Fault Line (Coastal University #2)

by Ki Stephens

“You know, I missed you last week.” “What?” “I missed talking to you,” he admits, his gaze intense. “This ignoring shit you’ve been doing? Yeah, it doesn’t really work for me.” I’m momentarily speechless. Honestly, I assumed that he didn’t care either way if we talked. “Holden,” I murmur softly, uncertain of what else to say. “Kaia.” He parrots my tone. “Look, if you’re pissed at me, then just tell me. Fight with me. Yell at me. But don’t shut me out. I don’t like seeing you everywhere, knowing that you’re just gonna look the other way.”

“You still think I don’t like you?” I lean back, running a frustrated hand through my hair. “Kaia, I fucking adore you.” Her brow furrows. “What?” “I admire the hell out of you. I think you’re smart, funny, witty, beautiful.” I stop myself before I get truly carried away. “There’s never a dull moment when we’re around each other.”

It’s the fact that I’m here, in a hotel room, hundreds of miles away from the one person who makes me feel the most alive—a feeling I don’t often experience outside of the rink. It’s the fact that I can’t stop thinking about her, even when I know I shouldn’t.

“Come on, Karras. Go home,” I plead, making one last attempt to cajole her. “I’ll be by this afternoon with some soup and shit.” “Don’t you dare.” “What are you gonna do about it, Sneezy? Fight me?”

“If it wasn’t obvious by now—I kinda give a shit about you, Karras.” I tense up in his arms. “Ah, I see.” “And I think you give a shit about me, too.” “Yeah,” I quietly, hesitantly agree. “Yeah, maybe I do.”

“There’s nothing fucking wrong with you, Kaia,” he says fiercely, pulling me even closer. “All that shit you just listed—it’s what makes you human. Uniquely fucking perfect. I don’t like you in spite of who you are. I like every little piece that makes you whole. I’m not getting bored of you, ever, so don’t even let your mind take you there.”

“If you don’t start paying extra rent, then I don’t see any reason why I should continue to pay the same amount as you. It’s just not fair.”

Wtf is up with this bitch

“I could just pay the whole thing. Get her off your back.” “Stop.” He shoots me a mischievous smile. “I’d love to be your sugar daddy, Karras.”

“Hey,” he says, tipping my chin. “You’re gonna do great things, baby. And besides, we’re all just here to learn and grow. There’s no need to compare ourselves to anyone else.”

hey baby, just wanted to let you know I’ll be out of town for another away game this weekend. but I’ll be back on sunday, and we can talk then

Why is he literally so perfect