“You sure?”
I freed myself and yanked the door open. “Sí. Gracias. See you tomorrow.”
Ale waited while I unlocked the gates with my card. As soon as I stepped onto the driveway, the Lexus’s engine rumbled back to life.
I let myself into the house. It was silent at almost eleven. My mother must’ve gone out, and relief washed through me at the thought of being alone.
Kicking off my shoes and sliding them onto the rack, I caught the faint shuffle of movement. I followed the sound to the kitchen and froze in the arched doorway. Despite the cold outside, the air felt hot and thick. My heartbeat skittered the way it always did before a race.
Kaia sat at the table in a tiny gray T-shirt that barely brushed her ribs and black shorts clinging to her curves.
She highlighted something in a notebook with a focused frown, then set the pink marker aside and rubbed her forehead. I needed to let her know I was here before she caught me staring like a creep.
“Hi,” I said.
Her head snapped up, eyes wide. “Asher. I didn’t think you’d be home so early.”
I leaned my forearm on the doorframe. “It’s almost eleven. What are you doing up?”
Kaia snorted. “Isn’t it obvious? Having the time of my life studying for the PSATs.” She yawned and stretched, the gray shirt riding up another inch, baring skin so smooth I wanted to touch it.
I looked away fast. Shit. What the fuck was I thinking? She was…
Beautiful. Smart. Funny.
Russell’s daughter.
“How was the presentation with the team?”
I cleared my throat, forcing my focus onto Kaia’s words instead of the thoughts I couldn’t afford. “Good. How’s studying?”
She shut her textbook with a sigh. “Could be better. I don’t think I’m made for math. Do you know when my father will be home?”
“No clue. Why?”
She scooped up her highlighters and shoved them into a case. “I need to talk to him. Grill&Goasked me to work an extra shift tomorrow. If I don’t text Cynthia in the morning, she’ll give it to someone else.”
“You work?” She hadn’t mentioned a job when we ate cake in her room, and my mother hadn’t either. Then again, we rarely talked about anything real.
“Why so surprised?” Kaia asked, stacking books and notebooks “I’m saving for a car. I’m fed up with relying on your mom to drive me. No offense.”
I pushed off the door and crossed to the table. “Nothing to be offended by,” I said, sitting across from her. “Can’t your father just buy you a car?”
Her scoff told me exactly what she thought of that.
She tugged out her ponytail, sliding the elastic onto her wrist. Silky hair spilled over her slim shoulders, the watermelon scent drifting across the table. Same shampoo she’d used when we were kids.
“He could, but he won’t. Even if he did, it’d mean he could take it away whenever he wanted. If I pay for it, it’s mine. Your mom says she doesn’t mind driving me, but I know she’d rather do anything else. She went out with a friend tonight, in case you’re wondering where she is.”
I wasn’t. Not really. We’d barely spoken since I got here—too busy, too different. Five years apart made living together awkward. We weren’t the same people anymore. She might want to fix things, but they’d never go back to how they were before Dad died.
I started to tell Kaia some version of that, but the front door opened. Resolute footsteps echoed in the foyer.
Kaia stiffened as Russell filled the doorway. “If you’re still up, it better be because you’re studying,” he said, gaze cutting from her to me. His cold eyes lingered as if he’d caught me doing something far worse than talking to his daughter.
“Iwasstudying,” Kaia said, her voice small. “I was also waiting for you. Cynthia told me they need someone for the evening shift tomorrow. I’d like to take it.”
Russell folded his arms across his chest. “I’d like you to have better grades, but wanting something isn’t enough. Should I remind you of your priorities? Last year’s results were embarrassing. Working when you’re lucky enough to have everything you need is a waste of time.”
