Kevin POV
It had been two months since Kate joined us. There was something between us — a feeling I kept telling myself was just a misunderstanding. Whenever I looked at her I remembered that kiss when she was drunk.
At lunch Kate sat with Mike, so I told David to join them. We approached their table quickly.
"Can we sit with you?" I asked.
Kate looked away. She was still mad about the prank — not my idea, by the way — but I felt guilty anyway. We sat. I watched her, focused on her food like the total foodie she is. They were chatting when I said, "Kate, can I—"
"No. Go with David," she snapped.
The table went quiet. I decided to be blunt. I pulled out my phone and texted.
Kevin: Don't you know what happened yesterday?Kate: What??Kevin: You kissed me.Kate (smiling slightly): Best joke ever, Kevin Finch.Kevin: I'm not lying. I promise.Kate: What the hell are you talking about? I don't know stop this nonsense.Kevin: I swear.Kate: Prove it to me.Kevin: Okay. Meet me at the old auditorium.
I left class and waited. After a while I heard footsteps. It was Kate.
"Prove to me when the hell I kissed you," she demanded as she approached.
"So you really want proof?" I asked. She nodded.
I put my hands on her shoulders, tilted her so she was pressed against the wall, and said, "Okay, this won't prove it, but you'll remember."
I cupped her face and kissed her.
She tensed, irritation flashing across her features, but she didn't pull away. When I looked at her she tried to act cool. "Yes, I remember," she said.
"You do?" I asked.
"Yes, you son of a bitch" She punched me.
Pain exploded in my jaw like someone had hit the wrong nerve. I sat down on a nearby chair, rubbing my cheek.
"Sorry for hitting you hard," she said, suddenly contrite. "I.... I thought I kissed you when I was drunk." She examined my face. "Oh shit, it's swollen. I'm sorry."
She ran off, and for a panicked second I thought she'd left me alone. She came back with an ice pack and a bottle of water. She opened the bottle and handed it to me. "Drink," she said, then pressed the ice to my jaw.
"Does it hurt?" she asked.
I shook my head. Honestly, I had never seen her so caring. Am I special to her, or what?
Footsteps approached. I looked up. "Guess who's here," she muttered.
My ex's father in law Sir Matthew loomed over us. I hated him. "What are you both doing?" he barked.
Kate started to answer, but I cut in with a grin. "Just cuddling."
Kevin, what are you doing? she whispered.
"Shhh. Let me handle it," I replied.
"This a cuddling center or a school?" Sir Matthew snapped. "This is not a mental hospital; it is a school."
"Sorry," I said aloud. "I shouldn't call you sir. I should call you my ex–father-in-law." I kept my tone serious. "Shut up don't involve my daughter."
"He loved you and you broke her heart," Sir Matthew spat.
"Broke her heart?" I laughed. "She was the one who cheated. Besides, there's no room for her in my heart it's already Kate's." I grabbed her hand. We ran