Page 128 of Us Defiant Few

“What?”

“I was gonna say invisibility to steal food, but now I just sound like an asshole compared to you.”

“No,” he said.

“No?”

“I’ve got you beat in the asshole department too.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, and she had to press her lips together to keep from smiling.

“Should we move on to the next question?” Winnie posed with a side wink to Khalani, like her secret master plan was working.

“Yes,” Khalani answered quickly, needing to move on and not focus on how Takeshi looked with those magnetic eyes and wind-tousled hair.

“What is your ideal date?”

“Like the time of year?” she frowned.

Takeshi chuckled. “Not many suitors in Apollo, Kanes?”

“I had suitors.”

“Name. One.”

“Dave Wimstrock.” She lifted her chin.

“Never heard of him.”

“Not surprising since you lived in Genesis most of your life. But Dave and I worked in the Food Distribution Center together.”

“And he took you on dates?” Takeshi asked, his voice sharper than before.

“Are you saying you believe me now?”

“Just answer the question.”

“I’m not entirely sure what a ‘date’ is,” she admitted, genuinely confused. If her cheeks were any redder, the sun wouldn’t have a place left to burn.

“Did he prepare warm meals for you, dance with you in secret, recite songs of his undying affection and love for you?” Winnie asked with both hands clasped tight to her heart, but her focus wasn’t on Khalani. She was staring beyond the horizon with a lightness in her eyes, like she was imagining someone else from her past.

“No. We’d usually find a spare closet to fool around in,” she answered honestly.

Wasn’t that how it was supposed to be?

“He took advantage of your body without proving his affection?” Takeshi’s lethal gaze intensified. Like he wanted to change his superpower and make Dave Wimstrock appear in front of him right then and there, so he could kill him slowly.

“I wouldn’t say he took advantage, since I wanted it too,” she hedged.

“You wanted it,” he repeated in a flat voice.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because you’re smarter than letting some boy like Dave Wimstrock breathe the same air as you, much less touch you in a fucking closet.”

“Sorry. All I heard is that you think I’m smart.” She mirrored his laid-back position, trying to get into his head as much as he infiltrated hers.

“Don’t worry, Kanes.” He rolled his eyes, but his forearms tightened. “As soon as I start to think so, you prove me wrong.”