Four Of A Kind - Chapter 229: [4.47] Then Do It
The gym doors swung open. Patterson was directing the fog machine like a conductor with an orchestra.
Harlow spotted me immediately. “Isaiah! You’re alive!”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You were gone for twelve minutes! Anything could have happened!”
“It’s a cafeteria, not a war zone.”
“Still!”
She hugged me. Tight. Her face pressed against my shoulder.
Over her head, I saw Cassidy watching with narrowed eyes. Vivienne had that look that meant she was calculating something. Sabrina was already back at her clipboard, acting like she hadn’t just kissed me against a freezer door.
Iris appeared at my side. “You okay?”
“Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“Because you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
She was right.
Harlow finally released me. “Did you get lost?”
“Sabrina and I were discussing… cafe logistics.”
Cassidy’s eyes flashed. “Logistics.”
“Booth efficiency,” I clarified.
“Right.” She didn’t believe me. “Because that takes twelve minutes.”
“We were thorough.”
“I bet.”
Vivienne called for everyone’s attention. “We need to review the service flow! Maids, line up by the counter!”
The girls scattered. I was left at the espresso machine with Marin and Felix.
“You look stressed, bleh bleh bleh,” Felix observed.
“I’m fine.”
“Your tie is crooked, bleh bleh bleh.”
I looked down. It was.
I fixed it with shaking fingers.
Marin leaned close. “The Valentine sisters are all staring at you.”
“They’re probably making sure I’m making drinks correctly.”
“That’s not the look.”
“What look?”
“The look that says they want to eat you alive.”
Felix nodded sagely. “She’s right, bleh bleh bleh. I’ve seen that look before, bleh bleh bleh. Usually right before someone gets devoured, bleh bleh bleh.”
“You’re both insane.”
“We’re observant, bleh bleh bleh.”
Patterson clapped his hands. “Alright! Full dress rehearsal! I want to see perfect service, atmospheric tension, and absolutely no health code violations!”
The next two hours blurred together.
I made approximately forty-seven themed drinks. Harlow practiced her cute maid voice until my ears bled. Cassidy kept finding excuses to brush past me at the counter. Vivienne reorganized the entire seating chart three times. Sabrina watched everything with those knowing eyes.
Iris adapted surprisingly well to maid work. Natural at taking orders, quick with carrying trays.
My little sister. Growing up too fast.
“You’re doing great,” I told her during a lull.
“This is fun! Way more fun than PE class!”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Why not? The Valentine sisters said I could help whenever!”
“The Valentine sisters say a lot of things.”
“They’re nice though. Especially Harlow. Your neck has another hickey.”
I slapped my hand over the spot. “It does not.”
“Left side. Pretty obvious.”
I checked my phone’s camera. Faint pink mark. Barely visible.
When the hell did Sabrina—
The freezer. When she kissed my neck while I was distracted.
Sneaky.
“It’s nothing,” I told Iris.
“Sure.” She didn’t believe me. “Totally nothing.”
Patterson called time. “Excellent work, people! One week until showtime! I expect perfection!”
The gym emptied slowly. Students peeled off costumes, packed props, cleaned up spilled fog machine solution.
I started breaking down the espresso machine. Routine. Familiar.
Vivienne appeared at my side. “Leave it. Staff will handle cleanup.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I know. But you’ve done enough.”
Cassidy’s voice carried across the gym. “Are you two done flirting? Some of us have actual work to do!”
Vivienne’s jaw tightened. “Coming!”
She walked away. I watched her go.
My phone buzzed.
Sabrina: meet me in the parking lot
Sabrina: five minutes
Sabrina: come alone
I stared at the message.
Trouble. Definitely trouble.
I went anyway.
The parking lot was half empty. Sabrina leaned against Vivienne’s Range Rover, still in her costume. The afternoon sun caught her hair, turning it almost crimson.
I approached slowly. “You wanted to see me?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because we need to talk. Properly.”
“About?”
“About the fact that I kissed you in the cafeteria and you kissed me back.”
Direct. No games.
I appreciated that.
“It happened,” I said.
“It did.” She pushed off the car. “Do you regret it?”
“Should I?”
“That’s not an answer.”
I ran a hand through my hair. Harlow’s styling was completely destroyed now. “No. I don’t regret it.”
“Good.” She circled me slowly. “Because I’m going to kiss you again.”
“When?”
“When you’re ready. When you’ve decided.” She stopped in front of me. “I meant what I said about taking your time. You don’t have to choose today.”
“But you’re going to keep doing this.”
“This?”
“Kissing me. Touching me. Making it impossible to think.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her face stayed blank. Innocent.
Her hand slid up my arm.
“Sabrina.”
“Mm?”
“This. Right here. What you’re doing now.”
“I’m standing next to you. Is that not allowed?”
“You’re touching me.”
“Am I?” She examined her hand on my bicep like she’d just noticed it. “How strange.”
“You’re doing it on purpose.”
“Prove it.”
She squeezed gently. Testing the muscle there.
My entire nervous system lit up.
“You’re the worst,” I said.
“The worst what?”
“All of you. The worst everything.”
“That’s not very specific.” Her other hand found my chest. “You should work on your communication skills.”
“I communicate fine.”
“Do you?” She stepped closer. Pressed against me now. “Then tell me what you want.”
“To survive till winter break.”
“Boring answer. Try again.”
Her face tilted up. Lips inches from mine.
“I want…” The words stuck.
“Yes?”
“I want you to stop making this so hard.”
“No you don’t.”
She was right.
“I want to not lose my job.”
“Reasonable. What else?”
“I want Iris to get into Hartwell.”
“Also reasonable.” Her fingers traced my collar. “What else?”
“I want—”
“Something for yourself. Just you. What do you want, Isaiah?”
The question hung between us.
I looked at her. Purple eyes watching me like I was the only interesting thing in the world. Wine-red hair falling across her face. Lips curved in the smallest smile.
“I want to kiss you again,” I admitted.
“Then do it.”
