Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
4
RUBY
“Thanks for trying to solve my Insomnia Rubik’s Cube, Ruby Duby,” Kendrick says as we step into the hotel elevator. I’m riding his back, piggyback-style, so he’s got to be the one to press the button for our floor.
“Cuddling with you is going to be a special kind of torture,” I deadpan. “But that’s the kind of friend I am. I’m a saint.”
“No, you’re a gem.”
It’s what Kendrick always calls me. His gem of a best friend.
“If it turns out your theory is wrong,” Kendrick says, “feel free to ditch my sleepless ass and go to your own room after fifteen minutes. No sense both of us lying awake in the dark.”
“Pfft. I can sleep anywhere. You know me.”
The elevator doors open, and we begin trekking down the long hallway toward Kendrick’s room, with me still on his broad back. Before we reach our destination, a door ahead of us opens and a dark-haired woman emerges, her backside facing us.
“I had so much fun, Kai.”
“Me, too,” Kai’s groggy voice replies from inside the room. “Take care now.”
“Call me, okay?”
“If I can.”
After blowing a kiss into the room, the woman steps out and pivots, letting the door shut behind her, and that’s when it’s plain to see she’s floating on air.
Quickly, Kendrick stops in front of a random door and pretends to be looking for his key as she passes. And the second she’s gone, he gallops past Kai’s room and toward his own with me on his back and both of us laughing like hyenas.
Inside the room, I slide off Kendrick’s back and buckle over with laughter as he imitates his brother’s comment: if I can. Soon, we’re falling onto his bed and belly laughing like a couple of goofballs.
Still chuckling, I turn onto my side and take in Kendrick’s handsome face. He’s mere inches from me, and he looks as drunk as I feel. “She looked really happy. Hopefully, having whatever she thinks is good sex and a fun story to tell her friends will soften the blow when he never calls.”
“Ye of little faith. Maybe Kai’s a changed man. Maybe it was love at first sight for both of them.”
I snort. “That doesn’t exist. Especially not for Kai Cook.”
“Sure, it does.”
“For Kai?”
“For anyone.”
“Have you experienced it?”
Kendrick pauses a weirdly long time, his cheeks flushed. Finally, he says, “No. Not personally. But I believe it exists.”
I swat at him. “You’re such a romantic.” I flop onto my back and sigh. “Why has your brother been acting like such a douchebag this tour? Did his breakup fuck him up that badly? He’s acting like pre-Laila Savage.” Kendrick doesn’t reply, so I look over at him. “What’s wrong? Aw, is your sweet, tender heart sympathizing with your brother or with the girl he fucked and won’t ever call again?” Kendrick looks like he’s biting his tongue, so I push on his arm. “Spit it out.”
“Spit what out?”
“Whatever’s making you look sad.”
“I’m not sad. I’m just . . .” Kendrick drags his teeth across his lower lip. “Was it hard on you seeing that girl come out of Kai’s room?”
I snort. “Yes, it was torture.” I laugh, thinking he’ll join me. But he doesn’t. Not even a little bit. I sit up. “Why would it be hard for me to see that? Was it hard for you? What does that even mean?”
“I just . . .” He sits up, matching my position, and runs a hand through his hair. “Actually, never mind. I shouldn’t have said that. Fuck, I must be really drunk.”
“Why shouldn’t you have said it?” I pause, waiting for an explanation. When it doesn’t come, I poke his muscular bicep. “What the fuck is going on with you? Kendrick, spill.”
“Come on, Ruby. I’m sure you don’t want to talk about this.”
“About what?”
“You know . . . What happened between you and Kai.”
I stare at him blankly, having a hard time processing his words.
“Way back when,” he adds, like that will clarify things for me. But I’m still confused.
Does Kendrick know about that thing that happened between his brother and me, despite Kai making me promise on my life I’d never to say a word about it, ever? If so, that can only mean that Kai himself must have told Kendrick. Which would then mean my long-ago promise is now null and void. At least, that’s my interpretation of our binding agreement.
It suddenly occurs to me that if Kai told his brother that story accurately, then there’d be no reason for Kendrick to think, even for a minute, that I’d have a hard time seeing his brother with some fuck buddy. Am I deeply confused because I’m shitfaced? I definitely drank too much down at the bar. “Did Kai tell you something about him and me?”
Kendrick nods.
“Did it involve something that happened at my twentieth birthday party?”