Night.
I placed my phone on my chest, closed my eyes and allowed the vibrations from the road to pull me under.
The last thought I had before sleep dragged me down was—
I can’t lose her.
Chapter 23
Tori
Jessslungherbagover her shoulder as we pushed through the back door of theNeon Possum, both of us bone-tired and smelling faintly of lime juice and spilled beer.
I nudged her with my hip. “I’m so freaking glad you’re driving. I’m two seconds from collapsing in a gutter.”
“Please don’t.” Jess snorted. “I don’t have the energy to drag your corpse anywhere tonight.”
We stepped into the cool night air and I stopped dead in my tracks.
Leaning against the hood of a familiar SUV with his eyes fixed on me as though I were the only person in the universe was Kai. Due to our contrasting schedules, I'd only caught brief glimpses of him since his away game last weekend.
He was wearing a hoodie with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows and his hair was damp as if he’d showered after practice and come straight here.
For me.
My chest did this stupid flutter again. I’d actually missed him these past couple of days.
Jess let out a low whistle. “Uh … you expecting him?”
“No.” My pulse was spiking for reasons having nothing to do with fear. “I was not.”
Kai straightened and the dim security light haloed around his shoulders, making him look better than he had any right to.
Jess flicked her gaze between us, her eyebrows nearly disappearing into her hairline. “Sooo … am I taking you home or…?”
I swallowed, still a little stunned. Kai gave me one of his brilliant smiles, though tonight it had an almost shy edge to it.
“Well,” I breathed, rubbing my sternum at the weird sensation thrumming through my chest. “He’s already here…”
Jess’ grin was mischievous. “Got it. I’ll leave you to your … transportation.”
She squeezed my arm once, then headed to her car, absolutely eating up my flustered expression.
I turned back to Kai, trying and failing to keep the smile out of my voice. “You didn’t have to come get me.”
He shrugged, his hands in his pockets. “Wanted to.” Then he opened the passenger door like it was non-negotiable. Our breath fogged in the chilly night air and I found myself genuinely pleased he had shown up.
As I got closer, I was hit by his warm, woodsy scent and a thrill surged through my entire body.
God help me.
I climbed in, shutting the door on the bar noise and my own pulse, beating much too fast. Kai rounded the SUV and slid into the driver’s seat. As he wrapped his big fingers around the steering wheel, something fluttered deep in my stomach as I took in the veins protruding on the back of his hands.
Was it weird I wanted to lick them?
The engine rumbled to life with a low, comforting purr. We drove in the soft glow of the streetlamps for a while, neither of us talking. It was the kind of silence that wasn’t awkward; it was just familiar. Easy.
Kai's question caught me off guard. “You know, I’ve been wondering … what got you into MMA?”
