Page 2 of Bonding with the Beta (Fated Souls #2)

2

KAYLEIGH

I have drunk four glasses of champagne, and I’m now realising this was a bad, bad idea. I’m at a baby shower. What the hell am I thinking? The glass between my fingers makes my stomach churn.

Ava and Jaxon have been floating around the room, sharing their attention with all their guests. I despise not knowing anyone at a party. I’m incredibly out of my depth. But I’m here for my best friend, and that’s what matters.

The sound of tapping glass rings through the kitchen, and everyone’s heads turn in the direction of the noise. Jaxon stands at the front of the island counter with Ava by his side, an arm wrapped protectively around her waist.

They’re both beaming, ear to ear. It’s as if no one else exists in their world and it’s just them. I wish I could find a man who loves me as much as Jaxon loves Ava. He loves her boldly, fiercely, and he’s not afraid to show it.

Jaxon clears his throat. “Hi, everyone. We wanted to thank you all for coming today and for making it special for Ava and me and, of course, the baby.”

A blonde woman I said hello to earlier cheers over him, making a few people laugh.

“Thanks, Luce.” Jaxon smiles.

My eyes focus on Jaxon’s sister, Lucy, as she stands with her husband, Sebastian, and their son, Albie. Kayden is close beside them, all of their focus on Jaxon and Ava. I swallow to dampen my throat when I study Kayden’s face to find those captivating dimples on full display again.

Of course, he has dimples.

God really said, I know how to make a man hotter.

The alcohol lacing my body has my eyes glued to him like a woman obsessed, but all I’m doing is admiring the sight. What’s wrong with having a bit of eye candy?

“I cannot tell you how proud I am of this one.” Jaxon leans down to kiss Ava’s temple as he stares at her like she’s the only woman in the world. “She is going to be the best mother ever. And, boy, I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you. With our little family.”

My heart thumps in awe of the way he talks about her. It brings tears to my eyes because that’s the sort of love I’ve dreamed of—most girls dream of.

“I love you,” he murmurs to her so quietly I almost miss it.

He didn’t even have to say those three words. Anyone can see how in love he is with her.

All I’ve known is manipulative love—the type you don’t know is awful until you’re out of the relationship. When I fall for someone, I fall head over heels. It's a dangerous road, especially when people take my kindness for granted.

And now, I have no trust, no faith, nothing .

The thought of going back to dating makes me feel physically sick. I know not all guys are the same, but I don’t want to find another like him.

The sound of cheering has me snapping back to reality. My hand taps my wrist as my fingers shake around my champagne flute. No more alcohol, or it’ll end badly for me and my unstable emotions.

I clear my throat and shuffle on my feet. My eyes roam the room, seeing everyone grinning at Ava and Jaxon with happiness and excitement, until my gaze lands on Kayden’s, and to my surprise, he’s already looking at me. I cannot ignore his stare. His brows are furrowed at me like he’s seen me completely blackout for a few seconds.

Tearing my eyes away, I walk to the back door and force my legs outside. I dump my flute on a nearby table, regretting the last two glasses. My stomach is swirling like a tsunami, and the last thing I need is to make a fool of myself.

The second fresh air hits my lungs, I lift my head to the sky. My fingers latch onto a chair on the patio to steady myself. I take in as much oxygen as possible before exhaling and allowing my shoulders to slump.

I hate overthinking. I hate the past. I hate the power it has over me.

“Hey.” A voice behind me makes me jump.

My head turns to the sound, and I tilt my head to meet Kayden’s dark eyes. I force a smile and pull up from the chair, wrapping my arms around myself instead.

“Hi.”

He watches me with concern.

“Are you okay?”

I merely nod as he shoves his hands into his jeans pockets. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Kayden rolls his tongue across his lip slowly. “Those two can be very intense sometimes.”

“Huh?”

“Ava and Jaxon,” he states. “You should try living with them. It’s sickening.”

“Oh.” I laugh hesitantly. “Yeah, they’re lucky to have each other.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He bends down an inch.

From this angle, I get a whiff of his aftershave. I lower my head and take a step back. My head is swimming. I suck in another sharp breath of air and force a nod. “Yeah, sorry. The alcohol has gone straight to my head.”

The corners of his mouth twitch up. “Don’t worry.” He shrugs. “If I had it my way, I’d be three bottles deep, but Ava warned me to stay away from alcohol after I made an absolute idiot out of myself at the last party.”

His words ease me a fraction, and I settle into my shoes. “Bad?”

Kayden snorts. “Bad is an understatement. Apparently, I almost set the kitchen on fire, and then I started trying on Lucy’s bikinis and dresses. It was a messy night.”

“Wow.” I chuckle. “I would have died to see that.”

“Ava has it on her phone,” he grumbles under his breath and rubs a hand across his jaw. “I told her to delete it, but I know she didn’t.”

I smile. “She seems really happy.”

“The happiest.” He nods in agreement. “They both are. The baby was a bit of a surprise.”

“A bit? I almost fell out of my chair when she told me she was pregnant.”

Kayden’s eyes sparkle golden in the sunlight. “They’ll be great parents, though.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it.”

