Page 22 of Kalix

LAINEY

Friday Night

It’s been an exhausting week. Between classes, studying, and trying to catch Kalix breaking into my apartment, it’s definitely taken a toll on me. I could really use a distraction and interaction with people outside of the university.

When I texted Lexie to see if she wanted to go to Rudy’s, just the two of us this time, she didn’t even hesitate.

As I’m scrolling my phone outside, she approaches and says, “Hey, sorry I’m late.” Lexie pulls me in for a quick hug.

“You’re not that late.” I laugh.

“Still… Alright. Let’s go in. I’m freezing.” She does a little shimmy before opening the door and ushering me inside .

I glance along the back wall for a booth, spotting one in the far corner. I grab Lexie’s hand. “Come on, let’s hurry before someone takes that one first.”

Not really paying attention to anything around us, we get closer to the table, and I can smell him before I see him. Kalix is sitting at a bar-top table directly in front of our empty booth.

I take a deep breath and decide to ignore him, for now.

We take our seats and order a couple of appetizers to share and our drinks.

Our regular bartender is working, so we chat with her for a bit before we are alone again. I cut my eyes over briefly to see if Kalix is still sitting there… and of course, he is.

“You look super cute,” Lexie says. “I’ve never seen you wear darker lipstick, but I’m loving that color on you.”

I smile and shake my head, focusing my attention back on her, “Thanks. I’m not sure if I like it.

I usually just wear my favorite tinted lipgloss, but apparently I’ve lost it somewhere because I couldn’t find it.

So, I had to use this lipstick that my grandma bought me for Christmas. It was still in the plastic.”

“Well, I think that you should wear it more often.” She smiles at me.

I nod briefly before my phone vibrates on the table next to me with a text from an unknown number with an image attachment. A chill runs through my body and I force myself to not look over at Kalix. I’m sure he’s got a smug ass look on his stupid face.

How did he get my number? I didn’t give it to him. He…

Fuck it. I open the message and there is an image of my lipgloss.

Oh, that motherfucker.

I slam my phone down on the table, making Lexie jump.

“Sorry. Give me one second. I’ll be right back.” I say, smiling at her.

She nods warily, “Sure. Everything alright?”

“Peachy.”

It takes me a total of five steps to make it to Kalix, who is already holding up my lipgloss with a dumb smirk on his face.

“Looking for this?” Kalix asks.

I snatch it from his hand without saying a word. Unscrewing the cap, I pull the applicator out, pressing it to my lips before I walk back to the booth.

As I sit down, Lexie gives me a cheesy grin. “Now who was that?”

“Nobody important.” I screw the cap back on and shove it in my pocket.

She gives me a knowing look. “If you say so. Speaking of nobody important to you, I know you said it wasn’t going anywhere, but have you heard anything from Alex?”

I shake my head, “Nope.” Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him around campus or the library since that night.

“Huh… I hope everything is okay. He hasn’t been in class lately and won’t return any of my texts or calls..”

I get an odd feeling in my stomach and look over to Kalix’s table, but it’s empty. I’m surprised I didn’t see him leave.

I look back at her, “I’m sure he’ll be back next week. Maybe he went on vacation or something and has no service.”

She slowly nods, lost in thought. “Yeah, probably.”

We order another drink and finish our appetizers.

“Thank you for meeting me tonight. I really needed it after this week.” I say to her as we walk to the door. She opens it for me and we step outside.

“Of course. We should do this more often. It shouldn’t be all work and no play.” She smiles.

I nod. “Text me and maybe we can come again next week.”

She beams. “Yes! Let’s do it. Talk soon.” She walks off in the direction of her dorms and I turn to head to my apartment.

I freeze.

Kalix is leaning against his bike, a helmet on his head and one dangling from his fingers at his side.

Shaking my head I say, “Absolutely fucking not.”

I manage to walk past, but I don’t get far before his hand wraps around my wrist and tugs me back to him. “You’re getting on that bike, Little Rabbit.”

“If you think I’m just going to get on that bike with you, you’re more psychotic than I thought you were.” I try to rip my hand from his.

“If you think I won’t make you get on this bike with me, you’re wrong. Get on the fucking bike, Lainey” I watch as the veins in his neck pop.

I shake my head, “I’m not getting on that fucking bike, Kalix .” I mock the way he said my name and I swear his lip twitches.

He drops my hand and slaps the visor down to close his helmet.

I pause as he lifts the second one and puts it on my head.

I’m instantly enveloped in his scent. Oh my God. I’m so fucking screwed.