AllFreeNovel
Share Us
TEN
Laia
I sit up in bed, dazed and—well rested? With no idea what time it is. I was really out. No nightmares, just solid, black, beautiful sleep. It took none of the willpower or meditation techniques it usually does to fall asleep last night. My lids had become a delicious kind of heavy the second I’d flopped into bed and I’d just—drifted off. That never happens.
I feel good. Calm. Revitalized.
Until reality kicks in.
Felix kissed me. And I kissed him back.
That was … I sit up in bed and kick off my sheets, bringing my fingers to my lips … insane. Stupid. Reckless. Really fricking good.
My body tingles. All of it. Every single inch of it. The man can kiss, but that means nothing. Damon could kiss too. that hadn’t stopped him from turning into a maniac the second he had me hooked. In fact, that’s exactly how he got me hooked.
But this was different. Disorienting sure, but … I don’t know … just … different. Even if it was a mistake.
Pressing the pads of my fingers against my closed eyes I shake my head then check the old digital alarm clock on the bedside table. What the? I lean closer. How can it be midday already? I’m working in an hour, and I have no truck and—I pat my head and wince—bedhead that won’t go down without a fight and a shower.
By the time I’ve showered and made it to the front door to leg it up to Mrs. Devon’s house to call a taxi, I’ve already half-blinded myself with shampoo and stubbed my big toe twice.
A man in a rush will always arrive late. I roll my eyes. One of my dad’s more obscure sayings. I never quite managed to understand this one, but regardless, it never fails to pop into my head when I’m panic rushing to get ready.
An apple clutched between my teeth, I pull my pumps on with one hand and grab my purse from the console by the door with the other. I’m gonna be late. Whatever calm revitalization my epic sleep brought with it has well and truly evaporated. I don’t even know if Mrs. Devon’s in. Why haven’t I bought a cell yet?
It’s not until I reach for my keys, I notice my truck keys on the floor in front of the door. There’s a note too.
I pick them both up, wiggling my foot the rest of its way into my shoe as I flip the small, folded paper open. A chasm of fluttering takes off in my chest when I scan the neat print. Felix’s neat print.
I knocked but no answer. The battery’s charged. I’ll swing by later to talk.
Felix.
I read it again. And again. He kissed me. I kissed him back. He brought me my truck. He wants to talk.
I do not have time to freak out. This is a problem for New Laia. Later.
I make it to the hotel five minutes early, still far too wrapped in my post-kiss sleep daze, with the slice of pie I promised Kenzi for bailing on drinks after dinner last night.
It can’t happen again—the kissing I mean. It was a one off. A lovely, crazy, but dangerous one off. I don’t—can’t—won’t get swept up in a man again.
Kenzi glances up when I clunk the cellophane-wrapped plate onto her desk. Her normally sparkling eyes pink rimmed, and dull, and hungover?
“Man, are you a sight for sore eyes.” She leans forward and takes a peek under the plastic wrap. “And you brought the pie. You’re an angel.” Leaning back in her chair, she stretches her arms up above her head and yawns. “So, spill, lady. Anything exciting to tell me about last night?”
I wrinkle my nose. I kissed your boss, and it numbed my brain. I shake my head. Our friendship probably isn’t ready for that particular brand of crazy yet. “Nothing to spill.” I shuck the strap of my purse from my shoulder and step around the back of the reception desk so she won’t be able to read the whopping lie on my face.
My chair creaks stiffly as I plonk down onto it and spin to face my computer with the morning’s check-ins. “Have fun with Mylo last night?”
Pressing both of her hands against her cheeks, Kenzi nods her head. “Yes, too much fun. It’s such a waste.” She pouts and pulls the bottom drawer of her desk open to get her purse out.
“A waste? Why? He seems nice.” I lean forward, frowning. She was very vocally flirting with him over the ribs last night. And as far as I could tell, the flirting was mutual.
“He’s so hot he almost made me forget about my man ban.” She rests her elbows on her desk and massages her temples. “But I will not be fooled by biceps and lured by man-buns again. The last guy I was interested in was also hotness personified and he ended up being a douche, same with the one before that, and the one before that. So, I’ve decided to settle for admiring Mylo the man-mountain from afar. Besides he was the perfect gentleman-mountain—not one move did he make on me.” Throwing her cell into her purse, she gets to her feet and grabs the plate. “Anyway, back to you. Don’t think you’re off the hook. Felix looked pretty starry-eyed when he appeared at The Beach Hut after rescuing a certain little Laia from the side of the road last night.”
“He told you about that?” My cheeks do their usual blaze of admission before I can even think of a way to talk myself out of whatever it is she thinks she knows. Surely he wouldn’t have. “What else did he tell you?” My thumb automatically lifts to my teeth.
“Nada. He didn’t have to.” She narrows her eyes at me as she steps around in front of the desk. “His starry eyes are as easily read as those cheeks of yours.”
I press my hands against my still warm cheeks. “Kenzi, nothing happened—”
“Don’t.” She lifts her hand to quiet me, a cheeky sparkle returning to her tired eyes. “You lie about as well as I say no to tequila shots, that’s to say … not very well. Just know that I approve of whatever nothing that did or did not happen last night.” She winks then wiggles her fingers. “I’m out, you little minx. I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
Hands still on my cheeks, I watch her go.
