I glance at the other chair on this side of Kaladin’s desk, only now noticing there’s someone in it. My heart stops when I see Gray sitting there, looking as though she’d rather be anywhere else.
I whip my head back to Kaladin. “What is she doing here?”
Kaladin raises a brow at my demand, but I don’t back down. If he thinks he’s going to fire her because I can’t keep my head on straight, he’s got another thing coming.
“Why don’t you have a seat,” Kaladin says, gesturing to the empty chair next to me.
I glance at Gray, and she looks resigned.
We don’t know for sure why Kaladin wants to see us, though, so I sit down before I jump to any conclusions that might get us in trouble.
“I just wanted to check in with you both to see how things are going,” Kaladin says casually when we’re both seated. “We didn’t really have an opportunity to talk in depth the other night at the fundraiser.”
Gray and I look at each other. Neither of us is buying his nonchalance. We’re both here because I sucked tonight.
I open my mouth to speak, but Gray beats me to it.
“Mr. Gunnarsson and I are doing our best to find a solution that works for him,” she says cooly.
Kaladin nods slowly. “And do you have any idea when a solution might present itself?” he asks, tenting his fingers in front of him.
Gray cocks her head. “No. As I warned both him and your lawyers when I took on this project, Mr. Kaladin, an intervention for trash talk doesn’t yet exist, so it’s going to take some time to figure things out. You’re asking me to create something in months that often takes researchers years to develop.”
She looks and sounds every bit like a professor explaining to a student that all the information for the exam was in the study guide, so if he failed, it was his own damn fault. It’s so fucking hot, and I have to talk my dick down so I don’t go full mast in the middle of Kaladin’s office. I hope Gray feels better, because I need to be inside her when we get home.
I look at Kaladin and catch the brief look of surprise on his face at her reproach before he schools his expression.
“I see,” Kaladin says, “Anything to add, Mr. Gunnarsson?” he turns to me, and I have to wipe away the smirk that’s been slinking up my lips.
“I know my play tonight doesn’t reflect it,” I say seriously, “but we’ve made progress. Gra-…uh, Dr. Mackey has figured out why the trash talk gets under my skin, and we’ve been working on ways to help me ignore it, but it’s been hit or miss.”
Kaladin nods again slowly.
“Actually, I was able to pretty much ignore it all tonight,” I say, filling the silence. “I was distracted because of a personal matter, but I feel like we’re getting there.”
Kaladin’s gaze jumps between me and Gray, but I don’t dare look at her for fear he’ll see more than he needs to see between us.
“And how are the two of you getting along?” he asks. “How is the… fake relationship going?”
It takes everything I have not to react. I swear there’s a knowing look on Kaladin’s face, and that’s a good indication we’re fucked.
I shrug as indifferently as I can. “We’re fine. Dr. Mackey is a great teacher, and she knows her stuff. I’m in good hands.”
I didn’t mean to say the last part like that, and I see Gray shift in her seat out of the corner of my eye. I keep my eyes fixed on Kaladin, who looks between us again.
“So you’re not sleeping together then?” Kaladin asks, and I’m sure the color must drain from my face.
Gray handles the accusation far better. “Excuse me?” she says, and she’s either genuinely indignant Kaladin would ask such a thing, or she’s an amazing actress.
Kaladin turns his attention to her. “No offense meant, Dr. Mackey,” he says calmly. “I’ve just been hearing some interesting rumors, and I’m trying to determine their veracity. For instance, word has it you spent the night at Mr. Gunnarsson’s house last night.”
How the fuck does he know that? Maybe Gray was right, and he is having us followed.
Gray’s eyes widen and her mouth drops open. Her gaze darts to me, and I give her a look that hopefully says, ‘Trust me.’
The truth is about to set us free.
“She did spend the night at my place last night,” I tell Kaladin. “Someone broke into Dr. Mackey’s house a while ago, and she was afraid to be alone, so I invited her to stay with me for a while until things get sorted out.”
