“I’m not going to give you a play-by-play,” I say.
Kai’s mouth twitches, and his gaze lifts briefly. “I’m not asking for that.”
“I think she’s doing pretty well, honestly. It’s been a big adjustment, but she’s strong, man. Probably stronger than either of us knows, honestly.”
Kai’s eyes narrow. “Because of you?”
“Not because of me,” I say carefully. “Because she’s fighting every day to feel secure and confident again. I’m just…there, supporting her in whatever way she needs me to.”
Kai’s jaw works like he’s biting back ten protective instincts.
Then he exhales. “I’m trying. I trust you, man, I do. But she’s my sister, and we’ve been down the dating my teammate path before.”
I nod. “I see that. But you know I’m nothing like him.”
His gaze flicks away. “It makes me nervous to follow her lead.”
The honesty in that sentence hits me harder than I expect. Kai’s voice goes quieter. “Because what if she walks straight into something that hurts her again?”
My heart squeezes in my chest because the last thing I’d ever want is for Harlow to be hurt in any way, but I also know what my best friend needs to hear right now.
“She’s going to get hurt sometimes,” I say gently. “That’s life. But she can’t truly live her life if you keep her in bubble wrap.”
Kai looks like he hates that I’m right. He takes another bite, then swallows hard.
“If she tells me to back off…I’ll back off. I just need to know she’ll actuallytellme when she needs me. Not go hide until it’s too bad for me to help.”
My throat tightens.
“She will,” I say. “She’s learning.”
Kai nods once, like that’s the closest he can get to relief.
The silence sits between us for a moment.
I crush up the wrapper of my sandwich and send it sailing for the trash can a few feet away. “Anything else on your mind?”
Kai steels his gaze, but I know him well, and he says exactly what I’m expecting. “Wren.”
There it is.
I keep my expression neutral. “Yeah. What happened between you two?”
Kai’s jaw tightens like he can feel old history rising up from the floorboards.
“A lot.” Kai exhales through his nose. “It’s awkward.”
“Shocking,” I deadpan.
He glares at me, then his mouth twitches like he might laugh if his life weren’t a constant state of control.
“She looks…the same as the last time I saw her three years ago,” he says. “But also not.”
I nod slowly. “Harlow missed her.”
Kai’s eyes flick up. “I know.”
A moment passes, and I wait patiently for him to continue.
