Spring Knight: Young Adult Romance Novella (A Seasons of Change Standalone) (8 page)

Kayleigh went to say something else, but her eyes landed on the clock next to him.

“Shit, rehearsals start in ten. Adam is going to kill us!” Panicking, Kayleigh scrambled from the bed and began rummaging in her wardrobe for something to wear.

“Aiden, get up! You have to go get ready,” she ordered when she glanced over to see him still lying there.

“I am ready.”

“You can’t turn up late with me and wear the same clothes as yesterday.”

“Why not? I don’t think people will remember what I was wearing.”

“Of course they will, and then they will know you were with me ... all night.”

“So? I think people are beyond caring who I’m with. And nothing happened.”

“They don’t know that!” She was hyperventilating. Her breaths were coming in short, quick gasps because she panicked at the thought. She had to hold on to the chair at her desk to steady herself.

Almost instantly, Aiden was at her side. “Breathe, Kayleigh. Deep breaths. Inhale, exhale.” He kept up a steady rhythm of orders as he rubbed circles on her back. Slowly, she calmed down.

“Sorry, I just don’t want them to think that about me.”

She gazed up at him, catching the moment of hurt in his eyes, but she couldn’t feel sorry for him. There was no way she wanted people to add her to his list of conquests, thinking she was easy when nothing happened.

“Kay, if anyone even thinks that about you they’ll have me to deal with.”

“Please just go change,” she whispered, clutching the clothes in a tight fist as she hunched over the chair. “I’ll cover for you, just be there as soon as possible.”

“All right, I’m going.” The hurt was still in his eyes and his voice as he turned to glance at her by the door. The smile didn’t meet his eyes and he shook his head regretfully, but Kayleigh ignored it. She needed to focus if she’d be able to deal with Adam. Wasting no time, she changed and hurried out the door.

When she walked into the Performing Arts Centre everyone else was already there. Adam was in the middle of a speech, and she’d hoped she could creep in and tag on to the end without him noticing. However, she should have known better.

“You’re late, Kayleigh, that is not acceptable for a leading actress. In fact, it’s also unacceptable for your co-star to be late, too.”

Kayleigh didn’t like what his tone insinuated; it was as if he knew they had been together. Regardless, telling herself he couldn’t possibly have jumped straight to that conclusion, she ignored it. “I overslept. Aiden texted me on my way over. He had to deal with a family issue and will be here shortly.”

“I’m sure he will ...” His voice was laced with doubt and disbelief.

“Yep, I will.” Aiden came jogging in through the doors, an easy smile on his face. He was wearing a different set of clothes, but he still hadn’t shaved, something that put Kayleigh on edge. Adam was already suspicious.

“Sorry I’m late everyone. My brother suffers from panic attacks and needed me.”

Kayleigh didn’t miss the subtle look he gave her as he bent the truth.

“Right, well now everyone has
finally
shown up, I think we should start.”

They all found their places, and Kayleigh breathed a sigh of relief at the fact it wasn’t a scene with Aiden they were rehearsing.

 

* * * *

 

Kayleigh was packing her belongings up and tying her hair into a loose, messy ponytail when Adam approached her. When she saw the determined stride to his walk her heart sank, knowing there was no way to avoid what was obviously going to be a conflict. Pulling her bag over her shoulder, she made sure she was ready to run the moment an opportunity arose.

“Strange that both you and Aiden were late today, don’t you think?”

“No not really. Just a coincidence I guess.”

He didn’t look like he believed a word. “You sure about that?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You’re a good actress, Kayleigh, but I know what’s going on here. You aren’t pretending when it comes to Aiden.”

“I don’t think that’s any of your business, really, even if it were true.” Kayleigh was proud that her voice didn’t wobble or crack. Her tone remained nonchalant and she conveyed an air of boredom as she glanced down at her nails.

“It has everything to do with me if you turn into one of his sluts. What do you think will happen to the show when he kicks you to the curb like every other woman who thinks they’re special enough to change him? You’ll be left heartbroken and the show will be ruined all because you fought to get him cast and then couldn’t keep your hands off him. By the looks of this morning you don’t have long left with him either.”

