Page 78 of Hate You Later
“I don’t know what I thought was in the box, but it wasn’t that. There was a bunch of other stuff too.” I grab the box from behind the counter where I’d left it. “Phone cases and photography stuff.” I pull out the accessories.
“This is great stuff, very thoughtful.” Kenna examines the items appreciatively. “Now you can finish the challenge and stay involved in the social media planning for the masquerade. That’s a good thing, right?”
I make a face and put the phone on the counter, pushing it away.
“Georgia, you’re keeping the phone, right?”
“I was thinking I wouldn’t,” I say. “These phones are expensive. I don’t want to take on any more debt.”
“These phones are expensive for you, sure, but I assure you, it’s not putting a dent in Hudson Holm’s checking account.” Kenna looks about ready to wring my neck. “Why must you be such a martyr? You need it to do the challenge. He needs you to finish the challenge. And it’s not like he can return it. If you’re not going to keep it, I will. The camera on these is awesome.” She swipes the phone off the counter.
“Give it back,” I demand. Kenna teases me for a moment, then finally hands it back.
“Fine.” I sigh. “I’ll keep the phone. It still feels weird though.”
“Why?” Kenna asks, looking more critically at me now. “Did anything else happen?”
“Maybe,” I confess. “Maybe a little bit.”
Kenna leans forward. “Keep talking.”
“I might have jumped him.” I say it fast and groan. My head is back in my hands.
“Oh, Georgia, no! You didn’t!” Kenna claps.
“Ugh.” I moan. “I mean, at least I didn’t deck him.”
“Well, thank goodness for that.” Kenna nods. “But?”
“But I did kiss him. A lot.”
“And? How’d he take it? Did he hiss at you?”
“Shut up with the cat references,” I warn. “Or else.”
“Or else what?” she teases.
“I swear to God, Mckenna Papadopoulos!!” I threaten, using her full name.
“Fine, fine.” She capitulates. “So, you made out with him?”
“Guilty.” I nod.
“Ah, so it was … good?”
“So good. Scary good. Cosmic even.” I glance at the stars I painted all around the shop.
“So, what happened next? Did you …?” She looks around the shop, clearly trying to imagine where such a deed might be done in the tiny space.
“No!” I shake my head. “Xander banged on the window. He was passing by and he … uh … saw us.”
Kenna raises a brow.
“Kissing!” I amend. “That’s all he saw! Xander was walking by and he noticed something was going on in the shop and wanted to make sure I was okay. I sent him on his way, but I think he realized that it was Hudson.”
“Oh, Lordy.” Kenna is stifling a giggle now and she fans herself. “So, you sent Xander away. Then what?”
“Then I kicked Hudson out.”
