Then, like the words rip out before he can stop them, “We dated all through middle school and high school. Then we didn’t. She’s been studying abroad for nine or so months in London or something.”
My brow lifts, and he drags both hands down his face.
“So is she just visiting or…?” I ask.
Kai’s jaw flexes. “Nope. She’s staying. Her mom and siblings live about thirty minutes from here, and apparently she’s going to be here finishing up her degree.”
Kai clears his throat and shoves the rest of his sandwich into his mouth like it can keep him from saying anything else vulnerable. It doesn’t. He swallows and adds, quieter, “I didn’t plan on ever seeing her again, at least regularly. She’s my sister’s best friend, so I banked on a few awkward encounters but not so…often.”
“I figured,” I say.
Kai’s eyes meet mine, sharp. “Don’t psychoanalyze me.”
I lift my hands. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Captain.”
He huffs a laugh, short and unwilling.
Then my phone buzzes on the table. One message. Harlow.
Harlow: You alive after practice, or did Coach murder you for being a little late?
My chest goes tight-warm so fast it’s embarrassing. Kai’s gaze drops to my phone, then up to my face. He doesn’t say anything, but his eye roll speaks for him. I pick up my phone, thumbs moving before I can overthink it.
Grayson: alive. barely.
Harlow: Are you coming over later?
Chewing the inside of my lip, I glance at Kai. He’s watching me like he’s trying not to watch, like he’s giving me space while still being Kai. I type back anyway.
Grayson: yeah. if you want me to.
Grayson: call?
A second later, my phone rings.
I stand up so fast my chair scrapes.
Kai’s brows lift. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, already walking. “I’ll be right back.”
I step outside the café, cold air biting my lungs.
Answer.
“Hey, baby.”
Her breath comes through the line first, quiet and familiar. Then her voice, soft like she doesn’t want anyone nearby to hear.
“Hey, Gray.”
My cheeks hurt from how big my grin is. I fucking love it when she calls me that. It’s one syllable. A nickname. It shouldn’t do what it does.
My voice comes out rougher than I mean it to. “Hi.”
She laughs softly, like she knows exactly what she just did.
“I take it you’re done with practice?” she asks.
