Chapter 9

A few weeks have passed since I started opening my heart to Kevin, and it's a huge relief, although I don't think he realises my feelings for him yet. The boy is clueless. I thought my shyness and heavy breathing while doing the three-minute stare would be enough, but he never made a move on me.

Nonetheless, I finally convinced him to train me! I can't help but release a dark laugh as I wash the remaining dishes my friends piled up.

"Stop doing that. It's creepy," Tamera says, walking inside the kitchen with an empty plate and fork in hand.

I shrug. "I convinced Kevin to train me."

"And what's your plan?" she asks, handing me her plate before leaning against the counter beside me.

"No plan. I just want to spend more time with him."

"More time with who?" Liam asks, walking in with only a towel wrapped around his waist.

Tamera throws one of the dry sponges at him. "Stop walking around naked."

He laughs, shrugging it off before opening the fridge. "One year, and you're still bothered by it. I might think you have a thing for me, Tam."

I snort as Tamera rolls her eyes. "You know who I have a thing for. Trust me, I wish it was you. At least I wouldn't be going through all this nonsense," she says, crossing her arms.

"I know it's not my place to tell, but you should forget about Andros," I say, instantly regretting it by the raised eyebrow she throws at me.

"You're right. It's not your place to tell since you've been keeping your legs close for a guy who didn't even know your existence until that one message you sent."

I take a sharp inhale, pulling out the plastic gloves I use when washing the dishes. I knew Tam would go there. I rest my hands on the sink's border, locking my gaze with the vindictive woman. "I keep my legs close because I don't need to sleep around to grab a guy's attention, which is what you've been doing for how long? Six months? And you accomplished. . .nothing?"

Tamera clenches her jaw as I smirk. "Ladies, let's all calm down," Liam butts in, pulling us into him. "Put your pride to the side and—"

"Did you really have a shower?" Tamera interrupts, and I frown, watching her inhale his shaved armpit.

Liam's face turns red. "Why?"

She snorts, pushing his arm off. "Your armpit smells."

"What?! Nöelle, do I really smell?" he asks, shoving his armpit under my nose.

I stop breathing and get out of his hold. "Liam, please," I say, walking in circles around the table with him hot in my tracks.

"Just smell my armpit, woman!" he yells, and I take off in a run, getting out of the kitchen. Tamera laughs booms in the flat.

"You can't walk outside like that!" I yell, sprinting out of the house only to bump into a hard chest.

I stumble back, colliding against Liam's chest. His arm comes around my neck. "Got you, bitch."

I burst out laughing as I try to push his arm off. "What the hell am I witnessing?" a deeper voice asks.

A shiver runs down my spine as I look up, catching Kevin's wide forest eyes on us. Liam pulls away. "What are you doing here?" he asks.

"I came to pick up Nöelle for our workout since she wasn't answering her phone. Why are you half-naked?"

My eyes travel down Kevin's athletic body: Grey shorts and a sleeveless shirt is emphasizing his arm muscles. Damn, he's fine.

"I just finished showering. Do you mind smelling my armpit?" Liam asks, and I'm surprised when I see Kevin shrug.

I laugh, watching Liam lift his arm, letting Kevin smell him. "Does it smell?" Liam asks.

Kevin shakes his head. "Nah, you're all good. Nö, you ready?"

I smile before excusing myself to change into a more sporty outfit. It takes a while, but I find a pair of black biker shorts and a grey crop top inside the disorganized wardrobe.

Kevin and I start our training with a light run around campus; my box braids quickly make me feel hot on my back. "Have you and Liam always been close?" he asks out of the blue.

I frown but reply to him anyway, "I guess. We were flatmates last year and just clicked. Why?"

"I'm just wondering if he only sees you as a friend."

I halt our run, crossing my arms over my chest. "Where is this coming from?"

Kevin sighs, scratching the back of his neck. "I don't know. I just have a weird feeling about him."

I frown, tilting my head to the side. "Aren't you friends with him?"

"What does that have to do with what I'm saying?"

"Well, as a friend, I'm sure you guys gossip about girls. You can't tell me there hasn't been a time where no one spoke about a crush or something similar."

He surprises me, putting his hands on my shoulders and leaning his back down until we're on the same eye level. "We do but has it ever crossed your mind that perhaps he's more reserved when it comes to girls?"

I roll my eyes, ignoring the way my face warms up by the closeness. "So you're implying that my best friend likes me?"

He straightens his back, giving me a firm nod. "Absolutely."

I snort. "You're ridiculous."

"No, you're just blind."

I sigh, resuming our light run. Kevin follows my pace. "I'm serious, Nö."

"And you're being ridiculous. I know Liam, and I know how he is with someone he likes. Trust me, I'm not one of them. Keep going with this, and I might start thinking that you're jealous." I glance at the boy, catching him clenching his jaw with his brows knitted.

I wait for him to look at me, and when he does, I raise an eyebrow. He stops running. "Why would I be jealous?"

I cross my arms, tilting my head. "Are you?"

"Why are you putting everything on me? Do you want me to be jealous?"

"So you are jealous."

"I'm not jealous though."

I smile. "That's adorable."

Kevin releases a loud groan, making me chuckle. We resume our run, falling in peaceful silence. The exercises he makes me do allow me to secretly drool at him.

The way his biceps tense up when he shows me the plank or the way his abs turn rock hard when he demonstrates to me the crunches make me heat up.

And the best part is when he holds me down by the ankles. His touch is fire, and I'm ready to be lightened up. We're doing everything in the green garden's corner; two light yoga mats keeping our bodies out of reach from the itchy grass.

Halfway through the exercises, I catch Andros calmly talking with a dark-haired Asian girl. I sit up, letting my eyes follow them. "I feel bad for Tamera," I say.

Kevin mimics my position, following my gaze. When he spots Andros, he sighs. "He's an idiot."

"Has he ever talked about Tam?" I can't help but ask.

"All the time, that's what bothers me."

I smirk. "Oh, really? What does he say?"

Kevin raises an eyebrow; His beautiful green eyes are happily twinkling at me. "I don't kiss and tell."

I pout, letting myself fall back against the mat. "Boring."

Kevin's face appears in my vision, and my heart leaps out of my chest. "Do you think I'm boring?" he asks.

I have to take deep breaths at the proximity. Kevin is hovering over me, making me want to kiss him. "Have—Have you ever heard of personal space?" I breathe out.

Kevin smirks, leaning further down and making me gasp. "Do I make you nervous?"

I swallow a lump, shaking my head as my hands come to his sweaty chest, ready to push him away. Fuck, who am I kidding?! I want to kiss him.

The boy licks his lips as a frown settles on my face. I can feel his heartbeat going crazy. "Are you sure you're not the nervous one here?"

His eyes widen, and just when he's pulling away from me, I wrap my arms around his neck, stopping him. "Nöelle," he warns, but I don't care.

I want him.

"Just kiss me, Kevin."

His breath hitches, but he doesn't say no—he moves forward. Our eyes flutter close after one exchange look filled with confusion, and just like that, we kiss.

I'm kissing Kevin freaking Bailey.

Holy.

Fuck!

The smell of sweat mixed with aftershave invades my lungs in the best way possible. His full red lips are savouring mine, and I melt at the blissful feeling.

His tongue secretly slips inside my mouth, taking mine in a slow dance. My head is spinning as my hands caress the back of his neck.

Kevin pulls away; His heated eyes are staring into mine. "We should probably talk about this," he whispers in a low voice I've never heard coming from him.

I smile, silently pulling him back into another shuddering kiss.

We can always talk later.

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