Page 10 of Between the Boards
She frowns slightly, water shifting around her shoulders. “I guess I just didn’t want it to start up any more rumours,” she admits. “He’s finally stopped being so upset what happened between you and me the night of the bonfire two years ago. I didn’t want to give him a reason to start again.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes because I hate how much what Zale thinks and says matters to her. He isn’t the type of guy Kairi should end up with, because he doesn’t really see her. Not in the way someone should when a girl like her is standing right in front of them.
“Do you regret that night?” I ask.
“No.” She pushes off the pool floor and drifts closer. “I had so much fun that night, even if it doesn’t count to you.”
My breath stutters as she closes the distance between us without even realizing it.
“I just regret telling Zale,” she continues, her hand coming up to grip my arm instinctively. “He’s so childish about it because it happened withyou.”
Electricity shoots up my arm from her touch and it takes everything in me not to react.
“He would’ve been childish about it regardless of who it was with,” I say, my voice rougher than I mean for it to sound. “That’s just how Zale is. He wants what he can’t have, and claims what isn’t his.”
She nods. “I know…but I especially hate hearing him talk down if it’s about you.”
“Why?”
Her brow lifts. “Because you’re my friend.”
If I could kick myself for expecting a deeper answer, I would, because I’ve known from day one that a friend is all I’ll ever be to Kairi. Expecting more is only setting myself up for disappointment.
I swallow hard. “You’re my friend too.”
She laughs softly, the sound floating across the water. “Okay, well now that we’ve cleared up that we’re friends—even though I thought we already knew that—can we talk about Alessia?”
I chuckle and nod. “What was it like meeting her?” I ask, moving away so that her hand slips from my arm, cutting off the current running through my body and allowing myself to catch a breath.
If she notices, she doesn’t say anything.
“She definitely hates me.”
I laugh.
“I swear! She threatened me with her eyes.”
“Eyes of a killer?” I ask.
“I’m serious,” she laughs, splashing lightly at the water. “I could tell she felt threatened for some stupid reason.”
“As she should,” I say easily. “You’re a sexy, badass athlete who lives under the same roof as the guy that she’s trying to lock down,andyou two have years of history. You basically have a head start on her.”
When she doesn’t reply I glance down and find she’s staring straight at me with a goofy grin.
“You think I’m a sexy, badass athlete?” She asks, placing a hand over her chest in exaggerated flattery.
I roll my eyes and smack the water, splashing her but making sure it doesn’t reach her hair. She yelps and laughs, immediately splashing me back before quickly paddling away.
I grin as I go after her and she reaches the pool wall first, but before she can move again I corner her there, planting my hands on either side of her against the edge.
Even surrounded by chlorine, I can still smell her honey-vanilla scent. I inhale slowly, filling my lungs with it. Her wide almond-shaped eyes lock onto mine, and I watch them drop down to my lips.
I know she’s attracted to me just as much as I’m attracted to her. If she wasn’t then we wouldn’t have hooked up that night. But we both know this can only go as far as friendship between us. I’m not the kind of guy that ends up with someone like Kairi, not even close. And I promised I’d help her find the right guy—the one who’ll chase her the way she deserves.
“For a second there,” she says quietly, “I thought you were going to kiss me.”
My jaw tightens.
