Chapter Fifty-Nine
‘Kai.’
The word is whispered into Shane’s t-shirt, my heart hitting the acid in the pit of my stomach, where it twists and lurches in shock. I’m standing at the doorway. In my undies. With the wrong guy’s hand on my arse. Even I can see how this looks. Pushing away from Shane, I lean against the now open door.
Kai’s face is emotionless as he eyes Shane and my state of undress. He looks weary, not his usual well pulled together self. Jeans, a light jacket, and washed-out, sallow skin.
Unthinking, I step outside. I think under the circumstances, I’m not required to supply excuses but I find myself doing it anyway. Hating myself as the words leave my mouth. ‘It’s not how it looks.’
The corner of his mouth rises, an almost regretful motion. ‘It rarely is.’
I’m in front of him without recalling movement, arms hanging by my sides. I curl my hands into fists to stop myself from reaching out; boundaries slamming between us like a sudden brick wall.
‘The tool from your apartment,’ Shane says with a snort. ‘Want me to make him leave, babe?’
Kai’s gaze moves slowly from mine, and I think if looks could kill, he’d make a great assassin. The glare he sends Shane’s way is arctic, like he’s beneath deserving further breath. I expect to hear that drawling, languid tone of his telling Shane he couldn’t manage it last time, but instead, his eyes soften and refocus on me.
‘Do you want me to?’ Shane repeats, or maybe interrupts, as Kai and I just stare at each other.
I don’t speak. I don’t trust myself to because the answer is no, despite all that Kai’s done. That he’s followed me doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t make me hurt any less and I won’t change my mind. But I can just look at him, can’t I? Remember what I thought we had?
‘I thought—your mum said...’ Shane’s words trail away, his tone then rising. ‘Fuck it, Katie, why did you come back here?’
‘What the bloody hell is going on?’ a gruff voice calls from the hall. ‘What are you doing out there in your underwear, young lady? Have some respect.’
My stepfather Geoff appears at the door, pushing past Shane’s taller frame.
‘God give me strength,’ I murmur, though I doubt even God has anything to add to this cluster-fuck. ‘Is my arse so offensive? It’s not like there’s anyone around, and for Christ sakes, I’m wearing boy shorts, not a thong.’
Both Geoff and Shane look down at my feet as Kai represses a smirk.
‘Is this what you’ve brought back from the war zone, bad language and attitude?’
‘Far out,’ I antagonize in an undertone. ‘People go to Dubai for holidays, notjihad, Geoff. If you were expecting me to come home in aburka, you can see you were wrong.’ I gesture to my undies flamboyantly. I may as well stick out my tongue.
There follows scolding, grievances, and words of complaint. I don’t listen. I can only look at Kai.
‘See ‘ya, Geoff,’ Shane calls over his shoulder as he pushes through the door. ‘No point hanging around now she’s fucked the show-pony over there.’
Kai’s hand almost touches my shoulder before he steps in front, halting Shane’s steps. ‘Fucked? Strange, wasn’t that what you did to your chance with Kate?’
‘What’s it got to do with you?’
‘She came back.’ His answer is frighteningly soft, his body language almost conciliatory and belying the thunderous look on his face. ‘But not for you.’
Shane’s mouth works without sound as he scrambles for an answer. His head swings to mine as though expecting me to butt in. Refute.
‘She’s worth more than you. More than both of us,’ Kai adds.
Shane’s mouth closes with a snap and he stalks to his car. Yanking open the driver’s door, he pauses for his parting shot. ‘Katie—you know what? Fuck you both, I hope you’ll make each other miserable.’
Brakes squeal as he tears down the empty street.
‘What have you done now? Who’s this fella?’ Geoff’s voice cuts through the sound of distant tyres.
‘What have I done? That’s bloody rich.’ I can’t look at Geoff, can’t move my eyes from Kai. ‘Why are you here?’ I ask quietly.
‘Because you left me.’
