I just nod. When the SUV finally stops in front of us, I guide Kit into the back seat first, sliding in after him. The door shuts, and for the first time tonight, it feels like I can breathe again.
I lift my hand in a brief wave as the SUV pulls away from the restaurant. My parents wave back, my mother still smiling brightly.Thank God that’s over.
Selina’s in our car now, already yawning as she curls up against the window, eyes drifting shut. Armen and Ray went with Lorraine in the other SUV, probably so they could debrief the chaotic night without me growling at them the whole ride.
Kit shifts beside me. I glance over just in time to see him unclick his seatbelt.
“What the fuck are you doing, Kit?” I frown.
He grins, a tipsy, mischievous little grin that makes my chest tighten, and reaches over to unplug my seatbelt too. I’m about to snap at him when he swings one leg over and straddles my lap, settling himself comfortably on top of me. I blink, momentarily stunned. The drunk idiot actually reaches behind me, grabs my seatbelt, and pulls it around both of us before clicking it back in.
I let out a disbelieving laugh. “I don’t think that’s gonna do much good like this, kitten.”
Kit doesn’t answer. He just gently rests his head against my chest, nuzzling in like he belongs here. I inhale slowly, then wrap my arms around him, one hand settlingon his back, the other cupping the back of his head. His body is warm and heavy against mine, the scent of his shampoo mixing with the faint trace of wine. I close my eyes. I can’t even deny it… this feels nice, really fucking nice.
The city lights blur past the windows as the SUV glides smoothly down the road. Selina is already softly snoring against the opposite window. Kit’s breathing evens out against my chest, content and relaxed in a way I rarely get to see. I press a slow kiss to the top of his head and hold him a little tighter.
Chapter Thirty-Three
~ Nighttime Interruptions ~
Soren
The middle of the night is shattered by the sudden whoosh of my covers being ripped away. Cold air hits my skin and my eyes snap open. The only light comes from the hallway, spilling across room where the door is now open.
I roll over, blinking groggily, and find Kit standing at the foot of the bed in nothing but his black boxers, my covers still clutched in his fist before he drops it dramatically onto the floor.
I groan, voice rough with sleep. “Kit… what are you doing? It’s the middle of the night.”
He sways slightly, clearly still drunk, and looks at me with genuine offense shining in his glassy eyes. “Youleftme,” he slurs.
I exhale slowly, dragging a hand down my face. “Kit, you’re drunk…”
“I knew you didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘love’,” he mutters, the words wobbly and heartbroken.
I frown, suddenly more awake. “Excuse me?”
What the fuck is this kid talking about? And are we seriously doing this at… I glance at the clock… three seventeen in the morning?
Before I can say anything else, Kit turns on his heel and sulks out of the room, bare feet slapping angrily against the hardwood as he heads downstairs.
“For fuck’s sake,” I mutter, swinging my legs off the bed.
I’m never letting him drink that much wine again, not if this is the chaos it creates. I grab my robe from the stool at the end of the bed and shrug it on, too tired to care that I’m barely dressed underneath.
I pad down the long staircase, dragging a hand through my messy hair as I follow the distant sound of running water echoing from the kitchen. The house is hushed and still around me, the kind of heavy silence that only exists in the middle of the night.
I find Kit hunched over the kitchen sink, splashing cold water on his face.
I walk up behind him quietly. “What are you doing, kitten?”
Kit turns the tap off and looks up at me through damp lashes, water dripping down his chin. He looks miserable. “Trying to cool down and not throw up,” he mumbles.
He sounds a little more coherent now, but the sad slump of his shoulders tugs at something deep in my chest.
I move past him without thinking, reaching up into the cupboard for a clean glass. Fill it with cold water, then grab a few ice cubes from the freezer and drop them in.
“Here,” I say gently, pressing the glass into his hand. “Small sips.”
