“Fine,” I reply, blunt. Then, softening. “I’m sorry for leaving you.”
She flinches and stills, the pestle frozen in her grip.
I tilt my head, studying her expression, but she won’t look at me as a new emotion brims.
Something warm andhot. Something dangerously close todesire.
“Oh,” I murmur, a slow smile forming as I hop down and catch her gaze. “Maybe I’m not sorry.” My grin deepens. “Maybe I deserve a thank you?”
“Shut up,” she snaps, now aggressively stirring.
I flinch, shocked, did Kacey just tell me toshut up?
I bark out a sharp, sudden laugh, leaning in close enough that she has to step back and look at me. “Wow, I like this Kacey. So, you and Amon, huh? Big guy took the first chance he got—”
“Not like we slept together or anything,” she fires right back, pointing the pestle at me. “Y’know, like someone. Someone who said they hated them, couldn’t stand to be near them, but the next thing I know, Ezekial’s in the atrium while you’re having a lovely nap with his brother and—”
“I need to thank Amon,” I interrupt as I stare at this fiery woman with new, appreciative eyes.
“What? Why?” She frowns, lowering the pestle.
“For releasing this spicy side of Kacey.” I gesture to her, smiling. “The side that doesn’t hold back. I want more of her.”
She blanches, then sets the mortar down and rubs her gloved hands together. “Sorry, that was… I don’t know. I’m just struggling with this. I’m not good with change.”
I step closer, careful to still give her space. “Hey, I deserved it. I was being insensitive, but you got me backgood.”
She lifts her wary gaze, a soft smile curving her lips. “You seem… better, J.”
And I feel it.
The last few weeks, I’ve felt like I was drowning. Suffocating. Everything felt murky, thick and so heavy.
But now, I feel… alive. Refreshed. Energised. I also feel something else, something I’ve been trying to ignore the second Kane flitted me here with two bags of food and then left.
The thing that made me set a meeting, even when I knew I shouldn’t.
Longing.
And hearing them all, each of their voices—together—even for the briefest moment… it’s only amplified. Turning the feeling into a knot, tightening with every movement, tugging at my skin, begging to be undone.
I don’t want to admit it, but maybe it’s safe enough to say in my mind, just to acknowledge that…
That I...
I’ve missed them.
I slam my face into my hands and groan so loudly Kacey’s feet leave the ground.
“I set up a meeting, K,” I groan into my palms. “Tonight.”
“And… how do you feel about that?”
Indecisive. Conflicted… excited.
Urgh.I hate that I’m excited to see them. That a rush of adrenaline fills me just at the thought.
I take a deep breath. “I have no idea. They were fighting, I could feel it and I just…” I just wanted to see them.
