Page 98 of Fault Line

It makes me feel good, like everything’s right again in the world.

We lie down, our bodies flush, and a sense of relief floods through me. The weight of our secrets has been lifted, and we’ve come out on the other side stronger for it.

It’s not going to be easy, and there will undoubtedly be challenges ahead, but I know in the end that we’re going to be okay. Because we’re in this together now.

And as we both drift off to sleep, Kaia’s hands, her body, her soul intertwined with mine, I know that we’ll tackle whatever comes our way, side by side, using trust and open communication as our foundation.

35

KAIA

We head backto campus after our little weekend getaway in Hanford, recharged and rejuvenated.

Sneaking around in Holden’s hotel room to dodge his coach—undoubtedly snuggled up together—put the easygoing thrill back into our relationship. Plus, cheering him on again during Saturday’s game, where his team clinched another victory, was exhilarating.

It’s like the challenges of the past few weeks have finally dissolved, leaving us with a fresh sense of clarity and a stronger bond in our relationship.

Now that I’ve submitted all my applications and secured those letters of rec, I can finally breathe again. I’m less stressed and more self-assured in my abilities than I have been in a very long time.

Holden and I have one last meeting with Dr. Khatri before winter break hits, and I’m a little sentimental about it all. It’s incredible how far we’ve both come since we first started working with her, together and individually.

As we sit down in her office, she greets us with a warm smile. “Kaia, Holden, it’s been a pleasure working with you this semester. I’m impressed by the progress you’ve made, and I’m looking forward to seeing what you accomplish next term.”

“Thank you,” I say, grinning in return. “We couldn’t have done it without your guidance.”

Holden chimes in, his voice filled with gratitude. “Yeah, you’ve been an incredible mentor to us. We really appreciate everything you’ve done.”

She spends the next hour going over our plans for the spring semester, discussing the research we’ll be conducting and the goals we’ve set for ourselves. As our meeting draws to a close, she leans back in her chair and gives us a thoughtful look.

“I have an opportunity for one of you that I’d like to discuss,” she says, her voice measured. “When we return from the break, I’ll be giving a series of lectures to a junior-level class, and I’d like someone to assist me with them. It’s a great chance to gain some teaching experience and work closely with me on a professional level.”

Holden and I exchange glances, both of us intrigued by the prospect.

Dr. Khatri continues. “I trust that both of you are more than capable of handling this responsibility. However, I understand that you also have your own commitments and priorities, so I’ll leave the decision up to you. Take some time to discuss it amongst yourselves, and let me know your decision when we reconvene after the break.”

The offer hangs in the air between us, tempting us with a chance for some friendly competition.

“Thank you,” I say, attempting to keep my eagerness at bay. “We’ll definitely discuss it and let you know our decision.”

“Excellent.” She stands, ushering us out of the room. “I have no doubt that whichever one of you takes the opportunity will do an exceptional job. I look forward to working with you.”

As we exit her office, excitement builds inside of me. The moment the door closes behind us and we make it out of earshot, I flip around to face Holden.

“I’m doing the lectures,” I say, narrowing my eyes.

“Hey now, you heard the woman.” He shakes his head, giving me an arrogant smirk. “We need to make a decision about this, together, fair and square.”

I lower my voice as we make our way out to the quad. “Okay, how about this? I give you a blowjob, and you let me do the lectures.”

“Karras,” he says with a low chuckle. “I could get you to suck me off anytime I wanted. Think of something else.”

“Fine, you want competition? I’ll beat you in any game of your choice, just no sports.”

He tilts his head, considering. “Do I have a second to think on it?”

“I’ll give you five minutes. I’d take you back to my apartment, and we could settle this right now, but I’m afraid Lizzie would have a conundrum.”

“Oh, come on.” He gives me a wry smile. “I think I can handle Liz.”

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