Suddenly, my senses heighten, everything hitting me like a tidal wave. The scent of vanilla and damp wood and lilac dryer sheets. The weight of my heart pounding against my chest, begging to be set free. The heat radiating off Kai’s body as he leans in closer—the warmth of his breath against my lips. Time slows to a crawl until every single one of my nerves is on fire waiting for him to reach me, only for me to throw caution to the wind and do it myself. Cupping his cheek, leaning forward, and finally,finally, closing the distance between us.
It’s everything I imagined it could be. Everything I thought a first kissshouldbe. Soft and tender as Kai cradles my cheek like I’m something worth protecting. Sweet from the hot chocolate still lingering on my lips. Warm, in every single way.
Unlike Timothy, Kai doesn’t take and take and take. He leans back slightly, as if he’s ready to break the kiss, but I’m the one who pulls him back. Who doesn’t want to let go yet. He doesn’t touch me until I touch him, running my palm down along the side of his arm because I’m not sure what else to do with my hands. I fight the urge to pull him as close to me as possible—to feel the full weight of him against me. To erasethe memory of Timothy’s touch, and the way his body felt pressed to mine.
But Kai deserves better than that. Kissing him is something that deserves to be savored—a moment I’ll remember forever. Not just a palate cleanser to erase something I want to forget.
The longer we kiss, the more the world falls away. The claps of thunder don’t make me jump. We don’t notice the rampedup patter of rain hitting the roof, or the wind howling through the trees. The lingering scent of vanilla fades in favor of the chlorine clinging to our skin, and the subtle tang of cologne still on Kai’s collar. All I can focus on is the brush of his skin and his mouth against mine—how perfectly we slot together. How badly I’ve wanted this, and how it’s more perfect than I ever dreamed it could be.
We’re so wrapped up in one another—testing the limits and tasting each other—that neither of us hears the creak of approaching footsteps. Or the whispered voices. Not until someone clears their throat loud enough to get our attention. We fly apart at breakneck speed, Kai smacking against the headboard with a thud and yelp of pain that would have me racing to him if I wasn’t so worried about gettingawayfrom him. I rocket off the bed, unscathed, and glance over at him once I’m on my shaky feet. He’s groaning quietly, rubbing at a spot on his head, but thankfully it doesn’t look like anything more serious than a bump.
I didn’t think it was possible for my heart to beat any faster, until I look up and see Kiki and Carla leaning against the doorway to my room. It feels like it’s stopped beating entirely—the whiplash of going from bliss to fear knocking me so off balance the edges of the room begin to spin. I pull the edge of my shirt over my exposed shoulder and do my best to flatten my mussedhair. There’s nothing I can do for my swollen lips and flaming cheeks, though.
“Having fun?” Carla teases with a knowing smirk.
Kiki, meanwhile, doesn’t look nearly as amused. Her expression is impossible to read as she focuses her attention on her brother as he sits up and pulls his open flannel closed across his chest.
“Ever heard of knocking?” he snaps, glaring at Kiki as he crosses the room and shifts to position himself in front of me, blocking me from their gaze. His hand rests lightly against my arm—a subtle touch of solidarity. I rest my hand over his, letting his touch keep me grounded.
“If you wanted privacy, you should’ve closed the door,” Kiki replies, rolling her eyes.
From what I can tell, she doesn’t seem upset. Bored, maybe. Unsurprised, most likely. Either way, it’s a small relief to see that she isn’t throwing a fit about walking in on us. I’ve pissed her off enough as it is for one night.
“We’re doing facials in our room,” Carla announces, pivoting to a new subject with an unusual amount of excitement. “My mom brought back a ton of beauty products from her last business trip to Korea,” she explains with a grin.
“Want to join?” Kiki asks, leaning over to look past Kai and directly at me. Her tone isn’t exactly inviting, but it isn’t malicious either. Still, the suddenness of it catches me by surprise.
“Uh…”
Kai seems just as puzzled as I am by the invitation. He looks at me with a mix of confusion and suspicion, as if to silently ask,What is my sister up to?
But he doesn’t know what I saw. How panicked Kiki and Carla were when they realized they’d been found out. They’dseemed ready to kill me to keep me quiet just half an hour ago, but maybe now they’re changing tactics—buying my silence with kindness. Either way, it’s not like I have much of a choice. We’re not going anywhere until Timothy gets back, and I’ve already started off on the worst foot possible with Kiki. Assuming my paranoia is just getting the best of me and this actuallyissome kind of olive branch, turning down their offer kills any possibility of mending the broken bridge between us. And now that I know Kai feels the same way I do, now that I’ve had a taste of what we could be, I need to make nice with Kiki.
“Y-yeah. That sounds fun,” I say with my best attempt at a smile.
Kai’s eyes widen, looking as though he’s going to ask if I’m sure. I give his hand a gentle squeeze—a silent confirmation that I know what I’m doing—before following them into the hall. Kiki and Carla lead the way back to their room, but I linger in the doorway to look back at where Kai is perched on the edge of my bed.
“I’ll be fine,” I mouth to him before following the girls back to their room. Maybe if I make it a promise, I can make sure it’s true.
Exhibit J: Blood Analysis Report
The defendant Dina Soto was found covered in blood at the scene on the evening of October 31. Several blood samples were collected from the defendant’s clothes, skin, and hair. A total of four sources were identified.
In order of volume found on the defendant, the donors were as follows:
Specimen A:Inconclusive. Further testing needed.
Specimen B:Carla Gutierrez
Specimen C:Kiki Thompson
Specimen D:Kai Thompson
20
Kiki and Carla have made the most out of their shared room in the short time we’ve been here. Sequined mini dresses with matching heels in the closet and stacks of glittery eyeshadow palettes worth nearly three figures beside a pouch full of concealers, foundations, and moisturizers that must be worth twice that. It’s a glimpse into the type of girlhood I never had.
“Sorry for the mess,” Kiki says casually as she scoops up a pile of jeans and crop tops beside the entryway and tosses them onto the lavender comforter.
