The Bombshell.

(KAIRA'S POV)

When I finally found my way to the dining room, everyone was waiting.

Mum stood as I approached.

"Hey, honey."

"Hi, Mum."

I took the empty seat beside her, deliberately avoiding the person sitting across from me.

Slade.

“Good evening, Kaira,” Tom greeted cheerfully, almost like he was talking to a child.

"Good evening. I'm sorry, I'm late. I got a little lost."

"No problem. I was actually surprised when Slade told me you wanted to find your way without his help.”

My head snapped toward Slade.

For the first time since entering the room, our eyes met. He had changed into a black T-shirt that hugged his body perfectly and his hair looked tousled.

His expression was blank, but the corner of his mouth lifted for half a second.

I glared at him.

"But I'm impressed." Tom continued nodding.

"Kaira has always been independent." Mum proudly added.

"That's easy to see." Tom added with a nod. "Her perfect academic record even while having a busy parent is remarkable."

"Thank you." I said, avoiding gazes.

"Actually,” Tom sat up. “Slade needs a tutor for English and literature, which Kaira is great at as you've said, Shanice."

My stomach twisted.

Mum interrupted brightly. “Kaira is exceptional’! She even helped a college freshman last year.”

“That’s perfect for Slade.”

Wait— what just happened? I stared at my mother but she smiled innocently at me.

"I have a tutor already." Slade said as he leaned back in his chair. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your principal doesn’t seem to think so. " Tom turned to me with a smile. "Kaira, I'll be very grateful if you could create some time for Slade."

"Oh, well I—"

"Kaira is shy and she won't say this but two days ago, she was talking about how she needs someone to tutor, didn’t you say so honey?” Mum was all smiles, unconsciously digging a hole for me.

I cleared my throat. “Yes I did. But I just—“

"It's settled then." Tom said rubbing his hands together.

I could feel Slade's heavy gaze on me, I looked up and sure enough, he was staring right at me. So hard that I looked away.

Just then the door opened.

"Let's have a wonderful dinner." Tom announced and an amazing aroma wafted through the air as the servers came in.

Dinner was extravagant and even though I am a big lover of food, I lacked appetite. Today weighed heavily on me, with the Kiss a constant, nagging reminder in my head.

The dining room was silent for a long time, except for the sound of cutlery—until a loud throat clearing from Tom made us all look up.

He was wiping the sides of his mouth with a napkin, his eyes pinned at the end of the table—to Mum.

"I have an important announcement." He announced and the room responded with a deafening silence.

"Shanice and I have decided…." Tom began.

A weird sensation crawled my back.

"We'll be getting married tomorrow." He finished.

Tomorrow.

The word hung in the air like smoke and the clock's tick-tock sounded too loud in the deafening silence.

I glanced around the dining room. Slade's fork was frozen above his plate and his jaw was tight.

Mum was looking down at her plate. Not even a glance at me and that hurt even more.

Of course they're getting married, that's why I'm in this circus in the first place. But tomorrow? And again she didn't tell me about it? My chest felt heavy.

"I know that this is another shock to you." Of course Tom was the first to break the silence.

"Not just a shock, Dad." Slade's icy tone sliced the room.

I was forced to look at him and for a split moment, I recognized the emotions in his eyes. Very similar to how I felt. Betrayal.

"And that's understandable." Tom continued.

"So, you really want to get married tomorrow." Slade asked his father, leaning forward.

"That's the plan." Tom confirmed.

There was another moment of silence with Mum and I like intruders in this conversation.

"You always speak about process, time and consideration." Slade was back to default, as blank as ever. "This is nothing like that. It’s rushed."

"You're absolutely right, Slade." Mum joined, sounding like the voice of reason. "And that's why we want to talk about it with you both."

Tom nodded.

“I know it’s sudden. But Shanice and I have spent years putting everyone else first. We know what it feels like to have happiness cut short. We would love for you both to support us.”

His gaze settled on Mum.

Her eyes filled with tears.

Then Tom looked at me.

“How do you feel about this, Kaira?”

I swallowed.

“It’s really fast.”

Slade glanced at me but I turned my attention to my mum’s instead. She looked ashamed as our eyes met.

“I’m sorry.” She said hoarsely, giving a flash of the heavy emotions she felt. “We both are.”

She turned to Tom and they exchanged a look so heavy that I felt jealous. Jealous that I could see they had a deep connection. And that jealousy led to guilt, because again I knew how much my mum has sacrificed for me.

She deserved to be happy.

“But…” I continued, “you both have my support.”

Mum’s hand found mine beneath the table and squeezed it.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Everyone looked at Slade.

He sighed.

“Fine.”

It was the closest thing to approval we were going to get.

Dinner ended soon after.

I followed a domestic assistant, Rose toward my room, already exhausted from the day’s events.

I had barely made it down the hallway when a familiar voice stopped me.

"Running away?"

I gasped deeply and turned.

Slade stood behind me

I glanced past Rose. At least I wasn’t alone. Slade followed my gaze but didn’t look away.

“I’ll take her, Rose.”

Rose hesitated, then gave me a hurried glance that was almost apologetic before she walked away.

I sighed.

“You must be so happy about the announcement,” Slade said.

“Which one?” I asked, pursing my lips.

His eyebrow lifted.

“Because I am not happy about being your tutor, and I don’t care if our parents get married tonight.” I finished.

“You were eager to give your blessing minutes ago.” He shrugged.

“Because there’s nothing else I can do and maybe you should accept that.”

I started walking again.

Slade stepped in front of me.

“You have a sharp mouth when we’re alone.” He said. “I bet no one knows what you really are. But I do. I know the real you.”

I raised my chin even though my lips trembled.

“You don’t know me and I don’t care what you think.”

“But you do.”

He stepped closer.

Too close.

His breath fanned my face and a cool, musky cologne infiltrated my airways.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest while we both stood in silence. His eyes lazily, yet intensely memorized my face.

I tried to look anywhere but at him. I failed. My eyes dropped to his lips and the kiss flashed through my mind.

I quickly looked away.

But Slade carefully turned my face back to him.

For one stupid second, I thought he was going to kiss me again. I didn’t move and neither did he. His lips hovered just inches from mine. Then his voice dropped.

"You care what I think." He straightened his posture and moved back, his eyes never leaving mine. “That’s going to be a problem.” He added, almost to himself.

“Problem? I don’t—“

"Find your way to your room." He interrupted and smoothed his shirt.

And like that, he was gone.