Kayleigh resisted the urge to slap him. Her hand was twitching at her side, but she knew it would do her no favours. Gritting her teeth she was about to reply, but Aiden beat her to it.

“Is there a problem here?” He towered over Adam, pulling himself up to his full height as he pierced him with a fixing stare. He seemed to have overheard more than she thought.

“No, we’re cool, aren’t we, Kayleigh? You understand what I was saying?”

Kayleigh was fuming. Blood pounded in her ears because she refused to respond. Her silence and angry glare were enough of an answer.

“I don’t think you are really.” Aiden moved quicker than a snake striking. One minute his arm was at his side, and the next his hand was clutching at the neck of Adam’s shirt, scrunching it up as he pressed him into the wall.

“Aiden, careful,” Kayleigh murmured, but she was too scared to get involved. She also thought Adam deserved it.

“You think you know me, Adam? You’ve heard all of the rumours around campus and that automatically means you know everything about my life?”

Adam didn’t answer.

“I asked you a question.” Aiden’s voice dropped to a deadly tone.

“Everyone knows who you are and of your reputation, but still sluts like her chase you thinking they can be the one to change you.” Adam jerked his chin in Kayleigh’s direction and she saw Aiden’s grip tighten. People were starting to gather, watching the scene with intrigue.

“What did you just call Kayleigh?” Aiden hissed.

“You heard me.”

“Not so brave a second time, eh? Go on, what did you call her.” Adam was pressed harder into the wall, rising up on to his toes.

“I’ve seen the way she looks at you, there’s more than acting going on there. She thinks she’s special, that she can break the player Aiden Hanson, but you don’t do serious. Hell, she’s probably already slept with you so you’ll be on to your next conquest by tomorrow. She’s a sl—”

“I would not finish that sentence if I were you. You don’t know shit about what’s between me and Kayleigh, and you have been wrong on every count. So let me put you straight. Kayleigh
is
special, and if there was a girl I was going to change for, it would be her. She has never thrown herself at me once in all of the years I’ve known her, nor have we slept together. I might have a reputation, but Kayleigh does not deserve your shit, she’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. If I ever hear you threatening her or insulting her in any way, I will do a lot worse than pin you to a wall. Got it?”

Adam’s face had blanched. Despite all of the bravado and acting lessons, fear still wasn’t a reaction he could control. His eyes were wide, but stubbornly, he remained silent.

“I asked you a question.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good. Now apologise to Kayleigh.” Aiden loosened the pressure at Adams throat so he could turn his head. He was scared, but there was also anger in his eyes.

“Aiden, he really doesn’t have to. It’s fine. I’ve had worse,” Kayleigh said, just wanting the scene to be over.

“It’s not fine, Kay. He can’t treat you like that. He can’t treat anyone like that.” He turned his attention back to Adam, his gaze hardening. “Now, apologise.”

“I’m sorry, Kayleigh.”

“Good boy,” Aiden said patronisingly, a smug grin on his face as he let go of his shirt and pushed him out of the way. Then, throwing his arm around Kayleigh’s shoulder, he led her from the room.

Not knowing what to say—especially when still in earshot of everyone else—she let him. Yet, once the doors had shut behind them, the shock wore off slightly and allowed her to speak. “What the hell was that? I thought we were trying
not
to cause a scene.”

Aiden squeezed her closer to him as they walked around campus. Kayleigh ignored the glares of other women when their eyes found Aiden’s arm around her shoulders. She could see in their expressions they were both jealous and disgusted, but she chose not to focus on them.

“He shouldn’t have called you that. I’m not going to stand by and let him ruin things for you all because you’re friends with me.”

She couldn’t really argue with that. Kayleigh wasn’t usually a violent person, but Adam had definitely had it coming for a while.

“Well thanks. Although, I’m sure that news is going to spread like wildfire.”

“Who cares? I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true. Ready to go public with our relationship?” Glancing up at him, she saw that the teasing was back in his eyes. It was as if nothing had gone wrong seconds ago. At his comment, Kayleigh felt her words lodge in her throat, unsure of what the correct response would be. She didn’t want to say yes only for him to laugh at her, but she did want to be in a relationship with him.

“We’re not in a relationship.” The words were barely a whisper but he heard.

“We will be eventually.”

“Confident much?”

