I blurt out a laugh. “I want that too.”
Kai lowers his head, grazes over my mouth with his heated breath, then presses a long, lingering kiss to my lips. I can’t help but return it with an eagerness of my own.
“I love you, Nikki,” he says against my mouth.
“I love you too.”
I’m not sure how long we kiss here, hidden in the no parking zone, but suddenly we hear Colt over the extended intercom set—the speakers that play loud and proud over the parking lot and every inch of the school grounds.
“The countdown is on. In just ninety seconds, we’ll tear open the gates, one at a time, and see just which contestants—if any—will join us here at Tucson High’s happening stadium tonight. Count down with me, crowd. And you at home in join too!”
Colt begins counting backward from ninety. A faint echo of the crowd comes through as well.
“Should I go to my side, and you go to yours?” I ask.
But Kai only shakes his head. “I’ve got a better idea.”
Chapter Ten
Day-liverance
It’smy third case of déjà vu in just two weeks: the lights, the crowd, the excitement in the stadium beyond the double gates where we wait. There’s even a paper banner at the base of the entrance, just like the time Kai carried me onto the field and asked me to the dance.
Best of all, I’m cradled in Kai’s muscular arms as the countdown continues.
We opted to come in onhisside, mainly because we didn’t make it to mine in time for the countdown to end. We were, however, close enough to hear the collective moan when I failed to appear on cue.
Colt Findley eased the tension with one of his stupid jokes.“No worry, folks. Nikki probably caught wind of a sale on one of those floral jumpsuits. Let’s just hope she didn’t get picked upbythe wind while wearing the thing. Then again, if she did, she may just float up and over the crowd and right onto the field whether she wills it or not. Let’s keep our fingers crossed, shall we?”
A random memory pops into my mind as Kai and I wait. “Hey, why were you being so cold when you came to help me carry my suitcase?” I ask over the commotion.
Kai’s face scrunches. “What do you mean?”
“On the final day when we had to put our cases by the front door,” I remind.
“Oh.” He nods. “Colt said no communicating. The contract said if I break the rules, I’d jeopardize your compensation as well as mine. But it was yours I was worried about.” He winks.
Ofcourse,Kai read the contract; he’s a law student. “So you weren’t upset or changing your mind?” I ask.
He shakes his head and chuckles. “No. Just trying to keep my hands off you. Something that’s easier to do when I keep myeyesoff you too.”
A spot of warmth flutters in my chest.
“But I don’t have to keep my eyesorhands off you now.” Kai buries his face in my hair, then slides the tip of his nose along my earlobe. “You look beautiful, by the way,” he adds, his hot breath raising goosebumps on my skin. “I can’t wait to have you back in my life.” He presses a trail of kisses along the side of my neck, making me want to abandon the appearance altogether and kiss Kai until morning comes.
The countdown carries on, nearing the end now.“Ten. Nine. Eight.”
I move my lips to Kai’s ear. “I can’t wait to have you back in my life too.”
I pull back in time to see a broad smile on his face.
“Two! One!”
The gate bursts open.
“Ready?” Kai asks.
I tighten my grip around his neck and curl into him. “Yes.”
