Page 69 of Bad Influence
“I love cake,” Wes says. “Chocolate is my favorite.”
I smile smugly at Killian who exhales sharply before leaving Wes and me in the kitchen. As he climbs upstairs to search for duct tape, I grab another plate for Wes and cut him a slice.
“Misery,” Wes says, reading the box. “You’ve got good taste. Have you met the owner?”
“Killian got the cake, actually,” I say.
“Probably for the best,” Wes says quietly as he eats the cake. He looks like a mad scientist with his hair standing all over the place.
“Are you conducting a science experiment?” I ask.
He gives me a strange smile and nods. “Kind of. Yeah, let’s call it a science experiment.”
“O…kay.”
Killian’s on his way back down and I’m saved from having more conversation with Wes. I like talking to people, but I really don’t know how to reply to Wes right now.
“Here.” Killian offers him the tape.
“Thanks! I’ll bring it back,” Wes says, accepting the tape.
“Please don’t.”
Setting the plate down, he salutes me with the tape before leaving. Killian locks the door behind him.
“What do you think he’s doing with the tape?” I ask.
Killian shakes his head. “Don’t ask questions, Caroline. It’s easier to maintain plausible deniability.”
How curious.
“Let’s watchGilmore Girlsand you can complain about how Rory and Lorelai are the actual bad guys,” I say.
“They are absolutely the bad guys,” Killian insists. “The best part of the whole thing is Rory ending up alone because she’s clearly miserable in relationships.”
I bite off my smile as I settle down on the couch, reaching for the remote to turn on the TV. Killian sits next to me, stretching his arm along the back of the couch and playing with my hair. His commentary on the characters is the best part of watching the show.
CHAPTER 20
Caroline
June startsoff rainy so we stick indoors. I don’t mind a summer rain as long as there’s no thunderstorm. Killian and I haven’t gone on any more adventures since he’s busy with work and painting. With nothing to do, I spend my days applying for jobs and reading.
I’m still getting messages from home, but they are a few and far between. The few that I do get are only from Carter. Beckett hasn’t tried to reach out to me after the first few times. I want to lie to myself and think that his silence means Beckett has moved on. When it likely means that he’s preparing a lawsuit to take me by surprise. A part of me wants to sue him first. At the same time, I never want to see his face again.
I’m sitting on the second floor landing thinking about the mess Beckett is going to create as I watch the rain outside the window. There are no ferries out today, but the bridge is just as busy as it usually is at this time of day.
I turn when I hear footsteps coming up the stairs and Killian appears, carrying a coffee cup from Beanie’s. Based on the greenand purple in the cup, I can tell it’s my lavender cream Matcha drink. I love that he thinks it’s ridiculous, but he still stops by on his way from work to get it for me.
“Thank you,” I say, when he hands it to me.
I take a sip through the straw, expecting him to walk off. He usually takes a shower after getting home from work. Today, he remains standing in front of me so I look up at him in question.
“Do you have plans tonight?” His question surprises me.
“Sure, I’m going to take a long, hot bath and then go hang out with my boyfriend,” I reply, sipping on my drink.
I have to hold in my giggle when he glares at me.
