Page 71 of The Love Syllabus

After I leave the office, I anxiously rush Gary to drive faster and even end up explaining the situation from earlier to him, hoping to get some wisdom.

“Well, sir,” Gary says, his voice carrying smug amusement that lets me know whatever comes out of his mouth next is going to be useless. “You need to prove to her that kiss with Krista meant nothing.”

I sigh, rubbing my temple. “And how do I do that, Gary?”

Gary glances at me in the rearview mirror, completely unfazed by my frustration. Then, with the confidence of a man who has nothing to lose, he says, “By kissing Ms. Kind.”

I just stare at him and shake my head at his terrible advice.

When we finally make it home, I cautiously enter, fully prepared for Kerry to throw a pot at my head the moment she sees me.

Instead, another sudden impact occurs. Two small bodies crash into me, nearly knocking me off balance. Syd and Ari attack me with hugs and kisses, and their giggles instantly soothe the tension in my chest. As they chatter excitedly about their day, I half-listen as I mentally prepare myself for battle.

But I hear the rolling bag before anything. Kerry cuts around the corner, tugging her weekend luggage.

Crap, I forgot it’s Friday! She’s leaving for the weekend. I can’t let that moment in my office be the last between us before she’s gone.

“Oh, you finally made it home.” She says, amused, almost too amused.

I narrow my eyes, assessing her vibe. She’s too calm, too light, too fuckin’ cute. This is a trap.

Kerry dips down to hug the girls goodbye.

“Please spend the weekend with us. We don’t want you to go. We have so much fun on the weekends with Daddy, and it’s high time you join us.” Syd playfully demands.

Kerry laughs. Syd’s beginning to adopt her country twang. “I know, Syd. Maybe another weekend, okay? I’ll see you bright and early on Monday morning.”

Then, she turns to me. I brace myself, but she throws me completely off guard. Kerry leans in and hugs me, like a real hug—soft, warm, and familiar.

“Sorry, I’m a bit late,” I whisper, my voice even and apologetic. “I would’ve been here sooner, but I wanted to give you a little time to—”

“To what?” She interrupts, her tone suddenly mockingly sweet. “To let the image of some random woman’s tongue in your mouth settle?”

Yep. There it is. I’m in trouble.

I exhale sharply, shifting us away from the girls toward the foyer. “Kerry, she kissed me.”

“Oh, I saw that.” She nods, cool as ice. “But what really stood out was how long it took for you to push her off.”

I scrub my hand over my face. “You know that’s not true.”

She tilts her head, studying me. “Do I?”

“I don’t know that woman. She’s just my co-host, and apparently, we had a…brief encounter a few years ago. But I don’t remember it…at all!”

Kerry laughs. “Oh, that’s cute, Vic.” She leans in, her finger brushing against my chest, burning through my shirt. “So, what you’re telling me is, you’ve slept with so many women, they all just start blending together now?” She holds her hands up before I can say anything. “Don’t even bother answering that question because, for the record,” she whispers over her shoulder as she heads for the door, “I don’t care what you do with your mouth, or your hands,oryour dick.”

Lies. All lies! So, I follow her straight through the front door and to the driveway, where she just continues to lie.

“And you know what, Vic?” She fusses as she storms toward her car, fumbling through her bag and searching for her keys. I watch, amused now, letting her unravel. “I don’t blame you for not remembering. I don’t remember the last man who touched me either. I don’t remember straddling him. I don’t even remember if I had an orgasm.”

She bites her lip. Like she’s thinking about it right now.

I raise a brow, trying so hard not to laugh.

“Oh really?”

I move fast, cornering her against the car, my hand braced above her head, my body heat sinking into hers.

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