My gaze skips to the partially open fire exit.
Outside in the alley behind the bar, the fall air is crisp and blustery. A gust of wind toys with my hair as it races past, and then makes a mess of Kai’s hair a moment later, forcing him to pull up his hood.
He’s leaning with his back against the brick wall, one foot up, puffing at a joint. Neither he nor his friend has noticed me, both too focused on the task at hand. I’m slightly disappointed I don’t have an excuse to permanently disable someone tonight.
I pop up my hood, turning my back to the floodlight as I let the door fall shut behind me.
The crash makes them both flinch. Kai’s head jerks to the side, eyes finding mine. I’m pleased by how well my pet recognizes its master—I can practically see the gears grinding as he tries to reconcile my presence with the current scenario.
“The fuck?” he rasps.
His friend squints at me through the haze of smoke drifting between us. His bucket hat is pulled low over his forehead to ward off the cold—same reason Kai’s hoodie is up, one hand shoved in the front pouch.
“You know this guy?” his friend asks.
Kai laughs darkly. He takes another drag, the cherry flaring orange in the dark.
I stay where I am, hands in my pockets, glad my face is in shadow.
Kai watches me for a moment, then gestures to the door as he eyes his friend. “Order us another round of shots, would you?”
Kruger’s eyebrows shoot up. “You sure?—”
“Go, Kruger.”
Kai’s friend looks between us like he’s trying to solve a math problem several levels above his capabilities. Then he shrugs off our drama, a lazy smile creeping onto his face. “Whatever, man.”
Kai waits for the door to close behind him before his eyes slink back to mine. His face is partially lit by the floodlight, his hoodie shadowing the rest. I push mine down, running a hand through my hair as I step closer.
Now that we’re alone, there’s no more need for subterfuge.
“Stalking me now,Professor?” His words are slurring at the edges, consonants softening into mush. He chuckles. “Where d’you find the time? Thought you’d be too busy fucking my girlfriend.”
“Yourgirlfriend?”
“Fuck you.” Kai pushes off the wall, sways, and catches himself with a hand on the brick.
“Maybe.” I take a step closer, allowing myself a grim smile. “But only if you lose the attitude, boy.”
He laughs again—but it sounds forced. “You’re fucking insane.”
Another step. “Is that what keeps scaring you off?”
Kai watches me with an expression I can’t quite parse. Disgust, maybe. Or fascination.
Or he’s just stoned.
“I’m not scared of you.”
“Liar,” I scoff.
I’m close enough to smell the skunky sweetness of the joint still burning between his fingers. Close enough to see the way his pupils have blown wide, swallowing the green of his irises until they’re just thin rings around endless black.
Close enough to see the pulse jumping in his throat as I take another slow step toward him.
“What d’you want, Rooke?” His voice is rough.
“Same thing you do.” I pluck the joint from his unresisting fingers, bring it to my lips, and hit it hard. The smoke curls in front of my face, obscuring his scowl for a moment before the wind disperses it.
