“I made breakfast—well, I’m still making it. Sit down next to Brawley, and Ares will get you a coffee.”
Kayla takes a seat beside Brawley, and he glances at her once, then goes back to drinking his coffee. In Brawley language, that means he doesn’t hate her or mind that she is sitting close to him.
I somehow manage to find a clean mug for Kayla’s coffee, while dodging the chaotic mess.
“I’m sorry about the whole locked-door thing,” Kayla says.
“That’s not on you,” Brawley gruffs. “Vero knew what he was doing and dragged you along for the ride.”
“Still, I should have respected your boundaries.”
I turn back around to see Brawley nod.
Vero plates up the food as I finish pouring the coffee, and we place them both down in front of her. “Thanks,” she says. “This looks interesting.”
Vero smiles so fucking wide it might actually split his face open. “You know, next time I promise not to handcuff myself to you.”
Kayla coughs as she takes a sip of her coffee. “Next time...”
Vero nods enthusiastically as Brawley laughs, then drawls, “You didn’t think being friends with him could be a one and done, did you?”
Kayla turns her head to look at Brawley. “The friends part I was hoping would continue. But since you two are together, I figured fucking a woman was one of those things you did occasionally to spice things up.”
Vero laughs at Kayla, and she brings her attention back to him as he drawls, “Maybe you are more sweet and innocent thanI thought. You need to ride my man’s dick at least once. It’s fabulous.”
“I’m sure it’s great, but I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Clay clearly has an issue with me. And while fucking him once was fun, I am not stupid enough to actually want to die.”
“These are all things we can sort out later. Why don’t you try your food?”
I lean against the counter and watch as Vero tells her about everything he’s made. Kayla keeps up with him, and that isn’t something many people can do or even want to.
The front door opens and slams shut.
No one else comes here except Jess and Vesper. Though Vesper would not make that much noise—she likes the sneak attack of her presence. Jess appears in the kitchen and freezes when she sees Kayla sitting at the island.
“What the fuck is she doing here?”
Kayla looks up from whatever Vero was showing her, and recognition sparks in her eyes—somehow she knows Jess. “Small world,” is all Kayla says before looking back to Vero, dismissing Clay’s sister.
Jess does not like being dismissed, one thing she has in common with her brother, and she moves further into the kitchen. “You need to stay away from Kyle.”
Kayla sets down her fork and turns on her stool to face Jess. “And you are telling me this because you think I want that loser back?”
Jess scoffs. “I know you do. You show up at the bar and call him at all hours of the night. I think you need to get it through your head that he does not want you.”
You could hear a pin drop in the kitchen.
Vero is invested in the drama; Brawley is uninterested but keeps his eyes fixed on Vero. Clay appears in the doorway and steps behind Jess, and I study his face. He is listening withoutreacting; it’s interesting that he has nothing to say right now and is letting his sister lead.
Kayla sighs. “Does anyone know where my phone is?”
I reach into my pocket and hold it out to her. She takes it and unlocks it.
“Just so you know, I worked at The Pit before I met Kyle. Before you, he brought many other women in, trying to make me jealous. As for the calls, it is not me.”
Jess rolls her eyes, but Kayla holds out her phone. “His name is saved under Douchenugget. Look at our message history—check the call logs.”
Jess takes the phone and her face drops the more she scrolls. She looks up. “He told me you were obsessed with him.”
