My mouth drops open. “Excuse me?” I blink, stunned. “I—That’s—Bonds don’t have to be about attraction. They can be platonic.”
“They helped me, J. Knowing they had nothing to gain. I was nothing to them—no bond, no leverage. Don’t you get it?” she says, raising her brows. “Also, I know your bond isn’t platonic because I’veseenthe way Zeek looks at you.”
Now I feel uncomfortable. I shift back on the sofa. “You’ve seen us together twice.”
“And I’ve known him for almost five years and I’ve never seen him look at anyone like that.” She smiles smugly. I peer away. “Do you think Amon is attractive?”
I scowl at her. “Why are you asking me that?”
She shrugs. “Just answer it.”
I frown. “I mean, he’s a good-looking guy, I didn’t realise you were so vain, Kacey.”
She blows out her lips. “That’s not why I asked and you know it.” Then settles her stare on me. “I’ve never seen Amon before, never seen any man like him to be honest... but it’s like someone took every fantasy I never knew I had and compiled it into one man. I mean, how is that even possible? Even thinking about him now, I feel like I’m—”
“Okay, time for sharing is over.”
She laughs but listens, stopping for a moment. “You know it’s the same for you. You know it’s the same for them.”
“You can’t know that.”
“Well, ask them.”
“What?” I scoff. “I’m not talking to them, remember?”
“Maybe you should?” She gives me a soft smile. “They’re desperate, J. You could ask them anything right now and they’d answer. Anything.”
“You know, the second time I met them, they forced me to take a truth serum? Kane even threatened to torture my friend, in front of me, if I didn’t.” Kacey’s eyes started going wide at ‘forced’, they widened at ‘truth serum’ and now I’ve finished with ‘torture’, they look about ready to pop out. “But I’m just expectedto trust that they won’t lie again? Forgive them? Give them another chance?”
When her eyes finally return to their normal shape, she grimaces.
“I mean, that is… that was really messed up of them.” I pull a ‘you think?’ expression. “But, yes?” She flinches back when my eyes slide into slits. “Not trust them, but just… just see what they have to say? They know they messed up and they know this is their second chance.”
I deliver a stern glare, and she corrects herself. “Theironlychance. So tomorrow, why don’t you just try speaking to Kane?”
I begin shaking my head but she continues regardless. “I’m not saying you need to have a full-blown interview with him, but if you could ask him anything, why not? Maybe things you know he would never answer before? Things you know he won’t want to answer. You could use this as a test... Test him.”
I hate to admit it, but the idea of putting Kane into an uncomfortable situation, firing personal questions relentlessly at him, conjures a pleasing image.
“And if I don’t like his answers?” I push.
She shrugs, chewing on her lower lip. “At least you’ll know it’s the truth.”
I study Kacey, this nervous ball of a woman doing her best to persuade me, not manipulate or force, even after how I behaved before… at the mere thought of her feeling something for my b—them.
“I’m sorry, K.” My gaze flickers away for a moment. “Before when I—I just… I can’t even explain the way I reacted, why I did that. I was just so… I lost control. My emotions are all over the place, all the time, and sometimes I just feel like I’m goingcrazy…” I slowly inhale. Exhale. “I’m sorry. It shouldn’t have happened.”
“I’m sorry for not thinking about what I was saying and—” She points to herself. “—expert at losing control, right here!”
I pull my lips in to stop myself from smiling, but she notices, and her body relaxes further into her seat.
“And I’m so sorry,” she says, voice quiet. “For not telling you sooner. About my relationship with the guys, about the texts, the phone call—”
My brows furrow. “What phone call?”
Kacey’s eyes widen, her lips part. “Please, don’t bring back the fire and I’ll explain.”
I swallow, running my tongue along the inside of my teeth, waiting for her to speak.
