Let Them Notice
1340 Words
YULIA
I changed outfits three times before finally settling on a royal blue fitted top and jeans, which was honestly ridiculous. It was just a casual get-together at Damon’s house. Not a date.
Still, my stomach wouldn’t stop flipping nervously every few seconds.
Mostly because ever since Kendrick kissed me, everything between us had changed. The air felt heavier now. Every glance lasted too long. Every touch lingered, and I liked it way too much.
I stared at myself in the mirror one last time before sighing dramatically. “Get yourself together, Yulia.”
A knock sounded against my door. “Come in.”
The door opened slowly, and there he was. Kendrick leaned casually against the doorway, wearing black cargo pants and a dark grey fitted shirt that looked criminally good on him.
Seriously unfair.
His eyes swept over me slowly. Very slowly. And right there, I regretted breathing.
“Well,” he murmured. “Now I understand why you’ve been hiding upstairs for an hour.”
I peered at him. “I was not hiding.”
“Mhmm.” He glanced at me, dragging his teeth lightly over his bottom lip. “You ready?”
I grabbed my purse before walking toward him. “Yes, let’s go.”
As I brushed past him, his hand slid slightly against my waist. I turned to face him, and he pushed my face into his for a brief kiss.
“I’d wanted to kiss you since morning,” he admitted. “And you smell good too.” He added.
“Thank you.” I beamed. “And… can you stop doing that?”
His lips curled mischievously. “Doing what?”
“That look.”
His expression turned amused immediately. “No.”
God help me.
*****
“You’re distracting,” he stated. His arm stayed around me like he’d gotten used to touching me already.
I blinked at him. “I’m literally sitting here.”
“Exactly.”
I turned toward the window so he wouldn’t see me smiling.
Hopeless. I was actually hopeless.
About twenty minutes later, his driver pulled into the driveway of a massive modern town house in Chelsea.
Music echoed from inside while lights glowed through the glass walls.
“This guy is so loud,” Kendrick mumbled as he helped me out of his SUV.
“Yes.” I agreed. “I can tell from his personality.”
He laughed softly before guiding me toward the house, his hand resting lightly against my back. The contact sent heat straight through me. Judging by the faint smirk on his face, he knew exactly what he was doing.
The front door swung open before we could knock. Damon appeared holding a drink. Then his eyes landed on us, and his grin widened instantly.
“Well, well, well…” His eyes swept between us. “Why do you two look guilty?”
“Oh my God,” I muttered.
Kendrick walked past him calmly. “Shut up.”
“No, seriously.” Damon followed us inside, laughing. “Something definitely happened.”
“Damon,” Kendrick warned.
“Okay, okay.” He lifted his hands innocently before turning toward me. “Yulia, welcome back to billionaire nonsense.”
I laughed despite myself.
The inside of Damon’s house somehow matched his personality perfectly. Loud music. Expensive furniture. Dim lighting. Chaotic energy everywhere.
Sophie spotted me first. “Yulia!” she squealed before pulling me into a hug. “Welcome, you two,” she said warmly.
“Kendrick, hi.” She hugged him.
“Here.” I handed her a bottle of Château Lafite 1869 from Kendrick’s bar.
“Ooooh, that’s nice of you.” She said, admiring the expensive wine. “Thank you.”
I nodded, smiling at her.
“Your friend is already here.” She gestured toward Adeline, who sat beside Victor, holding a drink as they engaged in a conversation.
Hmmm…
The second she saw Kendrick behind me, her eyes widened dramatically. That look meant trouble.
“Welcome, latecomer.” Adeline’s eyes narrowed at me, but I just shrugged.
“I guess the map brought you to the right location.” I teased her.
I told her we were meeting at Damon’s house, and he didn’t mind me inviting her. Adeline lived closer, anyway.
“Of course.”
“You must be Adeline,” Kendrick said, shaking her hand. “Good to see you.”
“You too, Kendrick.”
Victor walked over and hugged me warmly, then turned to Kendrick for a brotherly hug. He pulled back, studying Kendrick.
“What?” Kendrick asked flatly.
Victor took a sip of his drink and chuckled. “Nothing.”
Damon clapped loudly once. “Alright! Since everybody’s finally here, drinks first and emotional damage later!”
About an hour later, everyone had relaxed into conversation. Well, everyone except me, because Kendrick kept finding reasons to touch me. My lower back, my hand, my shoulder. Tiny accidental touches that absolutely did not feel accidental.
And every single time, my brain malfunctioned.
Sophie eventually dragged Adeline and me toward the kitchen island while the guys argued about football nearby.
Adeline leaned toward me immediately.
“Girl.”
I pretended innocence. “What?”
“The tension between you and Kendrick is disgusting.”
Sophie burst out laughing instantly.
“There’s no tension.” I denied.
“Liar,” both of them said together.
Sophie smirked knowingly. “The way he looks at you is actually insane.”
I froze slightly.
“Wait…” Adeline gasped dramatically. “Something DID happen!”
Both of them stared at me suspiciously.
Before I could defend myself, Damon suddenly shouted from the living room. “Game time!”
Thank God.
“We’ll still talk about it,” Adeline said, narrowing her eyes at me.
We all moved toward the large sitting area where Damon had already arranged drinks and cards on the table.
Victor already looked exhausted. “I hate every time he says game time.”
“You’ll survive,” Damon replied proudly.
We all settled down while Damon grinned mischievously. “Never Have I Ever.”
“This should be fun,” Sophie laughed.
Kendrick sat beside me casually while Damon started reading questions from his phone.
“Never have I ever lied to get off a date.”
Everyone drank except Victor.
“Cowards,” Victor muttered.
The game continued normally for a while with chaos and laughter.
Then Damon smirked at the next question. “Oh, this one’s evil.” He read theatrically. “Never have I ever kissed someone I absolutely should not have kissed.”
My soul left my body instantly. Beside me, Kendrick went completely still. I reached for my drink too quickly.
And accidentally choked.
“Ohhhhh…” Damon dragged out suspiciously.
Sophie covered her mouth. Adeline looked ready to pass out from excitement.
“This is getting interesting,” Damon declared proudly.
“Relax,” Kendrick said calmly, though his hand rested against my knee beneath the table.
That made everything worse. I couldn’t think properly, especially when his thumb brushed lightly against my jeans.
This man would kill me someday.
Eventually, the conversation shifted away, but I could still feel Victor watching Kendrick suspiciously, like he had already figured something out.
A little while later, I excused myself quietly and stepped onto the balcony for air. London’s night lights stretched endlessly ahead while the cold wind brushed against my skin.
The balcony door slid open behind me. I already knew who it was.
“You’ve been avoiding looking at me all night,” Kendrick spoke softly.
I turned slowly, peering at him. “Because you keep touching me.”
A glint of amusement appeared in his eyes. “Can you blame me?”
His words hit me, and my heart stumbled painfully.
I huffed. “I think… everyone in this house is starting to notice us.”
Kendrick stepped closer slowly. “Then maybe we should give them something to talk about.”
- Writer
