Page 73 of Finding Kyler
“That’s some serious chip you’re carrying. Be careful you don’t crumple under the weight.”
She stiffens, pointing her finger at me. “Are you threatening me?”
I arch a brow. “Should I be?”
She laughs. “You’ve got spunk. I might decide to like you after all.”
“Am I supposed to be honored or something? You’re really weird.” I prop my feet up on the edge of the table as she laughs again.
“Speak of the devil,” Zoe murmurs under her breath as her head picks up.
Lana’s cheeks flush as a familiar form rounds the corner. Kalvin has his trademark smirk firmly planted on his mouth as he ambles toward us, his hands tucked into his khaki shorts. He’s bare chested—again—and he has a black cap on backward. A white tee is stuffed in the back pocket of his shorts.
“Did you want something, Kennedy?” Zoe is blunt in the extreme. “Because my tolerance is already waning.”
“Do I need to remind you whose property you’re on, freak?”
“A Kennedy throwing their weight around. Gee, there’s a new concept.” She throws up her middle finger, and I disguise my laughter as a cough. I’m starting to like this prickly chick.
Kalvin stalks toward her, putting his face right in hers. “You know what your problem is, Davidson?” She opens her mouth, no doubt to retort, but Kalvin clamps her lips shut. Her face turns puce with barely restrained anger. “You are way too uptight. You need to get laid.” Kalvin taps a finger off his chin, pretending to think about it. “But therein lies the problem. No one wants to touch your skanky ass.”
“Kalvin!” I grab his elbow, pulling him away from her. “That was downright mean. Apologize.”
“She started it!”
“What are you, like, five now?”
He drags his hands through his hair. “I don’t need this shit. I only came to fetch you. Mom wants to talk to you.”
Every muscle in my back cords into knots. “What about?”
He gives me a quizzical look. “I don’t know. You worried?”
I scratch the top of my head. “Nah.”
Kalvin throws his arm over my shoulder and spins me around. “Well, let’s go then.” He doesn’t acknowledge the girls as he propels me forward.
“Good riddance, asshole!” Zoe calls out, and I turn around in time to see her flip him the bird again. “Say hi to Addison for me.”
I slam to a halt, shooting a stern look at Kalvin. “What’s she talking about?”
“Keep walking,” he mumbles, propelling me forward with a ferocious look on his face.
I cast a quick glance over my shoulder. Lana’s crestfallen look mirrors how I’m feeling inside.
Why do I get the sense that something more is at play here?
And more importantly, why does she look like her world just ended?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
When we reach the edge of the forest, and I’m sure we’re a safe distance from Lana’s house, I push Kalvin against the side of a tree, placing both my hands firmly on his chest. “Talk. Right now. And don’t bullshit me. What was all that about?”
His chest visibly rises. Scrubbing a hand over his jaw, he spits the words out as if they are physically paining him. “I slept with Addison.”
I throw my hands in the air. “Why the fuck would you do that?” I’d had an inkling, but I was hoping I was wrong.
“It wasn’t intentional!”
