Page 61 of Between the Boards
TWENTY
COLTON
“She’s where?”I ask, nearly tripping over my own two feet as I walk through the kitchen pretending to busy myself with the fridge.
Maliah and Eliana both smirk while watching me, as if they’re in on some big secret that only they know about.
“On a date,” Eliana says.
“With coffee shop guy,” Maliah adds, eyes sparkling with amusement.
“How do you two know about coffee shop guy?” I ask, trying my best to sound nonchalant as I examine the expiry date of one of the new milk cartons.
“She told us,” Maliah says. “Duh.”
Eliana covers her smirk with her palm, and forces herself to look anywhere but at me and I narrow my eyes as I look between her and Maliah.
“I’m guessing she told you about our fake dating arrangement too then?”
“Mhm,” Maliah says, leaning forward on the island, resting her chin in her palm and tapping the countertop with her free hand’s fingers. “She also told us how you got that black eye,” she adds, pointing to my face.
Just the mere mention of it causes the tender skin to throb painfully.
“Right. Thanks for the reminder.” I put back the milk and close the fridge. “I better get back to icing it,” I say, turning towards the stairs.
“It’s funny though,” she continues, as if she never heard me. “I couldn’t help but get the feeling that this fake dating arrangement isn’t all that fake for you.”
I frown, turning to look at her. “What are you talking about?”
She shrugs. “I’m just saying, you seem to be?—”
“Say what you want to say, Maliah,” I interrupt, turning to face her. “You’re not one to beat around the bush.”
“He’s right,” Eliana whispers, earning a look from Mal.
“Fine,” she says, crossing her arms. “I think you like Kairi.”
I don’t say anything right away, holding her gaze. I could deny it, but Maliah is smart enough to see through any lie I try to feed her. But if I admit to it, there’s a high chance she’ll tell Kairi.
“And if I do?” I ask carefully. “What difference does it make? You both know she wants Zale.”
“I also know that Zale will never want her or love her in the way that she needs,” she says, studying me carefully, “the way she deserves.”
“And neither can I,” I say, turning again. “Coffee shop guy might be her best shot.”
I make it to the first step before she speaks again, my foot freezing mid-step.
“Are you really going to let her slip through your fingers, Colton?” she asks softly.
I stare at the wall in front of me for a long while before looking over my shoulder at her.
“She was never mine,” I say, with a forced smile. “It’s all fake, remember?”
I climb the rest of the stairs without a second glance and lock myself in my room. How is it that Maliah could see right through me, and she’s barely here? If she was able to put the pieces together so easily, what’s to say Kairi hasn’t done the same?
I hear the front door open and close, and when I peek out my window, I see both girls climbing into Maliah’s SUV before driving off.
I don’t waste any time as I grab my sunglasses, wallet, baseball cap, and keys to my truck off the dresser, and bolt down the stairs. I shove my feet into my sneakers and push my way out the front door, almost yelping when I come face to face with Maliah and Eliana.
