Page 100 of Hyperspeed
I didn’t hear what he said, but I couldn’t miss the grunt he made when Grandma no doubt whacked him.
“Welcome to my home, I guess,” I said with a shrug.
Kai followed me as I limped down the hallway, his hand resting on the small of my back, just above my tail. The heat of his palm seeped through my T-shirt, warming me to my core, and my tail wrapped around his wrist, a place it seemed to favour these days, like it was trying to keep him close to me.
He leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “Nice PJs, rookie.”
“Fuck off, Mercer.” My grumble was half-assed, and I sent a small, shy smile his way.
When we entered the main room, Dad and Grandma turned their heads towards the fresh addition. Dad smiled and opened his mouth to speak, but Grandma beat him to it.
“Oh look, it’s the asshole.”
Kai and I froze, and an uncomfortable silence filled the room. We turned to stare at one another, wearing matching expressions of surprise. My skin pulsed with a mix of burnt orange and sky blue.
“I am sosorry,” I squeaked.
Kai remained silent. I was about to give Grandma an earful, wooden brush to the backside be damned, when his face crumpled.
And then he laughed.
It came from deep within his belly. A joy-filled cackle that flooded the open space of my apartment as he bent at the waist, hands resting on his thighs. Fromthe corner of my eye, I could see my parents watching on with open mouths, probably wondering if Kai was losing it.
Had Grandma broken him?
I was wondering whether he’d cracked, when he straightened up and rubbed his stomach muscles. Tears tracked down his cheeks, and he wiped them away before looking at me.
“I can see where you get it from,” he wheezed. “It’s fucking cute, Revvy. You’re so fucking cute.”
That strange amethyst glow flickered between us, dancing across my skin. It was the one that only ever showed up around Kai, and I couldn’t remember the last time it had burned red with irritation.
In my periphery, I caught Grandma eyeing my skin with a knowing smile that shifted into a smirk as she looked back at Kai.
“Well then, Mr Mercer. Come and take a seat.” She gestured to the empty chair beside her as if she owned the damn place. “It seems we have a lot to learn about you.”
Kai shrugged, then crossed the room and sat down. I shook my head, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
Fucking families.
I was ashamed to admit that I didn’t know all that much about Kai beyond what I saw on the track. I felt bad that he was at the centre of my family’s inquisition, but it surprised me to learn what I did.
“My mum raised me on her own,” he explained when Dad asked about his family. “She took me to Karting for Kids, and that’s how I got into the sport. I’d like to say it was because I found an old kart I was obsessed with . . .” He smiled, resting a hand on my thigh. “But I was a hyper little shit, and I think she just wanted some peace on the weekends.”
Everyone laughed at that, even me. I could picture Kai as a child, running amok and driving his mum up the wall.
His smile turned sad. “Growing up, we were close. Not so much now.”
I gripped his hand in mine, wanting to comfort him. Kai was so full of joy, the sadness looked almost wrong on his face, and I wanted to take it away.
“We talk when we can, but I’m busy with the league, and she’s travelling the galaxy. I bought her a house after winning my first championship, just to say thanks for the sacrifices she made.”
“I’m sure she appreciates everything you do for her, Kai,” I said, eyes fixed on our joined hands.
He gave mine a gentle squeeze. When I looked up, the sadness was gone, replaced with a lopsided grin. “Thanks, little comet.”
Heat flooded my cheeks while my skin glowed amethyst. A quick glance around the room revealed my family’s eyes on us, watching a little too closely. I cleared my throat, slipped my hand from his, and shifted in my seat.
The conversation turned to lighter topics, and then Mum asked him about me.
