Page 95 of Never Tell Secrets

Everything south clenched. “When you take my training wheels off, right?”

Alfie blinked, confused. “What?”

“Nothing,” I laughed. “Go. Tell Kal and Damien I’m sorry about tonight. It won’t happen again.”

“I will.” He stepped away, our fingertips lingering, his eyes hovering on mine. “One day, I won’t have to think twice about kissing you.”

“Why’re you thinking twice?”

“One, you’ve got to instigate it and two, we fucked up our first kiss and tonight isn’t the night for a do over.”

The man thought about everything. I tilted my head, turning my cheek up to him. “Compromise?”

He pulled me in closer, pausing to bury his nose in my hair. He pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek, nuzzling me. “Get inside before I fire Priya and throw the rules out the window.”

I giggled, feeling lighter. He picked up my bag and handed it to me. Then stood there, watching me expectantly.

“You’re just gonna stand there and watch me go inside?”

“Yes.” He waved a hand at me, motioning for me to hurry up.

“Why?” I teased. “In case aliens get me?”

“Will you just go inside?”

I burst out laughing and hurried up the steps. My key in the door, I looked back to see the ridiculous man leaning against his car, his eyes bright with laughter, waiting until I was safely inside before taking his eyes off me.

Thirty

You can do this. She’s your best friend. This is nothing you can’t fix.

That’s what I’d been telling myself for the last ten minutes as I tried to work up the courage to straighten things out with Keira.

Last night, I’d screwed up in a major way. My intentions had been good but my actions not so much. I’d let her down and like Alfie, she had walls and didn’t forgive easily. I’d broken her trust and the fear that she might not let me earn it back had me hesitating outside her bedroom door. I didn’t want to see that disappointed, angry look in her eyes again.

But we’d gotten through worse. I’d fix this too and it started with coffee.

With the warm mug in my hand, I took a deep breath and knocked on Keira’s door.

Silence.

I turned the handle and peeked around the door. Keira shifted in her bed, eyes ringed by mascara as she blinked awake.

“Lo?”

“Yeah, I brought coffee.” I hovered in the doorway, holding the mug out to her.

“Thanks.” A hand slid out from under her duvet and she patted her bedside table. I stepped over her clothing-ridden floor and moved a lighter, gum and three old coffee cups out of the way to make room for the fresh one.

I straightened, hands twisting. I wasn’t sure what to do next. She peered up at me, still half-asleep. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m just…Keira, I’m really sorry about last night.”

She sighed and lifted up the covers. “Get in here.” She shuffled back in her bed and I squeezed in beside her.

“You’re naked.”

“I’ve got knickers on.”