Page 78 of Between the Boards
Colton is my friend—he will always be my friend.
So why is it that when I had good news, he was the first person I ran to? And why am I thinking about having sex with Colton again, when I should be thinking about my date with Zale later tonight?
All of these questions swirl around my mind and I don’t even notice when he pulls himself out of me to go grab a towel.
”Are you okay?” He asks as he gently wipes me clean with a damp towel. “Did I hurt you?”
“You didn’t hurt me,” I say, shaking my head.
He quietly studies me as he continues to wipe me clean, but he chooses not to pry and I appreciate it. I wouldn’t have any answers for him anyway. My own feelings and thoughts are confusing me.
”So,” he says, dropping the towel when he’s finished cleaning me and retrieving my clothes for me. “What made you burst through my room like the house was on fire?”
I let out an embarrassed laugh as I pull my underwear and shorts back on while he changes too.
“I’m so sorry for not knocking,” I say, mortified. “I was just so excited that I didn’t even realize what I was doing.”
He laughs. “That’s alright.”
Once I’m dressed, I hop off his desk. “Gabriel told me that Stephen Kozak has basically been fired.”
Colton’s eyebrows jump up in surprise before he grins widely. “Kairi, that’s amazing news,” he says. “I have no doubt Gabriel had a hand in making it happen.”
“I think so too.” I laugh. “Oh, and I pitched the brand collaboration idea with him, and he’s very impressed that you came up with it. He said he’d get started on making that happen.”
”I know it’s going to be amazing,” he replies. “I can’t wait to see it.”
I nod, a big smile sitting on my face. “Anyway,” I sigh, “I should probably go before Eliana comes looking for me. She promised to help me find a dress for my date tonight.”
His grin shrinks to a small smile and he nods. “Have fun.”
“I will,” I say, before pausing at the door and glancing at him over my shoulder. “Thanks, by the way.”
“For what?”
“For the relief,” I wink, pulling a chuckle out of him. “And for being so supportive of everything.”
“I’ll always support you, Kairi.” He smiles at me, but it looks sad this time. “That’s what friends are for.”
“See you tonight?”
“See you tonight,” he confirms with a nod.
TWENTY-SIX
COLTON
Comingto Kairi’s date has to be one of the worst things I’ve ever agreed to. I somehow managed to snag a seat at the booth diagonal from them without Zale noticing me, and I’ve spent the last twenty minutes drinking a whole bottle of wine on my own while listening to Zale go on and on about everything that was wrong about Alessia.
“She was so needy,” he complains, flapping his arms around as he speaks. “Always wanting to be glued to my side and doing things together.”
Kairi doesn’t look impressed, not in the slightest. In fact she almost looks annoyed.
“Didn’t she fly all the way here from Italy to spend time with you, though?” She asks, fiddling with the rings on her fingers while staring at him. “It makes sense that she’d want to spend all her time with you. She doesn’t know anyone here.”
Zale waves her off. “Now’s not the time to be a girls-girl, Kairi. She was horrifically clingy. I couldn’t even go to the toilet without her searching for me or checking up on me.”
Kairi glances over at me while he continues to complain and her cheeks begin to redden. It’s been happening every time she’slooked at me today, ever since we fucked, and I know that look better than anyone—she wants more.
