Ten minutes before class started on Monday, Kai slid into the seat beside me.
“Hi.” Was I blushing? Fuck, I hoped not.
I was still feeling off-kilter after spending the weekend together. I liked him a lot. But how did he feel about me? He obviously liked me, but did he like me the way I liked him? Was I just another fuck buddy to him? That was his MO after all. And until Elissa and now him, that had been mine as well.
Sex with him was amazing, but so was hanging with him. He was an incredible person, so kind and thoughtful, and he got me in a way no one ever had. Not even Beck.
He made me happy, and he saw me. He knew how fucked up I was, and it hadn’t scared him away. That couldn’t last forever, but that didn’t stop me from wanting it.
Today was the last time we’d have a reason to see each other. We’d still have this class, of course, but once our presentation was done, our meetings would end. Well, after tonight.
But that was probably just a goodbye fuck. One more time before he moved on to the next person who caught his eye.
He put a bakery bag, an apple, and a protein bar on the desk attached to my chair, then reached into his bag and added a water bottle to the pile.
“What’s this?” I tamped down my excitement and tried not to read into the gesture.
“Breakfast and a snack for later so your blood sugar doesn’t drop when you get hungry.” He smiled, his gaze full of affection and fondness.
My heart skipped a beat. Fuck, why did he have to be so nice?
I’d spent all of yesterday gearing up for the big goodbye tonight, but this, this wasn’t sex motivated. This was him taking care of me. I liked it way too fucking much.
“Thanks,” I said thickly.
He winked and pulled a second bakery bag out of his book bag.
I slipped the apple, protein bar, and water away, then peeked in the bag. He’d gotten me a cinnamon roll.
“They’re from a bakery in town called Welsh’s. They make the most amazing pastries. These are my favorites, but their cream puffs are to die for. They literally melt in your mouth.”
“I’ve never heard of it.” I ripped off a piece of the roll. A flush of happiness shot through me as Kai did the same.
Jesus fuck, I needed to get a grip. I was getting all mushy over sharing breakfast with him. This was the same guy who’d had his dick in me multiple times, who’d made me beg him to come, but this was what made me all flustered and moon-eyed?
“It’s a local secret. We kinda like that students haven’t figured out it’s there. They’ve already taken over everything else in town. It’s nice to have a spot we can support and is just ours.”
“But you’re telling me?”
“You’re different. An honorary townie.” He grinned, and I smiled so widely my cheeks hurt.
We ate in silence, and I couldn’t help sneaking looks at Kai as he flipped through his cue cards. Mine were in my bag. I didn’t want to risk getting them all sticky, so I didn’t bother double-checking them. I’d prepared as much as I could for the presentation. Another few minutes wouldn’t make a difference at this point.
I’d just finished my breakfast when Professor Meyers came into the class and stepped up to his podium. Everyone fell silent.
“Good morning. Today we’ll have nine presentations.” He looked down at the papers in his hand. “Moray and Nesbitt. Alexander and Ellis.”
After he announced us, I tuned him out.
We weren’t first, which was a small mercy. Being second wasn’t the worst thing. The class would still be fresh, so they’d hopefully pay attention. One of the things we were being marked on, which was totally unfair, was how engaged we kept the class. Eight a.m. on a Monday morning was a shitty time to have to rely on our classmates being awake and paying attention to us.
As the first pair went to the front of the class to set up their slides, Kai shot me a little wink and a reassuring smile, then squeezed my thigh.
When he let go, my skin was hot. I took a chance and pressed my leg against his. He pushed back, the pressure reassuring and calming the last of my nerves. We had this.
The presentation was, for all intents and purposes, a success.
I wasn’t the extrovert everyone thought I was. I didn’t particularly like public speaking, but I’d learned that slipping into a persona and playing a part made things easier.
Only one student had been asleep at their desk, and while no one had been riveted, they’d been interested.
Kai was a natural, but that wasn’t exactly shocking.
He’d presented the material with the same confidence he had in his everyday life, and I’d noticed more than a few of the students checking him out.
The worst part of the class was sitting through the remaining seven presentations after we’d finished. The adrenaline drop from doing the presentation hit hard. I tried to look like I was paying attention to whatever was going on in the front of the room, but I spent the last few hours of class daydreaming and letting my mind wander.
“You did fucking amazing.” Kai grinned at me as we gathered our stuff at the end of class.
“Yeah?” Goddamn it. I was blushing again. Ugh.
Kai bumped my shoulder with his. “Yeah. Did you see Professor Meyers’s face? He was riveted.”
“I try not to look at people, or at least not focus on them while I’m presenting. I can do this dissociative stare thing where it looks like I’m making eye contact with someone, but I’m looking right through them.”
He pursed his lips, then shook it off and chuckled. “That’s a handy trick. I guess I’m used to making eye contact with crowds because of my job.”
I snickered as I pictured Kai doing a strip routine while presenting slides about censorship. I shouldered my bag.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just a funny mental picture of you dancing while we presented.”
He snorted. “Maybe I should try to work this into a routine at work. The frazzled office worker trying to spice up a presentation in front of the board.”
“I mean, it’s relatable.”
