes.

"Let’s," I said, hoping I wasn't going to regret taunting him.

* * *

"Better luck next time, sweetie," my mom crowed as I walked back to retrieve another ball. I might have been a sore loser, but she was a sore winner.

I grabbed another ball for the second half of my turn and furrowed my brow when Kit stood up and walked towards me.

"Come on," he said, scuffing his converse against the cheap laminate flooring as he led me over to the lane.

---