Chapter 0208

Kent blinks at me then, his lips parting a little in surprise; and then he shakes his head, blinking as a little smirk pulls at his

mouth. “Come on, Fay,” he sighs, reaching out a hand that he places between my shoulder blades, ushering me

neatly towards the open door. “Come inside. Welcome home.”

Surprised, pleased, I do as he says, only turning back for the little suitcase. “Leave it,” he murmurs,

continuing to urge me forward. “They should have taken it in for you anyway.”

“Oh,” I say, glancing backwards at it and then at Marco and

Gianni, who seem to be realizing the same thing at the same time. Marco sighs and puts his head in his hands, but I give them

both a smile. Kent’s back turned, Gianni

risks giving me a little wave

guards like me, at least a little bit, I walk with Kent into the house and look up at him. “Did you have a nice night?” I ask, a little

desperate to break the silence.

Kent looks down at me for a

moment while he closes the door, but he doesn’t answer my question. “Did you have a nice night, Fay?”

“Um,” I say, my fingers reaching up to tangle in my hair, which I know is...unkempt, after a little — just a little — frisky business

with Ivan and a night sleeping outside.

Kent’s face goes dark as he sees me

playing with my hair

someung

I only do when I’m anxious.

Realizing that I’m giving away more than I want to, I drop my

hands and fold them neatly behind my back.

“What happened?” Kent asks, taking a step closer to me, glowering down at me so I have to tilt my head back and look up at

him. “Did he touch you?”

I frown at Kent then, a little defiance curling in my stomach as he glares at me. “Was he...not supposed to touch me?” I ask. “It

was a date, Kent. You knew that

when you sent me.”