Fuck, I needed to see him again. He’d said we could do coffee this week, but I didn’t want coffee this week. I wanted him now. I wanted to quit work and just go back to his apartment, show up at his door like they do in the movies, and maul the shit out of him. That kiss was everything and still just the tip of the iceberg. If his lips could leave such an imprint on me, I couldn’t wait to see what else they could do.
I checked my phone obsessively throughout the day, wondering if he would text me. Wondering if I should text him. I lamented that the normal Kayla, the one who had no problems chasing after men, was missing in action. I was scared to hear the word “no.” I was scared to fuck something up before I even had a chance to have it.
On the other hand, I knew he was leaving soon. Very soon. So there wasn’t really anything to fuck up. I just wanted to see him again.
But he didn’t text, and I didn’t either. Nicola and Steph did though, completely freaking out. When my phone finally charged this morning, I had a billion frantic texts from them all pouring in at once. I didn’t want to divulge too much information, so I told them that my phone had died and that we’d rescued some dogs. Neither of them knew what to say to that.
Later, Steph told me to come to the Lion for a drink. And stupid, silly me, I did. Because I thought there might be a chance that Lachlan would be there.
I decided to make myself look extra pretty. Put a few waves in my hair. Contoured up my face. Slicked on liquid liner. I squeezed myself into a snake-print leopard skirt, black high heels, and a black lace top. I looked pretty damn good.
I sashayed my way into the Lion, electric flutters in my stomach, my eyes casing the joint, hoping to see the big, bad Scot somewhere. Steph and Linden were in a booth, but I knew from the moment they spotted me and Steph gave me a hesitant wave that something was off.
I slowed my pace, my fingers anxiously twitching at my side. “Hey,” I said.
“Looking good, Kayla,” Linden commented, and I eyed him suspiciously, wondering if that was the truth or he was just trying to “be nice” like Steph had told us to.
“Thanks.” I looked at Stephanie, but she wasn’t meeting my eyes. “What’s wrong?” I asked her.
“Well, nothing,” she said. She patted the seat beside her. “Sit down. You look pretty. Is there a special occasion?”
I gave her the stinkeye. “Do I normally not look pretty? Why would I need an occasion?” I sat down. “So…” I looked around. “Is Bram here?”
“Not yet,” Linden said.
I stared hopefully at Steph, hoping she would read my mind. She looked down at the cider in her hands instead.
I cleared my throat. “How did you guys like the rest of the concert?” I asked. “I missed the last part...”
“It was good, yeah. Good.” Linden took a swig of his beer.
I sighed and bit the bullet. “Do you guys know if Lachlan is coming here later?”
“I don’t know,” Linden said. A little too quickly.
I turned to Stephanie and punched her lightly on the arm. “Hey, what’s going on? Why are you guys being all weird?”
Steph exchanged a look with Linden and chewed on her lip before facing me.
“You and Lachlan,” she said cautiously. “You guys just kissed last night, right?”
I jerked my head back. “Yeah. What…why does that matter?”
She swallowed thickly and looked at Linden again. “Well, I just wanted to make sure how freaked out you would or wouldn’t get. If you just kissed, then you should be fine with it.”
“Fine with what? What the hell, Stephanie? Just say it.”
“He’s on a date with Justine,” she said, and then quickly downed the rest of her cider.
My heart lurched. Actually lurched, like it was saying goodbye to my chest and moving on out. “What?”
She shrugged. “Linden told me.”
I turned to him, as if it was all his fault. “Bram told me,” he said defensively. “Sorry, Kayla. I’m sure it’s just for business. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Ugh. I wanted to be sick. “How do you know that?”
“She doesn’t seem like his type.”
“Well, neither do I and…” I paused and shook my head. “Fuck. Fuck this shit. I’m such an idiot.”