“Do I smell bacon?” Kas asks, cutting through the tension building in the room.
Her voice has goosebumps erupting across my skin. I’ve not even seen her and she’s affecting me in ways she shouldn’t.
“Yeah, I brought bacon sandwiches.”
Zach’s eyes soften as she must appear behind me, but I fight my need to turn and look at her. I’m already scared of what I’ll find after walking out on her like I did earlier.
“Let me just get dressed and I’m there. Coffee, too?”
“I’m on it,” I say, pushing from the sofa, glad of something to be able to do to try to rid myself of the nervous energy racing though me.
“She looks so pale,” Zach comments once the sound of her door shutting signals that she’s no longer in hearing distance.
“What did you expect? That fucker was going to…” I trail off. Neither of us need it spelled out.
“I know. I know. I was just…”
“Hoping it wouldn’t affect her. I’m not sure that’s possible, Zach. She might be strong, but even the hardest have limits.”
He’s nodding when I glance over, but his eyes are trained on the coffee table.
“Cruz’s guys cleared the place after we left. Everything is sorted.”
Shit, I hadn’t even considered the evidence and dead bodies we left behind. What the hell is my life turning into?
The biggest thing to ever happen to me was when she… Nope. I shake my head, locking down any thoughts of that time in my life.
“That’s… uh… good.” I guess.
I’m sitting down with three fresh coffees when Kas’ bedroom door opens and she emerges. This time I’m unable to keep my eyes averted and I glance up at her.
She’s dressed in an oversized hoodie, her curvy legs bare and sticking out the bottom. Her hair hangs still wet around her shoulders, her face clear of makeup, but it’s the redness to her eyes that makes my breath catch.
She’s been crying.
“Hey,” she says to Zach, totally ignoring that I’m in the room and walking over to him.
She drops down on the sofa beside him and accepts his embrace when he lifts his arm for her.
I watch them, feeling like I’m intruding when he drops his lips to the top of her head.
“How are you holding up?”
“I’ll be okay.”
My fists clench at her words. It’s her answer for everything, and knowing that the people of her past have clearly accepted it pisses me off.
Has she ever had anyone looking out for her?
“Thanks for this,” she says, reaching forward for the bacon sandwich.
“So, I was thinking. If you’re up for it, you should come to the studio with Spike this afternoon. Get your training started.” I don’t miss the warning glance he shoots me. He’s not happy about this, and I’m sure now he’s really regretting his decision to allow me to mentor her.
“Yeah?” she asks, her usual spark returning to her eyes at the thought.
“Yeah. There’s no point in you hiding here now, so you may as well make a start at your new life.”
She swallows nervously. “You still want me, even though you didn’t end up paying off my debt? At least, not with money, anyway.”
“Kas, the money had fuck all to do with it. I’d have willingly paid that and more to keep you safe. You’ve got a talent and need a decent job. It’s the perfect solution to getting back on your feet. And now all that is over with, I’ll start looking for a place for you to live.”
I half-choke on the mouthful of coffee I’d just swallowed, ensuring both of them turn their eyes on me.
“Sorry, wrong hole. Kas is fine staying here for as long as she needs.”
Both sets of eyes narrow, but for very different reasons.
“I appreciate that, Spike, but I think it will be good for Kas to have some space to figure out what she wants from life.” His words are sharp, making it impossible for me to miss his hidden meaning.
I look to Kas to find her lips pursed in frustration.
“I’m sitting right here. I can speak for myself, you know,” she snaps at Zach. I almost smile at hearing her usual fire returning.
“You want to stay here?” he asks.
“Well…” Kas flicks a look at me, but the hardness in her eyes doesn’t fill me with joy. “No, but I’d like to be able to make the decision myself.”
“No?” I ask, disbelief dripping from that one word.
She shakes her head at me, I assume trying to tell me that we’ll speak about this later, but it’s too late. I’m already pissed beyond belief.
“Fuck this, Kas. You don’t want to be here, you know where the fucking door is,” I bark, standing from the sofa and swiping my keys, phone and wallet from the counter and storming to the front door.
In hindsight, I probably gave away too much about how I’m feeling about my new housemate and confirming Zach’s suspicions, but the anger that’s burning in my belly doesn’t give a shit.
I run down the stairs, the red haze descending faster than I should allow. I’ve done everything for her this past week, and she can just forget it all that easily at the mention of Zach finding her a new place to live. Well, fuck her.
Fuck. Her.
“Good morning,” Louisa sings the second my foot hits the ground floor.
I have to give her a double-take when I look up. She looks good. Really good.
“M-morning,” I grunt.
“You look like you could use a coffee. Is everything okay?”
I glance behind me, thinking about the two people I just left up in my flat as I consider her question.
“Yeah, everything’s fine.”
I might be frustrated with Kas’ answer, but I think we all know it was the right one. The longer she’s in my flat, the more I’m going to cave to temptation. The more I’m going to betray one of my best friends.
“Really? Want to talk