“So, you go to Stonebridge University?”

I bite down on my lip and nod. “Yeah, I do.”

“What do you study?”

He takes a step closer, and my back hits the edge of the garden chair. Heat prickles my neck, and it has nothing to do with the sun.

“Uh…” I pause. “I study sociology.”

“Damn,” he sounds impressed, but little does he know I am sleep-deprived and half-delirious from endless coursework. “You’re intelligent then?”

I scoff quietly. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“What year are you in?”

“My second.”

“Impressive.”

“What do you do?”

Kayden leans back against the chair and folds his arms over his chest. It takes everything in me not to look down at his obvious bulging muscles. That T-shirt is like a second skin. I can almost see every ridge and curve of muscle beneath the fabric.

“I have my own business,” he states.

My brows raise to my hairline. “What kind of business?”

“Oh, it’s boring.”

I frown. “Can’t be as boring as Karl Marx.”

Kayden pins me with a dumbfounded expression. “Who?”

“Exactly,” I exhale with a subtle smile. “Tell me about your business.”

“I do coding.”

“And you think that’s boring?”

“Yes,” he says without hesitation. “Coding is notorious for being boring and extremely nerdy.”

I shrug. “Yeah, well, it’s cool to be nerdy and intelligent.”

“It’s nothing like going to university and getting a degree.”

A small laugh slips from my lips, and his eyes gravitate downwards. “You do realise most people turn up to lectures and classes either still drunk or severely hungover? There isn’t much to praise.”

“I beg to differ.” He smirks.

I shake my head in disagreement. “So, I take it you’re good at what you do?”

Kayden nods unconvincingly. “Yeah, I guess.”

“You can bang your own ass, you know, Kayden.”

The air between us tightens. He stares at me in surprise. I don’t know if he wants to burst out laughing or run in the opposite direction. My cheeks burn to the point they hurt. I realise that isn’t the sort of thing you say to someone you’ve just met.

“Excuse me?” he chokes out a staggered laugh.

“You know that saying…” I trail off, my voice becoming quieter. “Everyone knows that saying.”

Kayden’s face lights up with amusement. “Trust me, I haven’t heard that one before.”

Ah, fuck. Blame the alcohol for my non-functioning brain.

“Oh, right.” I cup the back of my neck with embarrassment. “I meant, blow your own trumpet.”

Kayden bursts into laughter, and it makes my heart spike. “Bang your own ass? Holy shit, that’s a good one.” He attempts to catch his breath, but he starts laughing again, and I try to flush out the mortification.

“I wasn’t trying to imply that you–” I cut myself off as he purses his lips and swipes a finger over his chin. “You know…I mean, do whatever you want,” I murmur, and he chuckles again. “Oh, God. I’m going to stop talking now.”

He bites back a grin, and I want the ground to swallow me until there is nothing left. I glance away to find some of my sanity, but I know I look like a tomato with my fair skin. I need to go home and never look back.

“Guys!” a voice behind us yells from the back door. “We’re cutting the cake. Come before there isn’t any left.”

Thank God, I cry out in my mind.

I rush after her without looking at Kayden. I came out here to compose myself, and now I need to compose myself even more. My stomach growls at the thought of cake, needing anything to soak up this devilish liquid inside me.

Ava and Jaxon stand beside the baby-pink cake before cutting into it and sectioning off small portions onto plates. My eyes grow at the sight of the cream and jam middle.

I scoop some onto a fork and moan internally at the taste of strawberries. I didn’t even notice Kayden beside me as I practically shovelled in the entire thing without pausing for breath. “Wow,” I murmur.

“Good?” Kayden’s voice echoes into my ears.

I nod towards him as his eyes float down to my lips and even further to my chin. I’m frozen to the spot. His gaze hardens on the corner of my mouth.

“You got a little…” He gestures to my face, but I don’t make any effort to move.

He leans forward and brushes his thumb against my bottom lip. I stop breathing. My lungs have given out. I stare into his eyes as he continues to move agonisingly slowly. I begin to tremble, blood rushing through me at an alarming rate.

My body tingles…from him touching my lip.

Then, after what feels like an eternity, he pulls his thumb away. I expect him to wipe it on a napkin, but no. He raises it and sucks his thumb into his mouth without a care in the world.

I evaporate. Literally .

Kayden watches me as he does so, and right now, I feel like I’m watching some kind of soft porn video. It shouldn’t make my core clench, but it does. I’m stuck in the same trance I was in when I first met him for less than a minute.

Okay. I need a timeout.

“Thanks.” I gulp pathetically.

“No problem.” He smiles knowingly.

My mouth opens, but nothing comes out, and he tilts his head.

“I–uh.” I stop. “I’m gonna go find the bathroom.”

Before he can respond, I push my way through the sea of people in the kitchen. I step out into the hall and locate the bathroom with my jelly legs, then quickly shut the door and scoop up cold water to splash my neck gently.

My hands rest on the sink basin as I glance in the mirror. I’m horrified at the sight. Flushed cheeks. Dilated eyes. “Oh, God,” I groan and press my forehead against the mirror. “Get your shit together, Kayleigh.”