“Nah, I just know you. You’ve liked me for a while and I’m finally ready for a serious relationship. I never wanted to hurt you, Kay, it’s why I never encouraged you.”

“You … you want me?”

He let out a small burst of laughter. “Seriously, Kayleigh? How many times have I turned up at a girl’s flat just to study or watch a movie? Trust me, you’re special.”

Without realising, she tilted her head, leaning into him further. She’d longed to hear those words from Aiden for years, but now that they’d finally arrived she wasn’t sure what to do with them.

“Come on, let’s go and get something to eat. We never got breakfast.”

Kayleigh could only nod in response and let him guide her wherever he planned to take them.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

 

“So do you really have a brother?” Kayleigh asked while they both sat in a diner-style café with pancakes, strawberries, and a milkshake. At her question, Aiden looked up, swallowing the mouthful of food he had taken and sipping on his drink before replying.

“Yeah, he’s seven and before you ask, yes he really does have panic attacks.”

“Is that how you knew how to calm me earlier?”

Aiden shrugged, he didn’t look like he was comfortable with the subject, but he still replied, “It helped, although you weren’t having a panic attack. I just reassured you when you were freaking out.”

He watched as Kayleigh took another tiny mouthful of food. She was trying to not embarrass herself by shovelling big portions, as Aiden wouldn’t take his eyes off her, but the constant scrutiny was making her nervous. She ate with a unique precision, picking only at one item on her plate at a time. She never combined the food; either it was pancake or strawberries.

“Do you have any more siblings?”

Aiden shook his head. “No just my brother.”

“Why such an age gap?” A deep crimson filled her cheeks as she blurted the thought out, her nose scrunching slightly. “Sorry, that was rude, ignore me.”

Aiden laughed. “No it’s fine, you can ask me anything. He’s adopted, so that’s why there’s such a difference.”

“Oh, um ... okay.”

He watched as she floundered for words. It hadn’t been what she was expecting, and unsure of the relationships in the family, Kayleigh didn’t know what she was expected to say.

“It’s no secret, so don’t worry. I don’t mind talking about him. To me he’ll always be my brother.”

Kayleigh glanced up at him in disbelief; she hadn’t thought he was the sensitive type. However, Ellie’s words came into her mind before she could embarrass herself further. It was true that when Aiden let someone in he was one of the best friends you could ask for.

“That’s sweet. I’m guessing you’re close?”

He had a look of adoration in his eyes as he spoke. When she waited in anticipation of his response though, he only shrugged. “He’s a pain in the ass, but I guess that’s his job as the youngest. I’d do anything for him really. But what about you?”

“No siblings, just a cat.”

At that moment the waitress came over with the bill, silencing them both. Kayleigh reached into her bag to rummage for her purse, but in the bottomless pit that consumed her belongings it was a nightmare to find. Her fingers finally touched the fake leather and grabbed it.

“How much do I owe you?”

Aiden pulled the bill out of her eye line with a teasing expression that made Kayleigh wary. “Nothing, I got it.”

“But—”

“It’s fine, Kay.”

“No because that means this was like a—” Kayleigh caught herself before she could finish the sentence. She was once again jumping to conclusions too quickly.

“Like a what?”

“Nothing, just saying you don’t have to pay.”

“Like a date?”

Kayleigh wanted her black hole of a bag to swallow her as well as the purse she put back.

“No, that wasn’t what I was going to say.” His constant stare was unnerving her as she tried to lie convincingly.

“Yeah it was. You’re a great actress, but you’re not that good. You suck at lying.” He chuckled. “I don’t mind, though. I’d say it was a good first date.”

“What? I’m not lying!” She didn’t need a mirror to know her cheeks were the same colour as the shiny, red table top.

“Yeah you are, I can tell.”

“How? And this wasn’t a date,” she grumbled just as the waitress came to collect their money and bring Aiden a copy of the receipt. When she placed it down, Kayleigh caught the bold, blue swirly handwriting across the top.

“See, it can’t be a date, you just got another girl’s number.” She thought her point was good enough, but she should have known Aiden wouldn’t give up. Picking up the receipt, he tore off the top, pocketing the half with the bill on it, and then replaced the other half with the number and a note to call her on the table.