"Why not?"Gemma asks, brows raised.
Kayla shrugs."You guys seem kind of out of my league.I have not made many friends here.My best friend and I grew up next door, and she recently got married and wasn't interested in getting her major like we had planned, so it's been lonely.
"And yet here you are," Summer says, grinning."So, tell us, do you have someone special?"
"I didn't bring her for you guys to grill her!"I say, trying to redirect the conversation.
Kayla hesitates.Then, quietly, she says, "It's okay.There's someone I like, but...it's complicated."
Gemma leans forward."Ooh.Complicated is our specialty.Give us a hint."
Kayla fidgets with her water glass."He's older.Like...significantly older."
I raise a brow."How much older?"
"Like...more than a decade."
Summer and I glance at each other and laugh.
"Girl," Summer says."We know the feeling."
Kayla's eyes widen."Wait, really?"
"You're in good company.You know my story," I assure her.
"And this girl here?"Gemma points to Summer."My best friend growing up, and she is now married to my dad."
Kayla's jaw drops.
"That one," I point to Gemma."Is engaged to a guy a decade older than her."
"So, you guys get it.I haven't even seen him in a while," Kayla admits."School got busy, and the last time I went to the Club was over two years ago.Not that he ever gave me the time of day."
Gemma's fork stops mid-air."The Club?"
Kayla's eyes go wide like she hadn't meant to say that, and she blushes bright red."Club Red.I used to go back when things were different."
"Girl!You were meant to be our friend!Gemma's fiancé owns Club Red.Summer met her husband there, and I met Gage there!"I laugh.
"Really?I took my best friend, Emma, there, and that's when she met her husband, Zion, her ex's brother of all things," Kayla says, coming out of her shell.
"I met Zion and Emma at the Christmas party last year," Gemma nods.
Gemma sets down her fork."Now you really have to spill."
Kayla blushes, but there's mischief in her eyes now."Okay, fine.I went to the Club a lot and took Emma and everything.It kind of woke something up in me.I realized I wasn't just into the surface-level stuff.I wanted more.Power, submission, control, but only with someone I trusted."
I nod, completely understanding.
"Alright, who's the guy?"Gemma presses.
Kayla bites her lip."You have to promise not to judge."
"Never," we say in unison.
She takes a breath."It's my ex's dad."
Our jaws drop at the same time.
