Kelsey's POV
{Outside the Academy–2:35 PM}
I had parked my car just a few minutes ago.
I thought I was late to pick Lila up. I'm sure she would be so upset with me.
I moved quickly, scanning every inch of the damn school parking lot. There was no sight of Lila anywhere. I even asked one of the staff if she had already been picked up.
They nodded.
Nodded? As if they knew who my daughter was. It's her first day at school. I should have just told her to stay at a spot and wait for me. If she was already picked up...
By who? Who the hell picked up my daughter?
I was just about to storm back to my car when I heard a commotion, raised voices, murmurs, and people gathering like moths in front of a car.
I followed the noise with my heart pounding.
And then I saw it.
Lila.
And him.
At the center of everyone's attention like the climax of a bad soap opera. My daughter was clinging to Landon like something was going on.
Well, yes... something is definitely going on. My eyes narrowed at the man standing before them, that fucking pervert again. I should have known!
And of course, he was running his mouth like it was a damn press conference.
I didn't hear every word, but I heard enough. The arrogance dripped from that bastard's tongue, the mockery in his tone as he belittled Landon, my fake mute husband, who was doing a damn fine job pretending not to break character as Lila's father and the calm man that he was.
I mean, he took down those kidnappers after my daughter. He could easily take that tap mouth down, but he was holding back pretty well.
I don't know what possessed me. I swear I didn't plan it. It just... happened.
I walked straight up, grabbed the front of Landon's shirt, and yanked him down...
And kissed him.
Right on the mouth.
The whole crowd gasped like they were watching a royal scandal unfold, and my brain screamed.
'What the hell are you doing?!'
I broke the kiss quickly, my heart slamming against my ribs like it was trying to escape the scene. Landon looked stunned like I'd smacked him and kissed him at the same time.
And honestly? That felt fair.
I straightened up, cleared my throat, and stared the General straight in the eye.
"Stay the hell away from my husband and daughter."
Husband.
God, the word sounded awkward. It sounded so... foreign. I had to bite the inside of my cheek not to cringe right there.
But the General blinked. That smug smirk of his twitched. For the first time, he looked... interested. Not in my husband. Not in Lila.
In me.
Creepy.
I grabbed Lila's hand and nodded for Landon to follow. We left quickly, but I could feel the General's gaze burning into my back the whole way to the car.
---
{In the car, 2:50 PM}
Lila wouldn't shut up on our way home.
"Mommy kissed Daddy! Mommy kissed Daddy!" she squealed, bouncing in her seat like she was on a sugar rush.
"Lila," I warned eyes on the road. "That's enough dancing."
"But it was romantic! Like the movies!"
"I was not being romantic. I was being dramatic." I replied and tried not to look at Landon beside me.
"It's the same thing, Mommy!"
Landon remained quiet, which, let's face it, wasn't unusual. But even without words, I could feel him smirking at me.
Is he daydreaming about the kiss?
Great. Now he had the upper hand. Mr Mute got a free kiss from me, yet I felt like the guilty one.
I refused to look at him the entire drive home.
---
{Later that evening...}
{Kelsey's Residence... 8:42 PM}
Lila was in bed and finally passed out after reenacting the kiss scene three separate times using her plush toys. Apparently, her unicorn was me, and the dragon was Landon. I didn't know if I should laugh or run away.
After changing into my robe, I paced the hallway outside Landon's room like an idiot.
Just knock.
Apologize.
Tell him not to read into it.
Yeah, that was the plan. Simple right?
I just have to tell him anything except "I liked it."
I mean, his lips were so soft, and if I hadn't broken the kiss, I was sure he would have swallowed me whole. At least, apart from not being able to speak, his lips could do something good.
I took a breath and knocked softly. No response. I knocked again.
Still nothing.
I pushed the door open.
He was sitting on the windowsill, moonlight casting shadows over his sharp profile. His eyes shifted to me, curious as to what I was doing in his room.
He was silent, like always.
I stepped inside, arms crossed, trying to look calm even though my insides were boiling over with awkwardness.
"I just wanted to say... about earlier."
He tilted his head slightly, waiting.
"That kiss wasn't... I mean, I didn't mean to kiss you. It just happened. I needed to shut the General up, and..."
God, I sounded like a teenager justifying bad choices at prom.
I groaned and rubbed my forehead.
"Look. I'm sorry, okay? It was reckless. It won't happen again."
Again? Why do I suddenly feel sad? I wanted it to happen again.
He stood up slowly, walking toward me. I froze as he came close, too close.
His eyes searched mine. It was calm... unreadable, but damn intense.
He raised one eyebrow.
Then he smirked.
Smirked?
The smug bastard.
"You think this is funny?" I hissed, backing up a step. "You want to say something, say it!"
He raised a finger and pointed at his throat.
Right. Can't talk. Of course.
I rolled my eyes.
"Fine. Smirk all you want. But don't let it get to your head. There's no way you and I are kissing again! You're... Ugh!"
I turned to leave, but before I could reach the door, his hand gently grabbed my wrist.
I turned back.
And for the briefest second... he looked serious.
Almost like he wanted to say something but couldn't. Like his silence was more than just a cover. He could sign to me if he wanted to say something. Or is he unable to?
But then he let go of me and stepped back.
I didn't say anything. Not that I didn't... I just couldn't.
I just left, closing the door behind me with my heartbeat thudding in my ears.