Page 10 of Anti-Hero

I startle, nearly banging my head on the edge of the counter as my chin jerks up violently.

“Looking for the hair dryer,” I say in as dignified of a tone as I can muster while crouched on tiles in a fluffy robe.

“Come do a shot with me, and then I’ll help you look for it.”

Kit disappears without waiting for a reply.

I sigh, stand, and leave the bathroom. I’ve searched everywhereelse. The hair dryer must be in the armoire.

Kit grins wide when he realizes I followed. And unfortunately, it’s the smile of his that I appreciate. The boyish, genuine one that appears when he’s teasing Lili about her shoe obsession or calling his brother, Bash, a nerd for getting straight As. Not the slick billionaire smirk that’s used as currency to receive whatever he wants.

He holds out a glass, containing an inch of liquid with a lime wedge perched on the salted rim. “Cheers.”

“Cheers,” I echo as I take it. “And … thanks.”

I’m being ungrateful, I know. He didn’t have to offer up his room or make me a drink. Beneath the shameless flirting and outlandish actions, he’s a decent guy.

“Gratitude from Monty?” Kit claps his hand to his heart in mock shock. “Is the end of the world tomorrow or not until next week?”

A decent, oftenannoyingguy.

I scoff and take a seat, cross-legged, on the edge of the mattress. It’s the most comfortable surface my butt has ever touched. As soon as I can afford indulgences, I’ll be buying whatever brand this bed is.

Kit settles next to me, lounging back on one palm and balancing his drink on his knee with the other. I’m uncomfortably aware of each inch separating us. Of how low that total number is.

Of how removed the world outside this room feels.

Of howalonewe are.

He sips his drink, then asks, “Where’s your boyfriend?”

“Chicago.” I swallow a smoky sip too. “And he’s not my boyfriend anymore.”

I’m not sure why I admitted that to him. I should have just said,None of your business.

Kit was already an incorrigible playboy at sixteen. By the time heleft Montgomery Hall after dropping Lili off with his family, every girl in the freshman dorm—excluding me—was in love with him.

Each time I’ve seen him since, he’s hit on me, regardless of whether or not I was in a relationship. Meaning my single status doesn’t really matter, I suppose, but it’s definitely not going todiscouragehim.

“So, you’re single?”

“Yes.”

“Same.”

I down more drink.

“Aren’t you going to ask me why? Since I’m so attractive and charismatic and?—”

“No, I get it. Women appreciate modesty, so you’re immediately disqualified.”

Kit chuckles. “What happened with your ex?”

I flip through possible replies. And for some reason, I settle on the truth. “He cheated on me. With my boss and with who knows how many others. All of his—who I thought wereour—friends knew. So, he did the shitty thing, but I’m the one who wound up without a relationship, an apartment, or a job. All I got were a lot of pitying texts.”

“What an asshole.”

“Yep.”

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