Perfect Strangers

Fuck, Juliet. What have you just done?

CHAPTER FORTY

A bout of hushed whispers and gasps broke out before trickling to a silence behind him. He was struggling to tear his eyes away from her, she was stood still smiling, like the cat that had gotten the cream, swaying gently from side to side, oblivious to what she had just done. What do I do now? He was completely aware of her drunken state and although a part of him was relieved that it had finally been brought out into the open, another part of him was pissed that he was going be left by himself to defend her reasons for lying and the barrage of questions that that was going to bring.

His chest inflated and deflated at a fast pace and he felt as if the walls in the room were beginning to close in on him, the air around him became thick and heavy. “What the hell is going on?” Grace snarled through gritted teeth as she came to a standstill alongside him.

Think Kai, think. He opened his mouth to speak, but his tongue seemed to have doubled in size, it felt thick and it stuck to the roof of his mouth. Without replying, his legs broke free from his exasperated, statuesque stance and before he had time to register his actions, he threw a shrieking Myla over his shoulder and made a quick exit from the room.

“What are you doing?” She laughed, drumming her fists lightly on his back.

“I’m trying to save you from embarrassment!” His focus honed in on the double doors leading out to the expansive garden of the hotel and everything around him seemed to slow down to a standstill. The quicker he tried to move, the slower he felt he was going. He became aware of a barrage of voices behind him, but ignoring it, he continued towards the doors, kicking one open with his foot, he pushed through it and gasped when they made contact with the fresh air. He felt his lungs burn as he frantically tried to take in mouthfuls of the crisp night air.

Myla was still quietly laughing when he placed her to her feet. Hearing the doors open and Victoria’s piercing voice slice through the night like a knife, he cinched his hand around her wrist and pulled her forcefully around the corner of the building.

“You really are forceful,” she tittered wiping her mouth on the back of her hand.

“Do you realize what you said back there, Myla?” He whispered, taking a step back from her.

“Duh, I’m not that drunk, I don’t think. Of course, I said I’d marry you.”

I beg to differ there, Myla. You’re as drunk as a skunk, again. “Yes, I heard that and so did every other set of ears in the room. I’m talking about my name, Myla.”

She looked up at him with a halfcocked smile and ran a hand over her hair. “I just love your name, it rolls off my tongue like silk,” she replied wobbling against the wall.

He could hear the voices of Grace and Stan drawing close, he needed time to find out if she wanted this blown open or to lie, yet again. He moved behind her and placed his hand over her mouth, slipping his arm around her waist he lifted her from her feet and quietly moved her around the next corner of the building. He muttered under his breath when he realized it was awash with large dumpsters and was a dead end. He spotted an open door leading to the kitchens straight opposite. Escape route if needed. Myla’s muffled protests became louder as her body began to thrash in his hold. Dropping her behind a dumpster, he removed his hand. “Well, that was kinky,” she sniggered bringing her hand to her mouth.

“Myla, you need to sober up and listen to me,” he replied running his hands harshly over his face.

“I’m listening carefully,” she smiled. She took an uneasy step forward; her ankle went one way and her heel went the other causing her knees to buckle and she stumbled towards the ground. Swooping down towards her, he managed to grab hold of her shoulders and pin her to the dumpster.

“Fuck’s sake, Myla you’re a fucking nightmare when you’re drunk!” He snapped.

“I’m sorry,” she laughed. Her laugh fizzled out when she locked eyes with him and saw the seriousness of his face radiating back at her.

“You’ve told everyone back there my name, you said Kai Baxter.”

“I did? Maybe they didn’t hear me,” she sniggered through a whisper.

“Oh, they heard you all right considering you were saying it down an amplified microphone.”

She placed her palm to her head and closed her eyes. The cold air was knocking her off kilter making it hard, through the copious amounts of drink she had consumed, for her to grasp what he was saying. Her legs felt like they were made of lead and she slowly slid herself down the dumpster and sat down on the ground. “I told everyone?” She asked wide-eyed. Kai crouched to her level.

“Yes, yes you did. Now I need to know what you want me to do?”

“What?” She gasped.

“Everyone is chasing us around this building. Your father, mother, and Grace, maybe more I don’t know. When they catch up with us, which will be soon, I need to know what I’m supposed to say? Do I spill my guts or lie and say you got me muddled up with a man you’re having an affair with?” He replied stern face. Even through her blurred vision she still managed to spot the flash of amusement in his eyes as his lips curl

ed into a deep grin.

“An affair?” She repeated.

“Why not, after all you were the one who has insisted all along on not wanting to ruin Grace’s wedding day. I’m happy to cover it until her and Jack have left for their honeymoon.”

Closing her eyes, she placed the flats of her palms on his chest and sighed, wearily. “I’m tired, Kai,” she whispered.

“I know, Juliet. In two hours, we leave for the airport. You can sleep the whole twelve hours’ home if you want,” he whispered. He closed his hands over hers.