“Does that motherfucker ever?”
“Always. I told him I’d prefer not to let the people who raised me know that I know they aren’t my biological parents. They’ve been so good to me. I can’t do that to them.”
They smoked in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the flick of his lighter whenever the joint went out. Kaia thought about telling Jana she needed to put herself first at some point, then dismissed it, too much in a zone to give a shit.
All Kaia’s stress melted away. Calm settled into him and left him floating. They looked at each other and giggled like little kids.
She slid her fingers over his bald head and he shivered, hyper aware of her touch, breathing in her scent.
“What happened to all your pretty hair?”
“I shaved it.”
“You should’ve asked me and I would’ve begged you not to do it.”
“It was either that or look like a jackass after what Axel did to me,” he said, and told her.
Her hands flew to her mouth and she gasped. “Your eyebrowsaregone!”
“You didn’t notice?” he asked, roaring with laughter.
She chuckled, happy and carefree. “Nope, but they are really gone.”
“Completely,” he agreed.
“Oh, you poor guy.”
“My hair and my brows will grow back. I wanted to try a new style. The choice was made for me, so it was meant to be,” he said philosophically.
“What a perfect way to look at things, especially bad stuff.”
“There’s more bad in life, than good. You just learn to appreciate the good times to get you through the shitty days.”
“Before I met Diesel, I didn’t have many good days,” she said gravely.
“What the fuck kind of a life did you have ifthatmotherfucker gave you better days?”
“Stop,” she said, giggling. “Don’t be mean. I love him.”
So she kept saying. Over and over again. “Fuck, Jana, you need a hobby. That’ll give you something new to say.”
Her amusement fled and her face fell. “You’re being mean to me now?”
Kaia heaved in a breath. He’d never dealt with a girl with so little self-esteem as Jana. He wasn’t sure the right thing to say. Besides, rushing to her rescue when she was sad or lonely might’ve brought out his protective instincts, but her complete disinterest in bettering herself was tiring.
He turned to her and glided his fingers through her hair. “What are you doing the rest of the evening?”
“Are you leaving?”
“In a little bit. I just intended to drop off the joint and then get back to the house.” He twisted some of her hair around his index finger. “I definitely shouldn’t be in here with you barely dressed.”
She smiled at him. “Does flower make you want pussy?”
He held in a groan. “I can’t fucking answer that.”
“Because of Diesel?”
Fuck Diesel. It would serve that motherfucker right if Kaiadidfuck Jana. Always so fucking arrogant, thinking Kaia didn’t deserve fuck all. “No,” he snapped, sharper than he meant. “It’s because of Rebel.”