Kai nodded for me to follow him down the aisle. “What time is your next class?” he asked as we made our way toward the exit.
“In an hour.”
“Mine too. Want to grab a coffee?”
He wanted to get coffee with me?
“Um, yeah. Sure. I only had one cup this morning. I could use the caffeine boost.”
“Same. I don’t like to get too jacked up before a big project or test. I end up getting jittery and shaky, and it kills my concentration.”
“Same.”
I also had a nervous bladder, so coffee went right through me when I had to do a presentation or big test. He didn’t need to know that, though.
We hurried down the stairs and toward the main doors.
“Where’s your class?” he asked.
“In the engineering building.”
“Mine too.” He shot me a surprised look. “What is it?”
“Budget analysis. What about you?”
“Neuroethics. Want to hit the café in the lounge? It’s not great coffee, but it’s in the building, so we won’t have to rush.”
“Sure.”
We fell into step together.
Kai kept up a steady stream of small talk as we walked across campus. We didn’t talk about anything deep or meaningful, but just joking and shooting the shit was fun.
The line at the café was out the door, but that was typical. The staff worked fast, and they didn’t offer complicated drinks, so the line usually moved quickly.
“This is why I pick something up on my way to school,” Kai said as we got in line.
“Me too. There’s a really good coffee shop about ten minutes from the house. I usually grab something there.”
“I drive by at least three chain shops, but here’s another local secret.” He leaned in so his lips brushed my ear. “The best coffee in town is at Murphy’s Quik-Stop.”
His hot breath tickled my skin, and I shivered. “That sounds like a gas station,” I said, my voice breathy.
Kai grinned. “It is.”
“That’s… unusual.”
“That’s where I get the cinnamon rolls too. The actual bakery is way out of my way, but they deliver to a few businesses around town so I can get my carb and sugar fix while I grab my coffee.”
“Sounds like the perfect setup.”
The fact that he’d shared another local secret made me ridiculously happy. It was dumb to get giddy over something so simple, but it felt like more than just random conversation. Or that could just be my brain looking for something that wasn’t there.
“Kai!”
We both turned. A stunning blonde with long legs and a million-watt smile sauntered up to us.
“Hey, Darcy.” He gave her a lazy grin.
“I haven’t seen you around lately.” She pouted prettily and moved right into his space so her breasts were brushing his chest.
“Been busy.” He took a half step back, that grin still on his lips.
“There’s a party on Wednesday night at the house. It’s super exclusive.” She shot me an annoyed look, then went back to making mooneyes at Kai. “I can put you on the list.”
“Wish I could, but I’m insanely busy the next few weeks. I barely have time to sleep.”
She giggled and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “I know, right? But maybe you can make an exception and come on Wednesday? I’ll make it worth your while.” She added a little purr to her voice. A little flare of jealous anger flashed through me.
Fuck. I needed to get myself in check. I had zero claims on Kai. We were… I had no idea what the fuck we were, but he was free to hook up with all the sorority girls he wanted.
“It’s tempting.” He shifted the slightest bit closer to me, his arm brushing mine. “But like I said, I’m really busy.”
“Boo.” She pouted and stepped in front of me, putting herself between us.
Kai’s smile dropped off his face. “It was nice seeing you again, but we were actually in the middle of something.”
“But—”
Kai turned his attention to me, effectively dismissing her.
Warmth spread through my chest.
She glared between us for a few beats, then stalked off.
“An old friend?”
“Not really.” He smirked at me. “And before you drive yourself crazy, no, I never hooked up with her.”
“I wasn’t going to ask.”
“But you were wondering.”
“Maybe.”
“You’re cute when you’re jealous. Like an angry puppy.”
“Angry puppy?”
“Yeah. Like you’re trying to look all mean and growly, but it just comes across as adorable.”
“I don’t know how to take that.”
“It’s a compliment.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” I bit back my smile.
I didn’t understand what was happening. Was this a goodbye coffee? Or a celebratory one? In all the weeks we’d been working together, Kai had never indicated that he wanted to hang out on campus. But then again, I hadn’t exactly given off vibes that I’d wanted to spend time with him after class.
This weekend had changed things. But what did it mean?
“What do you want?” Kai asked. We were next in line.
“Just a large dark brew.” I pulled my wallet out of my back pocket. “I got it.”
“You sure? I like treating you.”
Jesus fuck, my face better not be as red as it felt. “Yeah. You got breakfast.”
He pressed his shoulder against mine. “Thanks.”
When it was our turn, we ordered our drinks, then loaded them up with lots of creamer and sugar at the little drink station.
“I should probably head up to class,” he said as we carried our drinks out of the café.
I glanced at the clock on the wall above the cash. Class started in ten minutes. “Me too.”
“Come over around six.” He turned his body so our chests were less than six inches apart.
“Okay.” I licked my bottom lip. His eyes tracked the movement, and a thrill shot through me.
“And bring your appetite.”
I nodded, my throat tight. Fuck. How the hell was I supposed to walk away from him when he was being so nice?
He winked, then stepped away and headed to the western side of the building.
My class was on the east side, and I made my way to the room half in a daze. I just had to make it through tonight. Then I could freak out and break down about another person getting sick of me.
