I decided to shut down Demi’s persistent matchmaking with a blunt statement. “I’m all about the
money.
If he doesn’t have it, even if he’s drop–dead gorgeous, it’s pointless.
As soon as the words left my mouth, I caught Hayden ncing over.
Perfect. He heard me.
I didn’t dodge his gaze. There was zero chance between us anyway, so it was better if he got the
message loud and clear.
I wasn’t clueless. His casual touches, and even spraying the ulcer relief spray on me today–those
small gestures made it obvious he had feelings for me.
“Keira, you’re so shallow. Too shallow,” Demi huffed, clearly annoyed.
I didn’t bother responding or looking at Hayden.
Demi’s phone rang, and after a quick nce at the screen, she said, “It’s Mr. Lawson.”
Gavin?!
“Yes… I’m in the family area of Section A at the amusem..it park. Do you need something? Okay,
see you soon,” Demi finished the call and shot me a look. “Mr. Lawson says he’sing to see
you.”
Gavin’s looking for me? I wondered what it could be about. Maybe it had something to do with Jace
again?
But then I remembered telling Jace this morning to leave me alone, so it probably wasn’t that.
Gavin showed up not long after, carrying a food jar. “Ms. Kay, Mrs. Johnston asked me to bring you
some cold cucumber soup to help with the heat.”
Lindey made it?
She hadn’t reached out to me, so she wouldn’t know I was overheating. This had to be Jace’s
doing. If it was just Jace, I would’ve told Gavin to take it back. But since Lindey made it, I couldn’t
say no. “Thanks, I appreciate it,” I said, taking the food jar from him,
Gavin didn’t leave right away, like he had something else on his mind. Knowing he probably felt
guilty about taking me to Splendor Heights, I decided to put him at ease. “Mr. Lawson, don’t dwell
on it.”
“Ms. Kay, I-
“It wasn’t your fault. If you keep beating yourself up over it, that’s on you,” I said, making it clear I
wasn’t holding him responsible.
Gavin seemed to get the hint and finally said, “Ms. Kay, make sure to drink the soup. It’s really good
for cooling down.”
After he left, Demi, always thinking she had everything figured out, chimed in, “Keira, that soup was
definitely sent by Mr. Johnston.”
Like I didn’t already know that.
“Keira, Mr. Johnston doesn’t want to let you go. He still wants to keep you as a backup,” Demi
added, showing off her so–called insight.
I gave a bitter smile. Did Jace really think he could have everything his way?
Our food hadn’t arrived yet, so I decided to start with the soup. I turned to Hayden. “Wanna try
some?”
“No need,” he declined, his tone clipped.
I didn’t push it and began sharing the chilled cucumber soup with Demi.
I hadn’t even finished a bowl when she nudged me again. “Keira, Keira, another handsome guy is
coming.”
I was used to her drama by now, but I still nced in the direction she was pointing.
And there he was–Wayne.
He was smiling at me, his grin warm and easy, like a sunny spring day. “Soup alone won’t fill you
up.”
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As he spoke, I noticed the lunch box in his hand. “My mom made gnhi with your favorite cumin
and ground beef filling.”
“Why were Mrs. Johnston’s soup and gnhi delivered separately?” Demi blurted out, clearly not
connecting the dots before her mouth ran off.
Wayne looked confused. “What?”
But I caught on instantly. The cucumber soup wasn’t from Lindey at all. It was Jace who had Gavin
lie
about it.
He must’ve figured I’d turn it down if I knew the truth.
“It’s nothing. I was just craving gnhi,” I said, taking the lunch box from Wayne and popping it
open. The smell of the gnhi was mouthwatering.
Even though my mouth was still sore, I really wanted to eat.
I grabbed one with my hand and popped it into my m dribbled down the corner of my lips.
The tangy filling stung my ulcer, and the juice
Without hesitation, Wayne reached out to wipe the juice from my mouth.
But then Hayden’s cool voice sliced through the air. “Your mouth isn’t healed yet, and you didn’t
even wash your hands. Are you trying to make it worse?”