Page 52 of The Love Interest

“Nonsense. We don’t do casual.” She points at Natalie and Trevor. “You two can go watch TV if you’d like. Caden, Juliet, snap to it.”

Natalie and Trevor stare into each other’s eyes.

“I could get used to this,” says Natalie.

“So could I, babe. Why do you think I want to go to the Olympics so bad? Win one medal and it’s, like, rock star treatment for the rest of your life!”

“Well, you’d better win! A girl could get very used to this lifestyle.” She playfully punches his chest. “And I’m rather fond of you. I’d hate to ditch you for the guy in the next lane. But I will do it. If he beats you, that is.”

I head into the kitchen. Richard is wearing an apron and carefully slicing a slab of smoked salmon. Little pieces of pink gel cling to the edge of the blade.

He places the knife down on the white stone counter top. “It’s great to see you again, Caden. But shouldn’t you be fraternizing with the other youth?”

“Daphne told me to come and help you.”

He wipes his hands on a green dish towel. “Of course she did. That’s not a problem, is it?”

“Not at all! What do you need?”

He points to an empty white bowl. Beside it is a bag of sea salt–flavored chips.

“Can you open that and take it out to the table? There are some dips in the fridge; can you take those as well?” I nod. “Thanks, Caden, you’re a lifesaver.”

I squeeze the bag and open the chips, unleashing a salty smell. My mouth starts to water as I dump the chips into a bowl. Then I open the fridge and retrieve two clear plastic containers. One is filled with brownish dip and the other is green, presumably avocado. Both look delicious, and both are obviously off-limits for me.

“They’re homemade,” says Richard as he washes an apple in the sink. “Daphne’s own recipe. Trust me, once you’ve tried them, you’ll make your own from scratch too. It’ssomuch better than that store-bought garbage.”

“I bet it is!”

Carrying them, I walk out into the living room.

It’s a wide room, with two brown leather couches placed in front of a huge wide-screen TV. On the wall to the left of the TV is a massive mahogany bookshelf. One side is devoted to thick legal textbooks, and the other is filled with brightly covered cookbooks. In front of the books are various knick-knacks, like a small golden cannon and a framed photo of a baby in a white gown. It’s like a mural devoted to her family. A piece of minimalist art is on the other wall.

On the couch, Natalie is sitting on top of Trevor, kissing him. Her hair has fallen over both of their faces. I blush as I walk past them and place the food down on the coffee table. The only other thing on the table is a big hardcover book filled with photos of the ocean. I flip it open, trying to ignore the sucking and slurping coming from the couch. A harsh laugh sounds.

“I take it you’re not a fan of PDAs, Caden?”

“Is anyone?” I crack open the container of avocado dip. It smells heavenly and makes my stomach rumble.No way.I need to think of my abs.

Trevor tilts his head and looks at me. “Dude, I have a question for you.”

“Shoot.”

“Have you ever kissed anyone?”

“Trevor,” says Natalie, her tone harsh. “Don’t be mean.”

“I’m not being mean. But come on, look at him, he’s blushing at the sight of us. He’s the most innocent thing I’ve ever seen.”

What should I say, Kaylee?

No response.

I shrug my shoulders. “It’s fine. Um, yeah, I have. Kissed someone, I mean. I’m not as innocent as I look.”

Isn’t that the truth.

“I don’t believe that for a second. Who have you kissed?”