“Peque,” Kaia deadpanned. “Because you’re—Ash!” She broke into hysterics as I ran my fingers along her ribs. “Stop!”
“You’ve got a jacket on.” I tickled her again. “No way you feel that. Liar.”
She snorted, seizing my wrists. “Would you rather I ditched the jacket?”
Hell, yes. Or—hell no. I didn’t trust myself when she was wrapped in layers, let alone if she wasn’t. An image of her in that black top from the club flashed through my mind—followed by one of her naked—and my guard slipped. Long enough for her to tackle me into the sand, sliding her hands under my hoodie as she climbed on top of me.
Her fingers danced along my sides, and I grinned. “Yeah. Just like that. Feels so fucking good.”
She slapped my chest, gasping. “You’re awful!”
“I’m not ticklish there, peque. Sorry to disappoint.”
Her concentrated pout was too damn cute. I traced her bottom lip with my thumb. “Want me to fake it?”
She narrowed her eyes, and I shook with laughter. God, this was amazing. I hadn’t had this much fun in forever.
“It’s sad if you need to fake,” she said.
I bent my knees, sliding her forward an inch. Having her on top of me was a terrible idea, but I was a fucking masochist. “It’d be sad ifyoufaked, peque. Good thing you’ll never have to do that with me.”
Kaia’s lips parted, pupils darkening.Fuck.Panic seized me, heart hammering. I eased her off my lap and sat upright.
I shouldn’t have said that. Not because I didn’t mean it—because I did.
***
After the beach, I took Kaia to a cozy diner Ale had recommended. Dark red leather booths lined the walls, and pop music hummed softly overhead.
“It’s too much food,” she said, eyeing the plates of steak, potatoes, and grilled vegetables spread between us.
I picked up my knife. “Didn’t you say you’re always starving after a day outside?”
“Yeah, but. . .” She sighed. “Thank you. For this and the beach.”
“Stop it, peque.” She had nothing to thank me for. I’d loved every second of the beach with her, and there was no way I’d let her go hungry. It was the bare minimum—and it was fucking sad she wasn’t used to being cared for.
Kaia dug in. I found myself grinning, watching her savor each bite.
“What?” she asked.
“Thinking about ordering more.”
She lowered her fork. “I really hope you’re kidding.”
“Maybe, unless you’re hungry when the food is gone.” I took a sip of water. “Studying takes fuel, and you’ve been doing a lot of that.”
Kaia pushed a strip of grilled pepper around her plate. “Unfortunately, with zero results.”
I arched a brow.
She sighed. “This is embarrassing.”
“I doubt it.”
She leaned back in the booth. “I’m still a junior. After Mom died, everything was too much. I went to class but couldn’t focus. I had to repeat eighth grade. That’s why my father’s so strict. He thinks I would’ve passed if I’d just studied harder. But I don’t think I’m smart enough.”
It hurt like hell hearing her talk about herself that way. “You were grieving,” I said. “Your father can’t expect you to carry on like nothing happened. I know what that feels like, remember? Some days I couldn’teven get out of bed. If it hadn’t been for Grandma, I wouldn’t have graduated.”