At three minutes to six, I knocked on Kai’s door.
It swung open, and this time I wasn’t surprised to see Rain on the other side.
“Hi!” She waved, beaming at me. “Kai said you’re coming to have his birthday dinner with us.”
“Rain,” Kai called. “What have I told you about opening the door when I’m not with you?”
“You said not to. But it’s Alex. Alex is my friend too.” She grabbed my hand and tugged me inside.
I stepped into the hallway and closed the door. Kai hovered in the door to the kitchen.
“Why don’t you two go wash your hands? Dinner is almost ready.”
“Come on.” Rain pulled me down the hall, keeping up a steady stream of conversation.
We washed our hands. Then she yanked me into the small dining nook, still jabbering away about random topics. I answered her questions when I could, and I was glad she was filling the silence.
This was Kai’s birthday dinner? He’d told me he was doing a thing on the weekend and today was just another day.
Before I could get too far into my spiral of questions, Kai came out of the kitchen with two plates in his hands.
“Thanks.” Rain smiled brightly at him as he put one in front of her.
“Thanks,” I echoed, feeling a bit uncomfortable I was just sitting there while he did all the work. “Do you need help?”
“I’ve got it.” He shot me a secret smile.
He’d made spaghetti with meatballs. Rain was looking at the parmesan cheese pointedly.
“Do you need help with that?” I asked, more than a little off-kilter at the entire situation.
“Yes, please.”
“Tell me when.”
I shook the container over her bowl a few times.
“When.”
Kai came into the room with a plate in one hand and a jug of water in the other. He poured out two glasses of water for us.
“This looks really good,” I said.
Rain sipped her cup of milk. “Kai’s meatballs are the best.”
Kai picked up his fork.
I took that as my cue to start and did the same. “They are?”
“They are.” She stabbed a chunk of meatball. “Try them.”
I split one in half with my fork and took a bite. Flavor and spices erupted on my tongue. Shit, they were good. “Wow. These are amazing.”
Kai smiled, a flush high on his cheekbones. Was he flustered? At least that made two of us.
All during dinner, Rain kept the conversation flowing. She told me all about school and her friends, then launched into a detailed retelling of her favorite movie. It was nice.
I’d never really had family dinners. My parents hadn’t been around to care when or if I ate. My grandmother had made a point to have set dinner times, but I’d usually been working or busy, especially as I’d gotten older, so I was used to eating alone.
When we finished, I helped Kai clear the table while Rain ran into her room to get something.
“I hope you like chocolate.” Kai uncovered what looked like a cake tray.
On it sat three cupcakes.
“Big fan.”
He stepped closer and bent his head. The soft brush of his lips on mine settled the last of the nerves still fluttering around my stomach.
“Alex!” Rain shouted from the dining nook.
Kai turned back to the cupboards and pulled one open.
“What’s up?” I asked Rain.
She motioned for me to come closer, and I knelt next to her chair. “We have to sing to him,” she stage-whispered. “He always says I don’t have to, but I know he likes it.”
“Yeah, sure.” I nodded to the mess of crumpled paper on the table in front of her. “Is that for him?”
She nodded proudly. “I made it at school and wrapped it while he was cooking.”
“It looks amazing.”
“Thanks.” She beamed at me.
“Ready for dessert?” Kai asked from the doorway to the kitchen.
“Yes!” She pointed at my seat, and I sat.
He came out of the kitchen with the cupcakes and a small stack of plates. As soon as he’d passed them out, Rain gave me a pointed look and opened her mouth.
“Happy birthday…”
I joined in, loving how Kai got all flustered and blushed as we sang to him. I’d never seen him be anything other than cool and confident, so this little glimpse into his shy side was not only fun but fascinating too.
When we finished the song, Rain pushed her bundle of papers at him.
He took them and made a few comments about how beautiful the wrapping was. He peeled back the layers, revealing a small painted birdhouse.
“Thank you.” He held it up and examined it. “This is amazing. I love it.”
“I made it.” She bounced in her chair, a huge grin on her face. “Look, I put your name on it.”
Kai tilted the birdhouse so I could see his name scrawled on the roof with a big heart over the i and more hearts circling it.
“It’s gorgeous. Best gift ever.” He scooted out his chair and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks, pumpkin.”
She picked up her cupcake and took a big bite of icing.
We ate our cupcakes. Then Kai shooed me and Rain into the living room while he cleaned up. I felt a bit like a tool for not helping, especially considering it was his birthday, but he’d waved me off when I’d offered. Instead, I joined Rain and sat on the couch.
“Want to watch something funny?” Rain asked.
“Sure.”
She grabbed the remote off the coffee table, then climbed onto my lap. I held still as she settled her head on my shoulder and snuggled close. Her small frame was warm and comforting. She turned on the TV and navigated to Netflix.
She’d just cued up some kid’s show when Kai sat on the couch next to me.
I shot him a questioning look. Was he okay with Rain being on my lap? He smiled at us fondly and leaned back against the couch.
Rain started the show, but instead of staying quiet so I could watch, she kept up a running commentary. It was nice, and I tried not to get used to feeling like I belonged with them.
