Page 33 of Vicious Little Snakes

My hand falls from his blazer as my chin jerks toward the sound of the door swooshing open.

“What up, assholes,” Kai calls out with a smile.

I step back as Liam walks to Kai and slaps his hand.

Kai’s hand engulfs mine. “Thanks for watching my girl, but we gotta jet.”

I see Liam nod, and without acknowledging me, he turns and walks down the hall.

Grey says something as he walks up, but I don’t even register because I’ve already turned my back to them. They finish, and Kai begins pulling me along, and although we’ve only taken a few steps, I swear it feels like I have to catch my breath. What other options are there—to torture me? Hate me?

“You okay, gorgeous?”

I nod, putting on my brightest smile. No point in looking the way I feel.

“Perfect, because I got ‘em.” He grins.

Kai’s looking at me like I know what the hell he’s talking about, but my brain is still trying to recalibrate.

“Got what?”

I glance over my shoulder, seeing Liam and Grey walking the opposite way, shoving each other like they’re playing around. As if nothing ever happened.

Kai’s chuckle brings my attention back as he holds up a stack of nurse’s slips. And the vision is like a shot of adrenaline, bringing me back to the present.

“Did you steal those?” I squeak out.

He wags his brows. “Right off coach’s desk. Now, let’s go have some damn fun.”

* * *

“How the hell did you find out about this?” I smile at Kai as he shrugs off his peacoat sitting down into the booth.

“I have my ways.”

“Come on. A secret concert in the middle of the day wasn’t floating around Twitter.”

He takes his coffee mug in hand and has a sip before answering, “I’m full of surprises. And duh, my mom’s publicist told me.”

I grin against my cup, saying, “I still think it’s crazy they don’t allow phones,” as I look around the off-the-beaten-path venue. I thought Kai was crazy when we crossed the bridge into Brooklyn, but I have to admit, it’s a vibe.

Kai tilts his head toward me. “Well, gorgeous, it’s a secret concert—doing a live would give away the secret.”

“Whatever,” I laugh, setting my mug down, letting my thumb skim up and down the warm surface. “When do we find out who’s playing for us?”

He offers me a delicious-looking cookie, but I shake my head, so he takes a bite out of it.If that were Liam, he’d make you eat it.Ugh. Get out of my head. I need a priest, stat.

I give my head a little shake, trying to refocus. Which isn’t easy. After I was left in “Liam” purgatory, waiting to be forgiven or forgotten, I can’t seem to concentrate. Maybe that’s his plan—to fucking consume me.

Kai’s voice bleeds into my thoughts, “You assume I don’t already know?”

“Huh?” I say absentmindedly.

“I’m disappointed in you—” Kai presses with a mouth full of food.

“I’m lost. What are we talking about?”

Kai leans back, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “The secret performance…you asked when we’d find out who was playing, and I said—you know what, forget it. Where have you been this last hour? Because I’m almost certain that it’s still in the fucking hallway, gorgeous.”