Read Online Chaos Theory by Penelope Fletcher - Free Book Online Page B

suspected some seeped into his voice though. “Escape
route?”
    “ If it went bad, and Max gave me the signal, I’d
accidentally-on-purpose toss a drink over Christabella, or get
sick, and we’d leave.”
    His mouth popped open. “ Mean .”
    Kali’s nose wrinkled. “It’s an act of kindness. Max is an ass
when it comes to girls. He looses interest fast, and it’s better
this way.”
    “ Why?”
    “ He’s got the normal urges. He won’t intend to maintain a
relationship with a girl moon mad for him, but still rec. HiCaste
avoid having loads of RecRom encounters logged. It’s frowned upon
and makes you less desirable to suitors.”
    Blue’s cheeks reddened. “I see. You do this to save them
heartache.”
    “ You make me sound noble. I do it because I care about Max. One
day, he’ll meet a keeper, someone he loves and respects. I don’t
want him to lose her because he’s known as a womanizer who’ll screw
anything.”
    “ He is a womanizer who’ll screw
anything.”
    “ Yes, but he’ll grow out of that. Let’s shoot.”
    Blue uncoiled from his seat. “Do you use Max the same
way?”
    Now she coloured a little. “Once, but it was awful. He kept
trying to drag me into a RecRom when I clearly wasn’t interested.”
She glared in Christian’s direction.
    Blue tapped his foot, agitated. “What did Max do?”
    Kali blushed harder. “Punched him in the face.”
    “ I see.”
    “ Do you? People assume Max and I are secretly solar-hot for
each other when we’re not. He’s a brother to me, and I know that
for a certainty.”
    “ How?”
    “ He was my first.” She shuddered. “It was awkward and I have
nightmares about it. It freaks him out too. What’s between us is
affection. We take care of each other until we meet our soul
mates.” Embarrassed she’d over shared, Kali tugged at the hem of
her tunic, enormously aware of why she felt the need to make it
clear she and Max weren’t a couple. “Got it?”
    Reserving judgment, Blue looked away. “Don’t know how to
shoot.”
    Silently frustrated, Kali took the drink from him and slurped
until it was gone. She offered Blue a sip halfway, but he declined
as he unzipped his jacket. Kali got flustered watching him tug it
off, and looked away to chuck the dumpling in the waste unit. Now
she’d realised she liked him, she was fidgety. She had gone to the
range annoyed Max was on a date, and irritated the delays courtship
rituals brought to the game. Now she wanted to abandon the whole
thing and focus on her conversation with Blue.
    She wanted to know he got the hint she was
available.
    Maybe he was put off knowing about her and Max’s past? How
else could she have addressed his fears of them secretly lusting
after each other?
    Kali dried her hands by rubbing them on her butt as she
searched for a decent laser pistol from the rack.
    Blue was messing with her, right? Who didn’t know how to
shoot? It was one of the more primitive skills to learn in a
society of peace, but it hadn’t gone that out of
fashion.
    It was retro.
    What if he genuinely didn’t know how, and she made a joke, and
he was offended?
    “ I don’t mind teaching you how,” Kali offered. “Grab a pistol
that’s easy to hold, but heavy enough, so you extend some effort.”
Picking a weapon, she quirked an eyebrow when Blue chose a sturdier
blaster the more proficient shooter chose. “You sure about that
one?”
    He heard doubt in her voice and set the blaster down. He
picked up the twin of the pistol she carried.
    Blue watched Kali as she moved her weapon from palm to palm
playfully. After a nanosecond, he did the same. Exactly the same,
even down to how her fingers gripped the hilt.
    Kali opened her mouth to question him then decided against it.
“Stellar?”
    “ Standard,” he affirmed and waited for her to take the
lead.
    “ Go first and I’ll help you with your stance.” She stared a
challenge. “Since this is your first time and all.”
    Blue narrowed his eyes.