I rolled my eyes. “Oh hush. You know I’d rather be stuck with you any day. I just felt bad that we were uneven.”
I loved my friends, I really did, but at the end of the day, it was Kaia who I wanted to come home to. Kaia I wanted to share my thoughts with. The good and the bad. It was Kaia who made me feel stronger than I told myself I was sometimes.
“That was so much fun. We have to come back here,” Kaia said when the kart stopped. We were waiting for our turn to park and safely get out of our kart.
I nodded, but words left my thoughts as she dropped her hands and they lightly grazed mine as I brought them up to respond. I looked down where her hands rested and realized just how close we were sitting.
Our thighs brushed against each other and when she laid her hands on her legs, part of them touched mine. I wasn’t sure if she was aware that her fingers were moving against my skin, so delicately and barely there. My breath caught at the sensation, but I couldn’t move.
I looked up to see her looking down at where our legs and her hand touched. The movements stopped, and she looked at me with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. She quickly looked away and the kart moved, as it was our turn. And just like that, the moment was over.
Neither of us said anything about it, and we all rotated driving partners and went one more round.
I drove Remy, and it was a mistake. I realized that the second we stopped the kart. “Hey, are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. I’m fine. Why?”
She furrowed her brows at my lie. After Kaia, I was the closest with Remy out of the three of them. I’d known her the longest, and she could usually read through my bullshit. Kaia could, too, but she was more subtle about it.
“For one, you were white-knuckling the steering wheel the entire ride. And for two, you’re staring holes into the back of Kaia’s head. Did something happen between you two?”
I groaned, shaking my head. “I don’t think so. We were just sitting too close, that’s all.”
“You know I can see the blush in your cheeks, right? Something happened. Did she finger you in line? That’s so hot!”
I gasped,lowering her hands. “Oh my God! Will you shut up! No, we did not… do that. How many times do I have to tell you we are just friends? Besides, I would never do that in public! Everything’s fine. Drop it!”
She put up her hands in surrender and apologized. Luckily, we were instructed to move forward, so there was no more time for talking.
“Okay, I’m done going in circles. Anyone up for a drink?” I asked the group when we all gathered at the end of the go-kart exit.
“That sounds good. The first round is on me,” Kaia answered first.
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I’ve got you.” I couldn’t help but mirror her smile.
After a few seconds of staring at each other, I blinked, bringing myself back to the present. What the hell was wrong with me?
“How sweet. Let’s go.” Remy smirked, and I wanted to kick her, but decided against violence. I shook my head, pulling my thoughts together as we walked to the bar.
There were five seats perfectly next to each other at the bar, so we decided to sit there. Remy sat first, followed by Cora and Emma, leaving two empty bar stools for me and Kaia.
Remy ordered the first two rounds of lemon drop shots. She tried to order the next one, but Kaia held her own and refused to let her pay for everything. I was in awe of her and didn’t hide it.
“Wow, someone who doesn’t take your shit? I’m impressed.” Emma said, grinning.
Remy rolled her eyes with a smile. “Me, too, honestly. You win this round, Kaia.”
We all talked and drank until our bodies started feeling warm. I stopped after two shots, so I had plenty of time before we left to sober up. I made sure to order a huge burger as well. I never drank without eating something.
Kaia, however, was really enjoying herself. She was about three shots in, ordering her fourth, and when I asked her if she was going to eat anything, she just shrugged. I ordered a plate of fries and planned to force her to eat some. I didn’t want her throwing up later.
I was glad she was having fun, and I wasn’t about to say anything to her. She’d been through a lot recently, and if she wanted to have a goodtime and get drunk with friends, she was in a safe space to do so. I’d sit back and take care of her when the time came. She’d been drunk once or twice, so I knew how she got. She wasn’t going to run around naked or end up in some stranger’s bed.
I froze when she put her hand on my leg, the touch burning into my skin.
“Wow, your skin is so soft.” She moved her hand up and down on my thigh. I really wished I had work jeans or thick pants. The closer she got to my inner thigh, the more I had to force my legs to stay closed.
“Yeah, I guess it is,” I replied.
