I followed her. “I came over to apologize.”
“What? You’re going to apologize again? I don’t even know what to say. Wow.”
I frowned. “I know it seems like a huge surprise to you that I do have feelings and therefore do feel bad at times for things that I may have…caused.”
“Hold up. I have to record this. Let me grab my phone.” She turned, scanning the coffee table.
“Kat, you’re not helping. I’m being serious. This is…hard for me.”
She rolled my eyes. “Okay. I’m sorry. Want to sit? I have cake. Cake should sweeten your disposition a little.”
“Nothing can soften me. I’m as cold as ice.”
“Hardy-har-har. It’s made of ice cream and has the yummy crunchy middle part.”
“Okay, that may work. The crunchy middle part is my favorite,” I said.
“Okay,” she said softly. “Then come on.”
We went into the kitchen. Kat grabbed a hair tie off the counter and tugged her hair back. “How big of a piece do you want?” She pulled the cake out of the freezer.
“How big of a piece are you willing to part with?”
“As big as you want.” She grabbed a knife out of the drawer and placed it over the cake.
I looked over her shoulder. “Bigger.”
She moved the knife to the side.
“Even bigger.”
She moved it by a couple of inches.
“Perfect,” I said.
Kat tried to cut the cake, but got an inch down. “I hate cutting these freaking things.”
“Let me try.” I reached around, and our hands brushed as I took the knife from her. Electricity shivered over my skin. “You need to run it under hot water. Then it cuts right through it.”
Stepping aside, Kat let me take over. I ran the knife under the hot water and then chopped through the cake easily. “See? Perfect.”
She grabbed two plates and placed them on the counter. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Milk is always good if you’ve got some.”
Getting the milk, she poured two tall glasses, which surprised me, because usually she made me get everything. She grabbed the silverware and motioned toward the living room.
“You don’t want to eat in here?” I asked.
“No. I don’t like eating at the dinner table. It seems so formal.”
Grabbing my plate and cup, I followed her out into the living room. She sat on one end of the couch and I on the other. As I shoved my fork into the cake, I spotted roses. I cleared my throat. “Nice roses. Brad?”
“Blake.” She shrugged. “Yeah, they’re nice, aren’t they?”
“Whatever,” I grumbled. “So why are you spending tonight by yourself? It’s your birthday.”
The corners of her lips turned down. “My mom had to work, and I just didn’t feel like doing anything. It’s not as bad as it sounds. I’ve spent many of them by myself.”
“I guess you probably would have preferred I hadn’t stopped by then, huh?” I stabbed the cake until I forced the ice cream away from the cookie part. I took a bite. “I really did come to apologize for last night.”
She set the plate on the coffee table and tucked her legs under her. “Daemon—”
“Wait.” I held up my fork. “Okay?”
Kat snapped her mouth shut.
My gaze flipped to my plate. “Nothing happened between Ash and me last night. She was just…messing with you. And I know that’s hard to believe, but I’m sorry if it…hurt you.” I drew in a deep breath. “Contrary to what you think about me, I don’t jump from girl to girl. I do like you, so I wouldn’t mess around with Ash. And I haven’t. Ash and I haven’t done anything for months, before you even came around. Things are complicated between Ash and me. We’ve known each other since we came here. Everyone expects us to be together. Especially the Elders, since we’re ‘coming of age.’ Time to start making babies.” I shuddered.
“Even Ash expects us to be together,” I went on, stabbing the cake again. “And all of this? I know it’s hurting her. I never wanted to do that.” I paused, and having spoken that out loud, I knew it was true. Ash may act like it didn’t bother her, but I knew it did. “I never wanted to hurt you, either. And I’ve done both of those things.” I felt heat seep across my cheeks, but I continued, because all of this needed to be said. “I can’t be with her the way she wants—the way she deserves. Anyway, I wanted to apologize for last night.”
There wasn’t a moment of hesitation.
“So do I,” she said. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like I did. I guess the whole window thing freaked me out.”
“What you did last night with the windows. Well, that was one hell of a display of power that you have no control of.” I glanced at her. “I’ve been thinking about it. And I keep thinking of Dawson and Bethany. That evening they returned from hiking, and he was covered in blood. I think she may have gotten hurt.”