She smiled like that was the perfect compromise. Then I added, “Or… you could come with me.”
She laughed. “To sit through all those boring meetings? Absolutely not.”
Kennedi smacked her lips and looked at me like she was letting me in on a secret.
“She just wants to stay close so she can be FBI and stalk me.”
Kennedi laughed when she said it, but I caught the seriousness underneath.
Khloe rolled her eyes but never denied it, so I smiled, shaking my head.
Yeah. There was definitely some truth in that.
17
Khloe
I woke up to Kairo’s voice drifting in from the small sitting area attached to our bedroom. The barn door was cracked just enough to hear numbers and timelines. I didn’t have to see him to know that it was about a home. It was always about a home.
I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling, blinking through my blurred vision. I hadn’t really slept until I knew Kennedi was home. And even then, my body stayed alert with my mind refusing to shut down.
By the time Kendrix finally dropped her off, I was already three episodes deep into a new series that I couldn’t turn off. My alarm went off the next morning and Kairo told me to lay back down because Kendrix was taking her to school. I almost cried from relief. I was so exhausted that it felt like sleep couldn’t fix it either.
I stretched and reached for my phone, unplugging it from the charger. Stacks’ notifications were silenced since I didn’t needthem popping up while I was around Kairo. But when I unlocked my phone to check, they were always there.
6:10 a.m. –Good morning, Beautiful. Just sitting here working and thinking about you.
6:22 a.m. –Song for the day. “Good Girls” by Joe.
I smiled before I could stop myself. I tapped the link and let the music play. My lips curved into a big smile as I listened to the lyrics.
Why are all the good girls taken every time…
And why do I always keep falling for someone else’s dime…
I laughed quietly, shaking my head as heat rushed from my cheeks to other parts I didn’t want to admit. My mind ran with it. The intent behind the song wasn’t subtle, and neither was the way it made me feel. I felt seen and desired in a way that had nothing to do with titles or expectations.
I knew I was a good girl. I’d always been one. And the fact that he acknowledged it without asking me to be anything else made my heart race.
I was typing a reply when the barn door opened all the way. I turned the music off so fast before he could ask a question that would require me to come up with a lie.
Kairo crossed the room, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” I said, sitting up.
He stood there just staring at me. “What were you smiling about?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Just my group message with Niv and Rivah.”
The lie came easier than it should’ve. I didn’t even have to think about it. He didn’t question it. He just nodded and turnedtoward the bed, grabbing his suitcase from his side where everything he planned to pack was already laid out.
I rolled onto my side, watching him. “What time are you heading out?”
“Whenever Kendrix gets here,” he said. “My dad wants us all to ride together. You know saying no to him is against his rules.” He smirked. “Kross and Kordai are already complaining, so this should be interesting.”
“At least you’ll have fun with your brothers.”
“Yeah.” He zipped the suitcase after he packed everything in. “And Kennedi had all her bags when she left for school.”
