Shock greeted me when I faced him. Pain and betrayal swam in the depths of his gaze. It took me a second to realize I said that aloud. I may say things like that to Gina, but I had never voiced it to Kaiden.
“I—” I didn’t know what to say. I wiped my sweaty palms along the front of my shirt and clutched the hem.
His eyes hardened and jaw clenched when I didn’t continue.
“Whoa, what did I walk into?”
Our heads jerked toward Gina. Neither one of us heard her come in.
Kaiden’s face softened. “Nothing. I’m glad you’re here.”
She slowly shifted toward me and drew out, “Why?”
“Because you’re going to Sunday dinner with us.”
Gina held her hands up in the air. “No, thanks. I’ll pass.”
Kaiden’s hands slapped his sides. “C’mon. When have you ever turned down a free meal?”
“When it starts out tense like this.”
“Please come. Patty loves you.” I gave my best puppy dog impression and batted my lashes. “And you can play buffer.”
“Gee, thanks,” Gina said, laying the sarcasm on thick.
Kaiden regarded me coldly. “Please don’t call her Patty at dinner.”
“Fine.”
“She hates it.”
“Patricia, then.”
“Mother.”
Squinting, I ground out, “Mother.”
Gina’s attention flitted between the two of us during our exchange.
“Great. Let’s go.” Kaiden beelined for the door and left it wide open for us to follow.
“What the hell?” Gina whispered.
I grabbed her shoulders, turned her around, and pushed her toward the door. “Later.”
“Should I change?” she asked as I locked it.
I checked out her pristine, matching jogger set. She looked better than me with lounge clothes on. “You’re fine.”
Kaiden had the car pulled up to the door by the time we exited. His fingers tapped the steering wheel in an impatient staccato.
Gina frowned when I went for the back passenger seat. She got in front, and the second we were inside, Kaiden took off. The doors slammed shut with the momentum, almost catching my leg in the process, and our heads jerked back. It was like we were late to meet the queen of England. Patty acted as if she were a queen.
“Jeebus,” I breathed and stared at the side of his pissed off face. “I almost lost a leg there.”
“Serves you right,” he snapped.
“Whoa!” Gina said, “That's a bit dramatic.”
