He glances at me with a smile. "Yeah, that's what she calls you."I stare up at a balcony and see a figure move along the patio."We're coming up, treacle,"Kyanyells again.
"She's not even answering you."
"Well," he shrugs, "might not be her. Maybe that old lady that lives next door. I don't fucking know."
He bolts across the street without so much as a glance and I roll myeyes. I shouldjust leave him, butgodknowsI'd endupbailinghimout of jail.I jog across the street myself andfollowhimup the metal stairwell.He'swindedby the time we reach the top and he goes right to the first door and pounds his fist over it. "Ah, treacle," he sings. "We've come to see you."
"You sound like a fucking perv."
"Thank you." He smiles.
Thedoor opens and Hope standsthere, hereyebrowraised as she looks atKyan, sparing me a fleeting glance beforedeliberatelylooking away again. "Whatare you doing here?"she asks.
"I don't know. Finn wanted to see you."
"What!" My gaze driftsoverto Hopewhose leaningagainst the door with her arms folded. "Kyan," I reach for him, but hemanoeuvresaway from my grasp.
"I doubt that,” she snorts. Theannoyance in her voice bothers me.
"He's drunk," I say. "I'm—"
"And just who the bloody fuck are you?" I hearKyansay. Hope rolls her eyes and turns around, opening the door the rest of the way. There's a man standing in the middle of her living room, his head only a few inches away from the ceiling. He's in a pair of jeans, hissteroidpumped muscles on full display.It's the same guy she waswalkingwith earlier.
"Who the fuckare you?" He asks, eyeingKyanwith a volatile glare.
"Jesus, fuck, Silas." She turns around, her hands on herhipsas she looks at the guy. "Don't be talking to my friends." She turns back to us, stepping into the hallway and pulling the door nearly closed behind her.
"You're fucking the hulk?"Kyanasks.
"No."She clips him across the side of the head."He's my ex." Her eyes flick to me, her expression tight. Her usual teasing self is completely absent and I don't like it. That'swhat makes her Hope. She looks...sad."It's complicated,"shemumbles.
My gaze lockswithhersand I can't seem to tear it away."Come on,Kyan," I say.
"Ginge, you're breaking my heart,"Kyansays, clutching at his chest. "I thought what we had was special."
I roll my eyes. "Comeon," I say more impatiently. Suddenly I need to get away from here, from her. Nothing about this should bother me, but it fucking does. I have absolutely noright.
Kyanstumbles backdown the hallway with me andI have to grab the collar of his shirt and yank him back to stop him from falling downthe stairs.
"I'm sorry,man," he says when we get outside.
Yeah, I think maybe I am too.
