𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬

CHAPTER 25

Chris frustrated and unable to believe Kiara above.

strikhedonia

(n.) the pleasure of being able to say "to hell with it"

Robert slumped onto the couch and snacked on some chips as he watched Chris pace back and forth, running his hands frantically through his hair. He had been panicking ever since the photos of him and Ana had leaked in the press, worrying that it created the wrong idea in peoples' heads. Robert knew that what really bothered him was if it created the wrong idea in Kiara's head.

Chris abruptly stopped and turned to face him, "I think I'm in love with Kiara."

Robert paused with the chip still held mid-air, "Kiara? As in gorgeous, stubborn, best friends with the most protective little shit Kiara?"

Raising a brow, he mumbled, "Yeah... thoughts?"

"And prayers."

"No need, he knows about us already."

"Yeah but he doesn't know it's serious yet."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Scoffing, Robert leaned forwards and placed his snack bowl aside, "If you think you're just going to admit this to Vijay and leave with your face still looking that pretty then you've got another thing coming, pal."

"Hey, he might surprise you."

"Yeah, after watching his best friend bawl her eyes out for weeks over you? Somehow I doubt that."

He begun worriedly pacing again, "It's not like I need to tell him, right?"

Robert chuckled, "Have you met them? Conjoined twins have more secrets from each other than them."

"Fine. Okay. So hiding it isn't an option."

"Nope."

"I might just bite the bullet. I bet he'll appreciate honesty."

He shot up, "Wait, hold up."

"What?"

"Have you even told Kiara yet?"

"No..."

"Tell her first before you go chucking bombs at everyone else!"

Chris face-palmed himself, "That's probably smarter. See, this is why I ask you first!"

Giving him a deadpan look, he sarcastically quipped, "Oh really, not because I'm older and wiser?"

"You? Never!"

It was the night of the Golden Globe Awards and Kiara was currently focusing all her energy into preventing herself from hyperventilating as she nervously ran her hands over her dress.

Kabir leaned over to still her anxious movement and brought a hand to pat his chest, "We're golden."

Her hands shook as she copied the action, "We're golden."

Taking a deep breath, Kabir looked at Kiara expectantly and waited for her to imitate him before exhaling deeply then repeating the action. Eventually she calmed down, smiling at him gratefully as the car slowed to a stop. His ability to sense when she needed his support without being asked always astounded her.