Page 48 of Kneel with the King
There’s no way he’s the reason she couldn’t make it, right?
This is crazy. No, I’mgoingcrazy… speculating without proof just because he said something that threw me off my game.
But, what if?
What if he orchestrated this entire thing just to watch me squirm?
What if I played directly into his hands by reacting the way I did? The way Iam?
I grind my teeth, chest tight. There’s no way to tell. No proof. Just the endless game of chess he always plays better than me.
I push the storeroom door open, and nearly run into Ava.
“Sorry,” I mutter, shaking my head to clear my thoughts. “Sorry,” I repeat, flustered.
Her brows pull together as she places a small hand on my bicep. “Hey, you okay?” Her cheeks are flushed, and before I can answer, I see Spencer hovering right behind her.
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just— I don’t know. I’m… yeah.”
She nods once, seeming to understand, and squeezes my arm. “Do you want to grab that coffee now?”
I hesitate. On the one hand, Ava knowing anything about King and me means there’s a chance it’ll get back to Ari and Maddox, and therefore my parents. But on the other hand, her eyes are wide and open—kind—and something about the familiarity of her tugs at something in my chest.
“Yeah, sure,” I acquiesce.
We both walk into the restaurant, Spencer following immediately behind us, and grab a two-seater table by the window. The hulk lingers nearby, eyes scanning the room. A female server takes our coffee orders, and Ava also orders banana muffins for us both, which I appreciate.
“So,” she starts, once we’re alone. “What’s wrong? You look pretty flustered.”
She and Ari both have the same little wrinkle between their eyes when they’re concerned. It almost makes me do a double take, anddefinitelycauses the word vomit to rise, out of feigned familiarity.
“Um, hey. Can you not tell Ari and Maddox about…” I trail off, wincing.
Her mouth forms a small ‘O’ as her eyes go wide. “Of course. Oh my god, I’d never out you, Asher.”
I laugh lightly and look away.Outme. As if I’m… not straight.
“Thanks. It’s just that it’s complicated, and I don’t want anything getting back to my family. You understand.”
She nods. “I do. I get it. But you know that Ari, at least, won’t care.”
“No, I-I know. I’m just not ready.”
“Okay. I swear on my life not to say anything.” I don’t answer, but I can feel her eyes on my face. “For what it’s worth, you guys are a very cute couple. Is it new?”
I consider lying. Telling her what King had told Jacques and Walter, about how we’ve been dating for a year. But there’s something so… innocent… about Ava. She’s like Snow White—kind, shy, and a little bit sheltered. Plus, the idea of confiding in someone is appealing. Of having an ally. Of having someone I can talk to about all of this.
Looking around, I lean in to get closer. Out of the corner of my eye, Spencer pushes off the wall and takes a step toward us.
“Can you keep a secret?” I ask.
Her eyes light up. “Ooh. Always.” Clicking her nails together, she narrows her eyes and gestures for me to continue.
“It’s all fake. The relationship with King and me. We both needed to be here for networking purposes, and… it was easier to lie about being a couple.”
Her mouth drops open. “Scandalous. But… I’m also not surprised.”
I rear back. “Really?”
