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All I can do is gape at him, my mind racing in several directions. Is there really a gig not far from here, or did he follow us here? Although creepy, Kai dismissed him as a possible suspect… And yet, is it purely coincidence that I’ve run into him today? Now? What are the chances?
He raises a brow, staring at me expectantly, and I realize I missed whatever he was saying. “Huh?”
“I asked if you’re seeing anyone.”
“Oh.” That’s all I can say. The only sound I can force past my dry lips.
“Babe!” Kai calls out. The tension thrumming through me calms instantly at the sound of his voice. Kai’s here. He’ll know what to do. My eyes snap to his, widening in a silent plea for him to help. Not that I need to beg. Unlike with Wilder, or even Hawk, there’s no animosity or tension between us. Kai’s a true-to-life hero. The good guy in the story. In my story.
He smiles warmly at me as he approaches, as if everything’s perfectly normal and I’m not freaking the fuck out inside. The easy reassurance in his expression somewhat settles the nerves fluttering in my stomach.
“Did you find the Twinkies?” I stare up at him in confusion as he steps right up to my side and casually drapes his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in against him like it’s the most natural thing in the world for him to do. It’s not his question or the fact that he never asked me to grab him anything that gives me pause, but the easy way that he’s touching me—like we’re lovers. And more significantly, the way my body hums beneath his touch.
With his warm smile still in place, he stares down at me for a beat before tearing his eyes away to take in Steven, as though he’s only now realizing he’s there.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t see you there.” Still holding me close to his side, he holds out his other hand. “I’m David, and you are?”
I know for a fact that Kai already knows who this is. All of this is some kind of act; I’m just not entirely sure what the point of it all is. If Steven is my stalker, then Kai could be putting himself directly in the line of fire by behaving the way he is.
At that thought, I jiggle my shoulder, trying to dislodge Kai’s arm, only he increases the pressure, squeezing me tighter so my face is practically squished against his chest and his calming sage scent is washing over me.
Steven’s gaze darts back and forth between Kai and me, his brows lowered as he tries to suss us out. There’s a reluctance to his movements as he reaches out to shake Kai’s hand. “Steven.”
“How do you know my girl?” Kai asks, his voice coming out as casual as his posture.
My girl? What the heck?
Steven’s gaze darts to mine, and I’m careful to keep that fake smile Kai talked about earlier on my face.
“Oh, I know her from a long time ago. Just happened to see her here and thought I’d reacquaint myself.” There’s an icky undertone to his words that feels as though it sticks to my skin, and I immediately want to shower it off. It takes everything in me not to react as another scrutinizing flicker passes back and forth between Kai and me. “Are you two…?”
“Yup.” From my position flattened against Kai’s chest, I glance up at him through my eyelashes, catching his beaming smile that shows off his pearly whites. It’s hard to believe it’s fake, and for a second, I allow myself to believe in the lie he’s telling. So, when Steven’s gaze once again darts down to mine, I’ve donned a love-struck expression. I nuzzle deeper into Kai as I secretly observe Steven in my periphery, noting the lines that deepen around his lips as he flattens them.
Kai looks down at me, a twinkle in his eye. Is he enjoying this? “Anyway, we better grab what we need and get going, babe.” Glancing back at Steven, he smirks. “Gotta stockpile so we don’t have to come out again for the rest of our trip.” He winks, his meaning more than clear as my cheeks turn pink, and memories of Kai earlier today without his shirt on mesh with how he looked in just a towel after his shower the other week.
Steven makes a somewhat disgusted noise and forces a tight smile, barely sparing me a glance as he mutters a goodbye, and we watch as he strides out the door.
It’s only when I hear a car leave the parking lot that my shoulders sag and I dare to take my first real breath since Steven first approached. As the earthy aroma of Kai’s aftershave fills my sinuses, I realize I’m still pressed up against him. Embarrassed, I take a step back. A cool chill runs along the back of my neck as his arm drops away, and I instantly miss his closeness.
It was just a show for Steven’s sake. Get it together,I chastise.
When I look up at Kai, the easy expression he was wearing has fallen away, his eyes narrowed on the door and lips pursed as he stares out into the parking lot. “We should go,” he says quietly, still staring out the shop’s front windows as if expecting Steven to turn around and come back.
“Do you think it’s him?”
At my question, he glances down, making an effort to smooth out the lines on his face. “I’m not sure. It’s definitely one hell of a coincidence if it’s not.”
We don’t hang around any longer. I put aside the unwanted snacks, my mood officially soured, while Kai pays for the gas and we climb back into the car. The entire time, we are careful not to make our movements appear rushed or panicked in case Steven is lurking nearby, watching.
It’s only when we’re safely within the confines of the car and Kai is steering us away from the garage that the reality of what just happened hits me and my hands begin to tremble.
“It’s him,” I croak.
“We don’t know that for sure,” Kai states, not taking his eyes off the road.
I scoff. “How can it not be? We’re in the backass of nowhere, and there is literally no one else around, yet he shows up in the same gas station as us?”
“What did he say to you before I arrived?” Kai asks, his hands flexing around the steering wheel. I repeat what little he told me about the band doing a concert in Kimeth. I’m still in a full-body tremble by the time I finish, and any calm I’d found today is long since gone.
