Page 82 of Scheme
“So… me?” Kit raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. Stop that.”
His lips twisted into a wry smile. “Noted. Don’t be long, wouldn’t want your pancakes to get cold. I ordered you berries to go on top.”
I groaned, pressing my forehead to the shower wall.
There was nothing for it. I may not be able to say the words out loud, I may neverdoanything with the information, but I wasn’t about to lie to myself.
I’d gone and fallen in love with Kit.
How had I let that happen?! I thought I’d been careful. Was this karma for how laughable I’d once found the idea of developing feelings for Kit? Here I’d been, thinking I was so impervious to love, and the universe decided to smack me upside the head with a giant reminder that no one was above this kind of feeling.
Reluctantly, I scrubbed my face clean before washing my hair and my body twice, then finally conceding I couldn’t procrastinate any longer. After drying off, I pulled out the clothes Kit had bought me, snorting at the hot pink boyshort knickers at the bottom of the bag withWhat’s Knot To Like?written in glittery silver font across the ass.
Fortunately, the plain black shorts and t-shirt were a little less ostentatious, and there were even slides in my size. Maybe he’d looked at the label on my heels before he’d ducked out? The idea was a little too sweet for my already fragile emotional state, and I quickly shoved it away.
He hadn’t bought me a bra, which made sense, but I hadn’t been wearing one with my dress last night. Oh well, the shirt was baggy, I’d just be uncomfortable until I got home.
I dressed and slathered myself in the Om-Guard Kit had thoughtfully bought me. Unfortunately, I’d only brought along enough makeup for touch-ups, not a full face. Surely, Kit had caught enough glimpses of me without makeup on that it wouldn’t be a big deal, right?
I gnawed on my lower lip, staring at the reflection that hadn’t improved with age.“You tricked me.”
Maybe that was what I needed? Kit to recoil from me in horror and say something that cut me to the quick and put paid to this ill-advised love forever. It was one method that I knew from experience had a one hundred per cent success rate.
Mind made up, I used the hairdryer until my hair was damp rather than soaking wet, hoping my clip-in extensions were next to the bed where I’d roughly yanked them out before falling asleep.
“Done procrastinating?” Kit called. “I’m not rushing you, but your coffee is definitely lukewarm by now.”
I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders, steeling myself for the inevitable pain.It was really better to get this over with now,I told myself. Much better to nip this whole love thing in the bud now before it took root. Or flowered. Or whatever it was that plants did.
“There you are,” Kit said, looking up at me from the small sun-drenched table next to the window. “The berries look more enticing with each second, so I suggest you start eating.”
“Oh. Um, yeah. Okay,” I replied cautiously, making my way over to the table. Maybe he couldn’t see my face clearly with all the sunlight? “Thanks for breakfast. And the clothes. And the coffee. Just… everything really.”
Kit shrugged, pushing the platter of cut-up fruit toward me the moment I sat down, even though there was already a stack of pancakes with berries waiting for me. “Thanks for accompanying me to a boring work dinner.”
“It wasn’t as though we were there long,” I pointed out wryly, taking a sip of my definitively lukewarm coffee. There was no hiding my face now, I was sitting in direct sunlight right across from him.Any minute now…
“It was a much better night than I thought it would be,” Kit agreed, flashing me a grin filled with mischief. “You’re so cute when you blush.”
I froze, holding a blueberry halfway to my mouth. “Is that so? I’m a little… underdressed. Compared to usual.”
“Mm, it’s nice. I like that we can just be together like this. Relaxed. Comfortable.”
Fuck my life.
How was I meant to fall out of love with him now?
“Are you looking forward to your nana’s party?” Kit asked, making me choke on the mouthful of coffee I’d just swallowed.
Shit.
Nana’s party.
My head had been such a mess since the moment I’d woken up that I’d completely forgotten that the party was today. The party that my dad had ordered me to show up to with Jimmy and announce our impending mating. The party where I’d intended to subvert his orders by showing up with Kit and lying just enough to get Asher through the interview stage at his dream school.
Thatparty.
