“Sweet. I’ll try not to wake you when I head out.”
“Then I’d better do this while I can.” Vi ran over and hugged me. “I told all my friends about you, by the way. They hope you’ll come visit so they can meet you.”
“I’ll try.” I had no doubt Vi’s friends were cool and nice.
I could use more of that in my life.
Before bed, I packed and got everything ready to go. I fell asleep thinking about Kian, wondering if he’d look the same, if it would be weird after the kiss. The alarm on my phone went off at seven, and Vi didn’t stir. Taking my clothes, I snuck out with my bath supplies. After I showered, I dried off and dressed in the dorm bathroom, and then went back to the room to grab my bags. A quick check verified that I’d left nothing behind, so I slipped out for the last time.
My cell said it was 7:46, early, but no time for breakfast; that didn’t matter since I’d be home in ten seconds. I found the spot where he’d dropped me off and pushed into the quiet, leafy cathedral. At least that was how it felt to me with the sun shining through the leaves, all green-cast. It was silent and sacred, divorced from the other side of the hedge.
At precisely 8:00 a.m., Kian appeared. I’d convinced myself he couldn’t be everything I’d remembered.
He was.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEARTACHE IS
His dark hair fell over one eye. In the half-lighted forest, the copper streaks were muted. But his face retained the haunting beauty that made my chest hurt, like it was too much to look directly at him. I wondered if he ever tired of that; if he’d made the wish young and now he wished to be a little more ordinary. Otherwise, how could he be sure it wasn’t always his face people wanted and not who he was inside? Or maybe he didn’t care. What did I know about him, after all?
Kian made no allusion to the kiss, the smoking-hot, life-changing, why-doesn’t-he-do-it-again-right-now kiss. “Did you enjoy the SSP?”
“It rocked. I learned a lot. Made some new friends.”
“And got used to the new you?” That had been the point.
“I think so. It feels a bit more natural now.” I still wasn’t used to the way guys watched me, or how they tried to help me with things I was capable of doing myself.
“Then let’s get you home.”
My heart dropped a little in disappointment. “I have a couple of questions.”
You do? Really? My brain was surprised to hear that. But I couldn’t just let him dump me off. I hadn’t seen him in weeks; I wouldn’t see him until I was ready to ask for my next favor, and I had no idea when that would be.
“About the deal?” he asked in neutral tones.
“Of course.”
“Have you had breakfast?”
I shook my head.
“Let’s go, then.” To my surprise, he pushed out of the leaves.
I followed. “But this is business-related, can’t you hitch us somewhere?”
“I could, but every expenditure is tracked. I’d rather not risk running over my monthly power allotment when there are decent places to eat nearby.”
“You’re not the one hauling luggage,” I muttered.
“I am now.” He took my wheeled suitcase and backpack before I could protest. “Is this all you bought?”
“Yep. I’m a simple girl.”
“No, you’re not.”
I eyed him. “Like you know me.”
“Don’t you think we study a person before they reach extremis, Edie? I know exactly who you are … and what you’ve been through.”
A shiver went through me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Exposed, certainly, but there was warmth, too. With Kian, I didn’t have to pretend I wasn’t a screwed-up mess with a head full of payback plans. He understood. And I’d never face a moment like the one with Ryu, where I realized I was keeping the ugly bits hidden away.
“Okay, I take it back. Thanks for carrying my stuff.”
“Edie?”
Before turning, I recognized the voice. Ryu stood forty feet away, looking shocked. Kian and I weren’t touching, but he was carrying my luggage in a fairly purposeful way.
“Just a sec,” I said.
Jogging, I closed the distance between us. “What’s up?”
“Who’s that?”
Awkwardness jittered over me, making me shuffle my feet. Kian’s gaze bore into my back, but it was impossible to explain him in a way Ryu would understand. Our summer thing might’ve ended last night when we said good-bye, but I got how he felt. Sort of damn, it’s the next day … she didn’t like me at all. I didn’t want to leave him with that impression.
A few deep breaths allowed me to be cool, outwardly at least. Inner-Edie was banging her head on a wall. “Kian, my ride. You want to meet him?”
Ryu registered that and relaxed. “I’m on my way to the airport, but I have a minute.”
“Did you want to get breakfast with us?”
“I don’t have time for that … but thanks.” He was smiling now. Relieved, even though he didn’t want me to know it.
But factoring in this summer, I’d still spent more time watching people than talking to them. My school survival had depended on reading situations correctly and knowing when to get the hell out. I led him over to where Kian stood, waiting with one hand on the handle of my suitcase. His face gave more neutrality; his bearing radiated snow and Switzerland. Still, he waved, as if anything about this was normal.
“Ryu, Kian.”
They exchanged some kind of palm-slap, fist-bump thing. We made small talk for a few moments; Kian wasn’t rude, just … reserved. I couldn’t read him, and Ryu didn’t seem notice anything off. Soon, Ryu’s cab pulled up to the curb. He leaned down to kiss me good-bye—and I didn’t have to ask. I gave my response just enough warmth to send him off happy and he got in with a promise to e-mail me.
“Summer boyfriend?” Kian guessed, as the taxi pulled away.
“Yeah. I needed to date a nice guy before taking on the alpha assclown at Blackbriar.”
“Good call.”
“Why did you give me that T-shirt anyway?” I didn’t think he’d pretend not to know what I meant.
He tipped his head back, gazing up at the tangle of green leaves overhead. “My boss told me to.”
“Did he tell you why?”
“He said it would put you on the right path.”
“That’s cryptic. I was supposed to meet Ryu?” If I believed half of this bullshit, it could drive me crazy in short order. “Why does your boss care who I date?”
His eyes went flat. “There’s a café down the road, is that okay?”
He totally just changed the subject. He doesn’t want to talk about it. It was stupid, but a spark kindled inside me, racing through my veins with irresistible warmth. Though I knew perfectly well Kian meant to keep his mind on business, maybe I didn’t. Maybe I wouldn’t.
“Yeah, fine.”
Jeannine’s was nicer than an IHOP, but still reasonably priced, which made sense since they served the kind of food drunk students loved to eat and could afford. The sun was bright, the sky pure azure. I enjoyed the walk, though it passed in silence. I liked physical activity more now. The runs with Seth, three times a week, had given me a taste for it, and I’d keep it up after I got home. Along the way, I pondered why Kian’s employer cared about my social life.
Kian didn’t speak again until we settled into a booth. “You said you had questions?”
“Sure. Are you on the list of people your boss wants me to date?” Straight up, put yourself out there. But it wasn’t like I was totally exposed. As far as he knew, I might be asking out of intellectual curiosity.