Page 63 of Fault Line

Now, the sun has set, painting the sky in hues of blue, and I’m standing outside Kaia’s apartment. She’s taking an exceptionally long time to come to the door. So I’m left out here alone, twiddling my thumbs like some sort of clingy asshole.

When she finally opens the door to greet me, there are worry lines etched onto her forehead. I know I was harsh with her earlier, lashing out without waiting for an actual explanation.

But I’m here now, ready and willing to make amends.

“Hey,” I say, the weight of the day sitting heavily on my spine.

“Hey,” she says, her voice small. “You done ignoring me now?”

“I wasn’t.” I stifle a grin, shaking my head at her blunt accusation. “I’ve been really fucking busy, and I didn’t have time to hash this out with you properly.”

She purses her lips. “You sure about that?”

“Yes, and I’m sorry if I made it seem otherwise,” I say, running my fingertips along her forearm. “But I’m here now, and I want to talk.”

She shakes me off, wordlessly turning on her heel, and I take that as my cue to follow her inside. I carefully settle in beside her on the couch, and the tension between us starts to ease.

“Look, Beck,” she starts, pressing her palms flat against her thighs. “I’m genuinely sorry for costing you points today. I know it may not seem like it, but I wasn’t trying to tattle.”

“I believe you.”

She raises a brow. “You do?”

“Knowing you, you’d actually admit to being vindictive. And to be honest, I just didn’t have time to finish the assignment,” I say with a shrug. “I figured it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

She scoffs, rubbing an irritated hand across her brow. “So, it wasn’t even a genuine mistake?”

“I mean, it’s a fucking rough draft. I thought no one would notice.”

She tilts her head back with a sigh. “Becker ...”

“Come on, Karras.” I wrap my fingers around her knee with a gentle squeeze. “Not everyone can be as perfect as you are.”

“Apparently, you’re more than perfect,” she says, waving a flippant hand. “If Dr. Khatri asks you to help me one more time, I think I’m gonna lose my ever-loving mind.”

My lips curl in a smirk. “That really bothers you, huh?”

“It’s basically a scene straight out of my fucking nightmares.”

“Wow, the drama.”

“Hey.” She swats me on the arm, laughter spilling free. “You were the one bringing the drama today, not me.”

“I know, and I feel like shit about it. I shouldn’t have lashed out at you like that.”

She swallows, her gaze softening. “You swear you weren’t ignoring me on purpose? Trying to give me a taste of my own medicine?”

“That was just a lucky little side effect.” I tap my fingers against her thigh. “Feels pretty shitty, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, it does.”

“I’m sorry, baby,” I say, rubbing my thumb in small circles on her inner thigh.

She rolls her eyes, shifts her body closer against my touch. “Not your baby.”

“You are when we’re alone.”

“Whatever,” she grumbles.

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