Page 25 of I Knew He Was Trouble
Evie goes to Grace Dance Co., right?
ME
Yeah, why?
KELSEY
Stay put, I’m on my way.
I certainly wasn’t planning on leaving anytime soon. A glance at the sticky floor tells me I’ll be standing while I wait. I send up a silent prayer that no one needs to use the bathroom before Kelsey gets here to do…whatever it is she’s planning.
My fingers tap my sides in anxious anticipation. Why did I think it was a good idea to involve Kelsey? Maybe she’s not even coming and just told me she was so that I’d stay in here and make a fool of myself. Maybe she’ll show up just to make fun of me and see me squirm. Or she’s coming to conspire with the wolves out there, giving them my address and phone number so that I’ll never know peace again.
A knock sounds at the bathroom door. I lift my foot to go to the door, and it makes a squelching sound as it rips off the tile. Gross.
Or maybe—hopefully—she’s actually planning on helping me get out of this sticky situation.
In case it’s not Kelsey out there, I try to throw my voice. “Occupied.” It comes out sounding like a fake old lady. Just call me Mrs. Doubtfire.
A boisterous laugh I immediately recognize as Kelsey echoes from outside the door. I cringe knowing she’s probably garnering attention out there.
“You can give up the act, Doofenshmirtz.”
“Who the heck is Doofenshmirtz?”
“The evil guy inPhineas and Ferb.”
I scoff. “The kid’s show?”
“Precisely,” she whisper-yells. “Are you going to let me in, or did you decide to move in there?”
I turn the lock and throw open the door, yanking Kelsey into the family-sized restroom with me and locking it again.
She salutes me with a cocky grin. “Good afternoon, this is your savior speaking.”
“Did you just quoteTop Gun: Maverick?” I whisper. Because there isn’t possibly any way she could be quoting my favorite movie.
She smiles, and I’m momentarily stunned by how beautiful she is when she’s not insulting me. “Just call me Hangman.” Kelsey nudges my arm. “Get it? Because I’m not leaving you hanging.” Her smile falls as she looks around the bathroom. “You couldn’t have picked a better place to hide out?”
“Where do you suggest?” I ask, gesturing toward the door. “Behind the fake potted plant in the lobby? Or maybe underneath the waiting chairs? I’m sure they’d never see me there.”
“Okay, okay, I get it.” She reaches her hand out, and I stare at it blankly. Her expression turns teasing. “Have you never held hands with a girl before, Reed?”
I press my lips into a firm line and interlock our fingers. Her hand is slender and cold, making me shiver.
“Why are you acting so nervous?” Kelsey glances at me with a raised brow. “Have you really never done this before?”
“Of course I have.” I huff. “Your hand is just freezing. Speaking of hands… Why exactly are we holding hands in the bathroom?”
She shakes her head like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “We’re going to show all those single moms that their hot doctor fantasy is in the toilet because he’s off the market.”
“Please never use the phrasehot doctor fantasyagain.”
Kelsey opens the bathroom door and yanks my arm, leaving me trailing behind her like a lost puppy. When we reach the group of overzealous moms, she comes to a stop and turns, pushing her body against mine and running her hands through my hair.
Her fingernails graze my scalp, and I suddenly understand why the dogs she walks obey her. I would do just about anything she said too if I got a daily head scratch like this.
Every ounce of my body is on high alert as her fingers leave my hair and brush my jawline and down my arms. Even through my long-sleeve shirt, I can feel the ghost of her touch.
