Kissed My Rival, Hear His Mind novel · Chapter 5 of 32

Chapter 5: Rule Fourteen

"Delete it," Declan said.

Craig tilted his head, still filming.

"It's for the archive. Godfrey asked."

"Delete it, Craig."

"I'm only a messenger." He tapped his screen, and the little red light went out. "Sent. Good night, lovebirds."

He left with his camel coat swinging.

Eli stared at the empty doorway.

"I'm so sorry," said the voice in his head, hollow with it. "Eli, I'm so sorry. I did this. I couldn't keep my hands off the table."

"Don't," Eli said.

Declan turned his head.

"Don't what?"

"Don't apologize for it."

"I haven't said anything."

Eli swallowed.

"Right," he said.

Tuesday night he slept two hours.

Wednesday morning at nine, they were back in the glass office.

Godfrey sat behind his desk in a green bow tie, with his phone face-up in front of him.

On it, paused, was Eli's own hand in Declan's hair.

"I won't ask what this is," Godfrey said. "I'll ask what you'd like me to believe it is."

Declan stood at parade rest, hands behind his back.

"It was a dare," he said.

Godfrey's eyebrow rose.

"I kissed him," said Declan, in a voice like a closing ledger. "Donnelly made a remark about my hair. I said he wouldn't. He did. Then I did it back, to win. Nothing in it. It won't happen again."

Eli turned his head and stared at him.

"Idiot. Idiot. Please let him hate me for this. Please let him think I'm cold. If they believe he was dared, he keeps his job. It's one person's fault. It's mine."

"That's not what happened," Eli said.

Declan's jaw tightened.

"Eli," Godfrey said gently. "Don't."

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