Page 26 of Kalix
KALIX
There’s a comfortable silence between us as we eat our breakfast. No need for talking, just two people munching on their food after an intense last twenty-four hours.
Once we’re both done, I clear our plates. I feel Lainey’s eyes on me without the need to turn around to prove it, so I take time with my movements. Slow my steps just a little more, take a little longer to find the trash can, despite me knowing exactly where it is.
When I’m back at the table, I lean back in the chair and take a sip of my coffee.
“So, what’s up?”
“Is that a weed tattoo?”
I snort, the question sounds absolutely ludicrous, but also, she’s not wrong about her observation.
“Why yes, yes it is.”
“Is it a birthday cake?”
I turn around so the newer piece on my shoulder faces her so she can answer her own question. Yes, it’s a wedding cake in the shape of a weed leaf.
“Wedding cake, if we’re being specific here. I got it after I got you that joint last weekend, it was a strain of indica called wedding cake. Felt like it was fitting.”
Her delicate fingertips trace the ink, causing a shiver to run up my spine. Fuck, she affects me like no other.
Her hand pulls away, and the loss of contact has me turning back around. Her eyes trace over my body, and I have to physically stop myself from flexing a little and peacocking around her. Her eyes on me makes me feel like I need to show off even more.
“So, what are the plans for today?” I ask, moving on from the new ink.
Lainey takes a drink of her own caffeine before responding, “I really need to go to the library. I’ve been a little distracted the last couple days, and I need to play catch up now.
I’m behind on homework and studying, and there’s tests and papers and—” the palm of her hand meets her forehead and the little line between her brows reappears, the stress written clearly all over her facial features.
“Okay, how about this,” I say, taking her hand and rubbing little circles on the soft skin between her thumb and forefinger, “I’ll drop you off at the library, and once we get you set up, I’ll head to the store and pick you up some drinks and snacks.
When I get back, we’ll set up, picnic style, and I’ll help however I can. Deal? ”
“Yes, that sounds amazing. I’ll get ready right now!”
She jumps up, leaving me at the table, and I can’t help the smirk that forms at her enthusiasm.
I get up and walk to her doorway, leaning against the doorjamb, as I watch her throw books and other materials into her backpack before stripping out of her pajamas.
My thumb traces my lower lip as my eyes trace her body. Fuck, I’m hard again.
I stalk to where we threw our clothes last night, put on my shirt, and get my own shit ready.
Once we’re both packed, we load onto the bike and head towards campus.
She doesn’t live far, so I make an extra trip around the block just to feel her body pressed against mine a little longer.
I’m really not wanting to push my luck, though.
She hasn’t kicked me out again this morning, and there was no debate about her getting on my bike, so I’m taking the win for what it is.
It’s a Sunday, so I pull straight onto the sidewalk and up to the library doors, so Lainey won’t have to walk as far before we make our way in together and get her set up.
“Okay, I’ll be right back,” I say, before placing a gentle kiss to her forehead, “Any requests?”
“Hmmm,” she ponders, “sweet, salty, caffeinated.”
“Got it, text me if you think of anything else.” I add a wink onto the end just for a little extra touch before jogging back the way I came.
I shoot a text off to the group chat before I leave, too.
Whoever is closest to the library, come
keep an eye on Lainey. I gotta leave for a
sec.
Be there in a few.
I take my chances and head to the store, I’d like to be back sooner rather than later and it’s only a few minutes from campus. Issac will be there soon, so it’ll all be fine.
Not even fifteen minutes later, the bike is parked where Lainey and I had originally been, and I’m jogging back through the library.
Issac’s back is to me, the table where I left Lainey directly in front of him.
As I go to the side, it’s exactly like it was when I left her. Her backpack open, books pulled out and opened, the notebooks littered about with her notes.
“Hey,” Issac says, “I was just about to text you. I just got here, I think she may be in the bathroom.”
“What do you mean you just got here? You mean she’s been by herself for the last fifteen minutes?”
“Well, yeah, I was on the other side of town, but also the closest. What’s going?—”
I don’t wait to hear anything else as I head to the closest bathroom and push open the door, checking to see if there’s any occupants. None.
“Check every fucking bathroom!” I yell at Issac from across the racks as I race to the next. His heavy footsteps echo as I push open the next door, and still, my little rabbit is nowhere to be found.
We keep repeating this action, one after another, until the entire building has been checked, and there’s no sign of her anywhere.
My jaw flexes, my hands ball into fists and my breaths come out heavy as I quite literally seethe.
“You fucking left her alone, now where the fuck is she?” I grit out.
“I-I didn’t know man. I got here as fast as I cou-”
My body reacts before my mind can, pushing over the cart holding books as the copies go flying to the ground. My arms reach out, shoving all of Lainey’s perfectly arranged materials off the table and let them join the books, too.
She’s fucking gone and it’s all my fault.
I think my vision is going blurry.
She’s fucking gone and it’s all my fault .
Definitely blurry, I can hear my heartbeat. Why is it so hard to breathe?
She’s fucking gone and it’s all my fault.
There’s spots in my vision. It’s going black.
She’s fucking gone and it’s all my fault.
She’s fucking gone and it’s all my
She’s fucking gone and it’s all
She’s fucking gone and it’s
She’s fucking gone and
She’s fucking gone.
She’s fucking gone.
She’s fucking gone.