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“I’d like to see you try, Kiwi,” he says. “If you could get close to me with a blade, I’ll let you do whatever the fuck you want to me.” My body hums at the challenge. But then a muffled thump sounds from the trunk, and I let out a sigh.
“We’ll play next time,” I mutter. “Got a rat to exterminate.” I knock on the trunk a few times, and before the words are fully out of my mouth, Riot is stalking away again.
I watch his retreating form for a few more seconds, then realize I’m on enemy territory and need to get the fuck out of here.
Hopping in the car, I keep the lights off as I drive through the dim forest until we reach the main road. Then I merge into traffic, and off we go back to California.
Kiwi
Somewhere down the road, my phone vibrates again. I’d forgotten to check it earlier. I lift my hips and pull it from my back pocket, the car swerving slightly. I sigh sharply through my nose when I see Kennedy’s name.
It’s not that I’m not excited to hear from her, it’s just that I don’t want to get yelled at after dealing with Riot. But if she’s calling, there’s a reason. Unease twists my gut as I answer.
“What’s wrong?” I say. More anxiety settles when she doesn’t immediately answer. I tighten my hold on the phone, trying to calm myself. “Kens, love. What’s wrong?” She hiccups and I push my brows together. “Kens?” I grip the wheel with one hand, my focus not on the road, but on her.
“Why’d you leave?” Her voice is slurred, and the unease fades and gives way to irritation. I don’t know why it bothers me that she’s drunk—maybe it's knowing last time she was, she slept with Archer.
I try to push that thought away.
“Are you drunk?”
“Alittlebit.” The words all run together, telling me just how drunk she really is. I’ve never heard her as anything other than borderline pissed off, so this is new. Her drunk voice is soft, more feminine and sweet, and it’s throwing me off.
“What’s going on? Why are you drunk?” I check the time on the dash, pinching my brows together again. “You’re supposed to be working tonight.” She giggles—actually fucking giggles—and my heart swells, my irritation fading.
“Spencer is on bartender duty,” she says. “Can you imagine him in a miniskirt?”
“I’d rather not,” I say dryly. “I’m a little busy here, babe. So—”
“Why’d you leave?” she asks again. I run my hand over my head, feeling overwhelmed. I knew I shouldn’t have come. I should’ve stayed in Santa Cruz where I could be there in case something like this happened.
Not that I ever thought this would fucking happen.
“I had to come hunt this guy down,” I say.
“No, why’d you leave?” She emphasizes the word, and I know she’s not talking about me leaving the state. She means why did I leave her.
“You told me to,” I say, and she hiccups again. I’d give fucking anything to see her right now. I’d never describe Kennedy as cute—she’s far too brutal to be cute—but right now, she’s fucking adorable. “I’m gonna FaceTime you.”
I don’t give her a choice, I just hit the video call button and wait for her to answer. She does immediately, her eyes glassy as she stares at the phone. She’s laying in bed, surrounded by her million pillows. I set the phone up on the dash, splitting my attention between her and the road.
“Hey, pretty girl,” I say. Her face turns bright red and I grin at her. She looks younger when she’s drunk. She’s not scowling, she’s smiling.
“Hi,” she says shyly. It does stupid shit to my heart, her soft voice and shy smile. It falls and a sad look crosses her face.
“Hey, don’t frown,” I say softly. “Smile for me, baby.” She bites her lip to keep from smiling, but it breaks and she gives me the biggest smile I’ve ever seen from her. “I like your smile. Prettiest smile I’ve ever seen.”
“Thanks.” She tucks her dark hair behind her ear, looking uncomfortable for probably the first time in her life. She gets that sad look again and I want to kill myself for being the one to make her sad. “I’m sorry, Kiwi.”
“Say my name,” I murmur.
“But you said—”
“I know what I said,” I say, interrupting her. “And I was a fucking idiot. Don’t call me Kiwi again.”
“Sir yes sir.” She does this weird mock-salute thing that looks more like she just slapped herself in the face and I bark a laugh.
“Say it, brat.” I lift my brow and she giggles again. It’s fucking weird to see her like this. I wish I was with her instead of a million miles away.
